Washington — A new Department of Labor program allows users to explore past guidance and submit new requests to the appropriate agency.
According to a June 2 press release, the department’s new opinion letter program and its webpage cover five key enforcement agencies within DOL:
- OSHA will provide letters of interpretation.
- The Mine Safety and Health Administration will offer compliance assistance resources via its new MSHA Information Hub, a centralized platform offering guidance, regulatory updates, training materials and technical support.
- The Wage and Hour Division will issue opinion letters.
- The Employee Benefits Security Administration will release advisory opinions and information letters.
- The Veterans’ Employment and Training Service will publish opinion letters.
OSHA recently released four letters of interpretation stemming from requests received in October and November. The letters cover stairway width, lockout/tagout, asbestos and the use of paraffin wax as a first-aid treatment.
“Opinion letters are an important tool in ensuring workers and businesses alike have access to clear, practical guidance,” Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said in the release. “Launching this program is part of our broader effort to empower the public with the information they need to understand and comply with the laws the department enforces.”
