Standard Interpretations - Publication Date | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Standard Interpretations

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. Each 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.

December

12/27/2013 - Classification of Combustible Dusts under the Revised Hazard Communication Standard. [1910.1200; 1910.1200(d)] - [1910.1200(d); 1910.1200]
12/16/2013 - Application of 29 CFR 1910 Subpart S to design of industrial machinery - [1910 Subpart S; 1910.303(a); 1910.399]
12/09/2013 - Employer Personal Protective Equipment Workplace Hazard Assessment For Footwear - [1910.132(d)(1); 1910.132(h)(2); 1910.136(a); 1910.136(b)(1)]
12/06/2013 - Weight of the scaffold in determining whether the 4 to 1 factor is satisfied in construction and general industry standards - [1926.450; 1926.451(a)(1); 1910.27(a)]
12/02/2013 - Interim Guidance on Enforcement of the revised Hazard Communication Standard - [1910.1200(j)(1); 1910.1200(h); 1910.1200(h)(3)(iv)]

November

11/27/2013 - Clarification of "as soon as feasible" when conducting post exposure evaluations - [1910.1030(f)(3)]
11/27/2013 - Regarding the type of hook that is permitted when a crane is used to hoist personnel during underground construction work - [1926.1431(g)(1); 1926.800(t)(1)(vii)]
11/25/2013 - Expanded Targeting of Establishments Under the Lead NEP
11/19/2013 - List in SDS section 3 when the classification is based on mixture data - [1910.1200(d)(3)(i)]
11/04/2013 - APF for the combination pressure-demand, full-facepiece SAR with auxiliary SCBA - [1910.134; 1910.134(d)(3)(i)(A)]

October

September

09/20/2013 - Labels on ampoules 5mL or smaller - [1910.1200(f)(1)]
09/16/2013 - Regarding use of compressed gas cylinders while in a horizontal position - [1926.350(a)(9)]
09/13/2013 - Overhead Crane operations - [1910.179]
09/11/2013 - Practical accommodation for hazard communication labels on small shipped chemical containers - [1910.1200(f)(1)]
09/03/2013 - Fall protection for workers having to walk/work along bridge decks when the edges are finished with a 32 in. high barrier wall. - [1926.501(b)(1); 1926.502(b); 1926.502(f)]

August

08/29/2013 - Clarification of safe working load when hoisting overhead loads above people - [1926.554]
08/15/2013 - Work platforms as Attachments - [1910.178]
08/06/2013 - Guidance Regarding Body Armor - [1910.132]

June

06/26/2013 - Determine Whether the Employer is Required to Record a Work-related Injury Sustained by an Employee which was Treated by a Reduction Procedure Performed on Her Dislocated Ring Finger - [1904.7(b)]
06/10/2013 - Application of BBP standard to the precision machining industry - [1910.1030(c)(2)]
06/10/2013 - General requirements for all machines - [1910.212]
06/04/2013 - NIST labeling of Small Packages. - [1910.1200]
06/04/2013 - OSHA procedures for safe weight limits when manually lifting - [OSH Act of 1970 - Section 5(a)(1)]

May

April

04/29/2013 - Protecting the Safety and Health of Temporary Workers
04/16/2013 - Sanitation Requirements - [1910.141(c)(1)(i)]
04/15/2013 - Hazard Communication Standard labeling and SDS for laboratory nuclear standards - [1910.1200]
04/04/2013 - Powered Industrial Truck Servicer Labeling Responsibilities for a Customer's Unsafe Powered Industrial Trucks - [1910.178(p)(1); 1910.178(q)(1)]
04/04/2013 - Storage and Handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gas - [1910.110(f)(4)(i); 1910.110(f)(5)]
04/02/2013 - Use of split entry concept under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS 2012) - [1910.1200]

March

03/25/2013 - Request for Interpretation of OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard for Combustible Dust - [1910.1200]
03/22/2013 - Manufacturer's name and address on the label of a chemical product under HCS 2012 - [1910.1200(f)(1); 1910.1200(f)(1)(vi)]
03/11/2013 - Allowable gap requirement between the trench shield and trench sides. - [1926.652(g)(1)(ii)]
03/11/2013 - Audiometric testing using insert earphones - [1910.95(g)]
03/04/2013 - Controlling Employee Exposure To Caustic Battery Acid In Battery Charging Areas - [1910.151(c)]

February

02/26/2013 - Clarification on whether the installation of a burial vault is a construction activity. - [1926.1400]
02/25/2013 - Permit-Required Confined Space Rescue Retrieval Lines - [1910.146(k)(3); 1910.146(k)(3)(i); 1910.146(k)(3)(ii)]
02/11/2013 - Need for Removing Selector Key on Part Revolution Mechanical Power Presses - [1910.217(b)(7)(iii)]
02/04/2013 - Clarification of the term "hydrocarbon" as used in the PSM standard. - [1910.119]
02/04/2013 - Labeling Nonpotable Water - [1910.141(b)(2)(i)]
02/04/2013 - OSHA requirement for updating Prescription Safety Glasses - [1910.133(a)(3)]
02/04/2013 - Training requirements for mechanics repairing and/or testing pressure relief devices. - [1910.119]

January

01/31/2013 - Clarification on labeling and SDS requirements under HCS 2012. - [1910.1200]
01/31/2013 - Employers responsibilities under HCS 2012 to classify hazards and create SDSs for products whose manufacturers are no longer in business. - [1910.1200]
01/31/2013 - Fixed ladders inside wind turbine towers - [1910.27; 1910.27(c)(1); 1910.27(c)(7); 1910.269(h)]
01/31/2013 - Transporting contaminated surgical instruments for cleaning - [1910.1030(d)(2)(viii); 1910.1030(d)(4)(ii)]
01/22/2013 - Digester Piping Must Be Secured With Through Bolts - [1910.261(g)(12)(ii)]