OSHA Issues New Interpretations to Clarify Safety Standards
OSHA issues new letters of interpretation to clarify how employers must apply key safety standards, from confined spaces to recordkeeping and audiometric testing.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Dec 11, 2025
OSHA has issued seven new letters of interpretation intended to help employers better understand how federal workplace safety and health standards apply in specific situations.
The interpretations address topics that commonly raise compliance questions, including confined space requirements, training for powered industrial truck operators, the use of software to complete OSHA injury and illness forms, engineering control expectations under certain chemical standards, and the proper protocols for audiometric testing. OSHA stated that the guidance is intended to promote consistent enforcement and provide employers with clearer directions on how to fulfill their obligations under the law.
Agency officials noted that while interpretation letters do not create new requirements, they explain how OSHA reads and enforces existing standards. The agency stated that the new guidance reflects ongoing efforts to support employers, protect workers, and reduce confusion about complex regulatory provisions.
More information and the full text of each interpretation are available on OSHA’s website.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco brings a strong and varied journalism background to her role at Occupational Health & Safety, having previously served as a multimedia editor, broadcast journalist, professor and reviewer across major news organizations. As Content Editor, she writes news and feature articles, hosts sponsor and editorial webinars, co-hosts the SafetyPod worker health and safety podcast, and manages the brand’s digital and social media presence. She is committed to informing and engaging the safety community through compelling reporting and conversations that support safer, healthier workplaces.