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OSHA Hazard Communication Letters of Interpretation
OSHA policies concerning employees working at home.
- Issued
- Record type
- Interpretation
- Historical standard
- HCS 1994, pre-GHS archive
- Current standard
- HCS 2024, as amended
ILPI assessment: This is a withdrawal notice; use the later home-work policy
OSHA explicitly withdrew its November 15, 1999 letter about employees working at home. This January 2000 page is the withdrawal notice, not the withdrawn guidance itself. OSHA also labels this January 2000 withdrawal notice an archive document.
Use OSHA's subsequent Home-Based Worksites directive, which supersedes previous statements on the subject. It distinguishes home offices from other home-based work such as manufacturing. Its home-office inspection policy does not create a blanket exemption for hazardous home manufacturing or erase applicable injury-recordkeeping duties. The record's historical HCS link supplies context, not an assertion that this brief notice establishes a HazCom rule.
Last reviewed: .
About this ILPI assessment
This comparison with current requirements is not a finding that OSHA has formally withdrawn this letter. This assessment reflects editorial judgment informed by human review and AI assistance. It is an opinion, may contain errors or omissions, and is not an official OSHA determination. For guidance on how OSHA requirements apply to your circumstances, contact your local OSHA office.
OSHA's notice about interpretation letters
The following notice is published on OSHA's interpretation pages; it is general guidance, not a letter-specific withdrawal notice.
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 OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov.
Source: OSHA's original letter page.
Mr. T. Trahan
CSC Credit Services
652 North Belt East
Houston, Texas 77060
Dear Mr. Trahan:
Many of our visitors use these weather-resistant SDS storage boxes like this one. We have 3 different sizes available at Safety Emporium.
We are hereby withdrawing our letter to you dated November 15, 1999, which was written in response to your letter of August 21, 1997, requesting information on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) policies concerning employees working at home.
Our letter provided guidance to you on your employees working at home. The letter, however, caused widespread confusion and unintended consequences for others. As a result of those unintended consequences, we have made the decision to withdraw the letter.
We regret any inconvenience this may have caused you. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact the Office of General Industry Compliance Assistance at 202-693-1850.
Sincerely,
Richard E. Fairfax, Director
Directorate of Compliance Programs
[To view the withdrawn letter, please click here (archived copy)]
The original official public domain version of this document is available from OSHA at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2000-01-06.