Occupational Safety and Health Administration May 17, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

OSHA is proposing to revise the personal protective equipment (PPE) sections of its general industry, shipyard employment, longshoring, and marine terminals standards regarding the use of eye and face protective devices, head protection, and foot protection. OSHA is proposing to replace the existing references to specific consensus standards with performance language requiring PPE to be constructed in accordance with good design standards. The proposed revision includes guidance for determining what is a good design standard. In addition, OSHA is proposing to add non-mandatory appendices that list standards that constitute good design standards as used in the requirement. OSHA is also proposing to delete a paragraph in its ventilation standard that requires safety shoes to comply with a specific American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard, and another paragraph in in its welding, cutting and brazing standard that requires filter lenses and plates in eye protective equipment to meet a test for transmission of radiant energy prescribed in another specific ANSI standard. In proposing to delete these paragraphs, OSHA intends for this safety equipment to comply with the applicable PPE design provisions in Subpart I of the general industry standards. These proposed revisions are a continuation of OSHA's effort to update or remove references to specific consensus and industry standards located throughout the Agency's standards.