March 12, 2004

[Name and Address Withheld]

Thank you for your February 26, 2004 letter to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) Directorate of Enforcement Programs. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation only of the requirements discussed and may not be applicable to any questions not delineated within your original correspondence. You had specific questions regarding pets in the workplace. Your paraphrased inquiries and our responses follow.

Question: Am I in violation of any OSHA regulations in regards to having my pet Labrador retriever in my facilities?

Response: OSHA does not have any specific standards prohibiting the presence of pets in the workplace. We recommend that you contact your State and local health departments to determine if they have any regulations that pertain to your situation.

Thank you for your interest in occupational safety and health. We hope you find this information helpful. 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 the OSHA website at http://www.osha.gov. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact the Office of General Industry Enforcement at (202) 693-1850.

Sincerely,


Richard E. Fairfax, Director
Directorate of Enforcement Programs