OSHA highlights its 2025 letters of interpretation

December 29, 2025

Washington — OSHA issued seven letters of interpretation in 2025 to help “ensure the consistent and transparent application of federal workplace safety and health standards.”

The first of the letters addresses permit-required confined spaces.

The others cover situations including:

• Powered industrial truck training programs

• Software for OSHA recordkeeping

• Engineering controls for benzene and 1,3 butadiene

• Stair angle and tread depth requirements

“From construction to engineering, OSHA is providing decisive guidance after gathering feedback from employers, demonstrating our opinion letter program has already been effective,” Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said in a Dec. 10 press release. “This effort is a key component of the Trump administration’s comprehensive strategy to educate the public and empower employers to keep their workers safe.”

Selected letters of interpretation, or their excerpts, appear in the monthly OSHA Up to Date newsletter.