Department of Labor June 22, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

OSHA solicits comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements contained in the Consultation Agreement regulations (hereinafter, the Onsite Consultation Program regulations) (29 CFR part 1908). The Onsite Consultation Program regulations specify services to be provided, and practices and procedures to be followed, by the State Onsite Consultation Programs. Information collection requirements set forth in the Onsite Consultation Program regulations are in two categories: State Responsibilities and Employer Responsibilities. Eight regulatory provisions require information collection activities by the State. The Federal government provides 90 percent of the funds for Onsite Consultation services delivered by the States, which result in the collections of information. Four requirements apply to employers and specify conditions for receiving the free Onsite Consultation services.

OSHA is proposing to update Appendix A to Subpart B of its Injury and Illness Recording and Reporting regulation. Appendix A contains a list of industries that are partially exempt from maintaining records of occupational injuries and illnesses, generally due to their relatively low rates of occupational injury and illness. The current list of industries is based on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. In 1997, the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) was introduced to classify establishments by industry. The proposed rule would update Appendix A by replacing it with a list of industries based on NAICS and more recent injury and illness data. The proposed rule would also require employers to report to OSHA, within eight hours, all work-related fatalities and all work-related in-patient hospitalizations; and within 24 hours, all work-related amputations. The current regulation requires an employer to report to OSHA, within eight hours, all work-related fatalities and in-patient hospitalizations of three or more employees.