Letters of Interpretation

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.

These letters of interpretation and the standards they address may not apply to OSHA State Plans. State Plans are required to have standards and enforcement programs that are at least as effective as OSHA's and may have different or additional requirements. Please see OSHA-approved State Plans for more information.

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How to Request a Letter of Interpretation

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Date Title Standard Number Standard Number
Clarification of "as free as practicable" lead contamination on surfaces 8 1926.62, 1926.62(h)(1), 1926.62(i)(2)(i), 1926.62(i)(4)(ii), 1910.1025, 1910.1025(h)(1), 1910.1025(i)(2)(i), 1910.1025(i)(4)
Electrical Busway Hot Swappable Plug-In Units 6 1910.332(b), 1910.333, 1910.333(a)(1), 1910.333(a)(2), 1910.333(c), 1910.333(c)(2)
Whether the respiratory protection medical evaluation may consider factors beyond respirator use 8 1910.134, 1910.134(c), 1910.134(e), 1910.134(e)(5), 1910.134(e)(5)(i), 1910.134(e)(5)(iii), 1910.134(e)(6), 1910.134(e)(6)(i)(A)
140 decibels (dB) impact/impulse policy under the noise standard 5 1910.95, 1910.95(b)(1), 1910.95(d)(2)(i), 1926.52, 1926.52(e)
Red Light Therapy Wraps 2 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.7
Stair Angle and Tread Depth Requirements 5 1910.25, 1910.25(c)(1), 1910.25(c)(2), 1910.25(c)(3), 1910.25(c)(5)
Audiometric testing of a worker who may have a cochlear implant 3 1910.95, 1910.95(g)(1), 1910.95(g)(7)(iii)
Engineering controls under the Benzene and 1,3-Butadiene standards 3 1910.1028(f)(1), 1910.1051(f)(2)(ii), 1910.1051(g)(5)(i)
Software used to generate Equivalent OSHA Forms 300 and 300A 6 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.29, 1904.32, 1904.35, 1904.40, 1904.41
Requirements of Powered Industrial Truck Training Program Implementation 4 1910.178, 1910.178(l)(2)(i)(A), 1910.178(l)(2)(ii), 1910.178(l)(2)(iii)
Enforcement Stay of the COVID-19 Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements under 29 CFR 1910.502 6 1904, 1910.502, 1910.502(q)(2)(ii), 1910.502(q)(3)(ii), 1910.502(q)(3)(iii), 1910.502(q)(3)(iv)
Permit Required Confined Space 3 1910.146(b), 1910.146(c)(1), 1910.146(d)(3)(iii)
Asbestos standards applicable to disaster remediation of a home structure 5 1926.1101, 1926.1101(f)(2), 1926.1101(g)(7)(ii), 1926.1101(g)(10), 1926.1101(k)(1)(i)
Is the use of paraffin wax as a form of topical heat application considered medical treatment beyond first aid for OSHA recordkeeping purposes 3 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904, 1904.7
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Feasibility and "Alternative Methods" 5 1910.147, 1910.147(f)(1), 1910.147(e)(2), 1910.147(e)(3), 1910.147(d)
Stairway Width 3 1910.25(c)(4), 1910.28(b)(11)(ii), 1910.35
Inspection Guidance for Animal Slaughtering and Processing Establishments 13 1903.8, 1904, 1910 Subpart E, 1910.95, 1910.111, 1910.119, 1910.132, 1910.141, 1910.147, 1910.212, 1910.1000, 1910.1200, 1913.10
European Commercial Metric (C-type) tires for commercial cargo vans 2 1910.177, 1910.177(a)(1)
Applicability of OSHA's definition of oxygen-deficient atmosphere to Air Force facilities 5 1910.134, 1910.134(d)(2)(iii), 1960, 1960.1, 1960.1(e)
Determining if an employee’s death would be work-related when involved in a motor vehicle accident 3 1904 - Table of Contents, 1904.39, 1904.5