Department of Labor May 14, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

OSHA is confirming the effective date of its direct final rule (DFR) revising the employee notification requirements in the exposure determination provisions of the standards for Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI)). In the March 17, 2010, DFR document, OSHA stated that the DFR would become effective on June 15, 2010, unless one or more significant adverse comments were submitted by April 16, 2010. OSHA did not receive significant adverse comments on the DFR, so by this document the Agency is confirming that the DFR will become effective on June 15, 2010.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is conducting a review of its Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) under Section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act and Section 5 of Executive Order 12866 on Regulatory Planning and Review. OSHA conducts its review pursuant to Section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 610, and Section 5 of Executive Order (EO) 12866. Section 610 directs agencies to review impacts of regulations on small businesses by examining: the continued need for the rule; the nature of complaints or comments received concerning the rule from the public; the complexity of the rule; the extent to which the rule overlaps, duplicates or conflicts with other Federal rules, and, to the extent feasible, with State and local governmental rules; and the length of time since the rule has been evaluated or the degree to which technology, economic conditions, or other factors have changed in the area affected by the rule. The EO requires agencies to determine whether their regulations ``should be modified or eliminated so as to make the Agency's regulatory program more effective in achieving the regulatory objectives, less burdensome, or in greater alignment with the President's priorities and principles set forth in th[e] Executive Order.'' Written comments on these and other relevant issues are welcome.