Ezel / Labor Guidance / US
Back to Federal guidance

Wire-mesh gloves in specified poultry-processing tasks

Summary A poultry industry group asked whether wire-mesh gloves were needed in several processing jobs. OSHA agreed they were not warranted for vent cutting, gizzard, heart and liver, and trim operations described in the request. OSHA archives the letter.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1975-07-30-0
Date issued
July 30, 1975
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy.
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1910 Personal Protective Equipment Hand Protection Poultry Processing
Source
View the official document

Apply this to your situation

This page explains the general guidance. Ask about your specific situation and see what current federal labor law says, with citations.

The current status of this document is unclear
OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy. It may no longer reflect the agency's current position. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.
About this page: The full text below is the official document from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

July 30, 1975
Mr. Bill Powers
Executive Vice President
Texas Poultry Federation
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Powers:
This is in response to your letter dated May 23, 1975, which was forwarded from the Dallas Regional Office to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in Washington, D.C., for clarification.
In reviewing the information provided, OSHA concurs with the clarification provided by the Atlanta Regional Office. Wire mesh gloves are not warranted in the following poultry processing operations:

  1. Vent Cut
  2. Gizzard
  3. Heart and Liver
  4. Trim

Thank you for your interest in occupational safety.
Sincerely,
Barry J. White
Associate Assistant Secretary
for Regional Programs

Related guidance

Permanently labeled locks for electrical lockout Opinion Letter · August 17, 2026 Helmet selection for lateral head-impact hazards Opinion Letter · August 17, 2026 Asbestos precautions when restoring drywall after flood damage Opinion Letter · May 7, 2026 Enforcement policy for recording and reporting COVID-19 cases Guidance · March 31, 2026

What does federal law require in your situation?

Ezel checks current federal labor law against your facts and answers with citations.

Opens in Ezel Pro.

  • Checks the law as it stands today, not only this page
  • Cites every source it relies on, so you can verify it
  • Chat, drafting and research in one workspace