Voluntary safety and health audits under the Occupational Safety and Health Act

OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

September 11, 1996

Mr. Frank White
Vice President
Organization Resources Counselors, Inc.
1910 Sunderland Place, NW
Washington, D.C. 20036

Dear Mr. White:

Thank you for your letter to Secretary Reich concerning voluntary safety and health audits under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (the Act). Secretary Reich has asked me to respond. I appreciate Organization Resource Counselors' (ORC) interest in this issue. ORC's expertise in occupational safety and health issues is well established, and its views merit careful consideration.

Testing electrical resistance of grain elevator conveyor belts.

OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

September 9, 1997

Mr. Kevin Finnegan
Market Manager - Heavy Duty
Flexible Steel Lacing Company
2525 Wisconsin Avenue
Downers Grove, Illinois 60515-4200

Dear Mr. Finnegan:

This is in response to your letter of August 7, requesting a confirmation that the Australian test, (AS 1334.9) Determination of Electrical Resistance of Conveyor Belting, satisfies the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard 29 CFR 1910.272.

Grain Handling Standard, analytical requirements for percentage of fugitive dust and % combustible dust.

OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

October 20, 1988

Bill Lybrand
So. Carolina Department of Labor
P.O. Box 11329
Columbia, SC 29211

Dear Mr. Lybrand:

In response to your concerns about analytical services necessary to support the new OSHA Grain Handling Standard I am supplying you with the following information:

Grain Handling Facilities Standard.

OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

July 29, 1991

Mr. John J. Sacco
Senior Industrial Hygienist
Continental Insurance
Technical Services
Pacific Regional Office
11031 Sun Center Drive
Rancho Cordova, California 95670

Dear Mr. Sacco:

Your June 19 letter requests interpretations regarding issues relating to the 29 CFR 1910.272, Grain Handling Facilities Standard. Namely, does the standard apply to bean or seed handling facilities? Also, are employers mandated to have in-house rescue capabilities, or is reliance on outside rescue acceptable?

Recent grain elevator explosions in Galveston and New Orleans.

Archive Notice - OSHA Archive

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

March 31, 1978

Honorable Jack Edwards
House of Representatives
Washington, D. C. 20515

Dear Congressman Edwards:

This is in response to your transmittal of a copy of your letter of February 8, 1978, addressed to the President. I share your concern over the causes of the recent grain elevator explosions in Galveston and New Orleans.

Grain elevator explosions.

Archive Notice - OSHA Archive

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

March 31, 1978

Honorable Birch Bayh
United States Senate
Washington, D. C. 20510

Dear Senator Bayh:

This is in response to your correspondence which transmitted a letter from Mr. Elden L. Carlson, regarding grain elevator explosions. Please accept my apology for the delay in response.

The explosions that have been occuring in the grain elevators.

Archive Notice - OSHA Archive

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

February 24, 1978

Mr. John R. Donaghy
Sandusky, Michigan 48471

Dear Mr. Donaghy:

This is in response to your letter of January 10, 1978, concerning the explosions that have been occurring in the grain elevators.

Grain elevator explosions and fires which occurred on Gulf Coast.

Archive Notice - OSHA Archive

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

February 21, 1978

Charles L. Burstein, M.D.
840 Ocean Drive
Juno Beach, Florida 33408

Dear Dr. Burstein:

Thank you very much for your letter of January 10, 1978, expressing concern over the grain elevator explosions and fires which occurred recently on our Gulf Coast.

Although our investigations into the causes of the accidents have not yet been concluded, we have taken action to alert the grain elevator industry of known and suspected hazards associated with grain elevator operations.

The grain elevator explosion in New Orleans.

Archive Notice - OSHA Archive

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

February 16, 1978

Mr. Paul E. Calhoon
Route 1
Stratton, Colorado 80836

Dear Mr. Calhoon:

This is in response to your letter of December 26, 1977, relating to the grain elevator explosion in New Orleans. Please accept our apology for the delay in response.

Questions regarding the Permit-Required Confined Space standard, 1910.146, and the Grain Handling standard, 1910.272.

OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.

February 8, 2005

Mr. Ronald R. Demaray
Regulatory Consultants, Inc.
140 West 8th Street
Horton, KS 66439

Dear Mr. Demaray: