Occupational Safety and Health Administration September 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) invites interested parties to participate in or observe an informal stakeholder meeting on Occupational Exposure to Diacetyl and Food Flavorings Containing Diacetyl. This meeting is a continuation of OSHA's information collection efforts on Diacetyl and Food Flavorings Containing Diacetyl.

OSHA solicits comment concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements for handling of discrimination complaints under Federal Employee Protection Statutes contained in regulations at: 29 CFR Part 24, Procedures for the Handling of Discrimination Complaints under Federal Employee Protection Statutes; 29 CFR Part 1979, Procedures for Handling Discrimination Complaints Under Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century; 29 CFR Part 1980, Procedures for Handling of Discrimination Complaints Under Section 806 of the Corporate and Criminal Fraud Accountability Act of 2002, Title VIII of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act 2002; and 29 CFR Part 1981 Procedures for the Handling of Discrimination Complaints under Section 6 of the Pipeline Safety and Improvement Act of 2002 (i.e., These Regulations). These regulations set forth procedures employees must use to file a complaint with OSHA alleging that their employer violated a Federal statute that prohibits retaliation against employees who engage in activities protected by the various employee protection statutes.

Elements of emergency responder health and safety are currently regulated by OSHA primarily under the following standards: The Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard; the personal protective equipment general requirements standard; the respiratory protection standard; the permit-required confined space standard; the fire brigade standard; and the bloodborne pathogens standard. Some of these standards were promulgated decades ago, and none was designed as a comprehensive emergency response standard. Consequently, they do not address the full range of hazards or concerns currently facing emergency responders, nor do they reflect major changes in performance specifications for protective clothing and equipment. Current OSHA standards also do not reflect all the major improvements in safety and health practices that have already been accepted by the emergency response community and incorporated into industry consensus standards. OSHA is requesting information and comment from the public to evaluate what action, if any, the Agency should take to further address emergency response and preparedness. The Agency will be considering emergency response and preparedness at common emergencies (e.g., fires or emergency medical and other rescue situations), as well as large scale emergencies (e.g., natural and intentional disasters). OSHA's areas of interest are primarily: personal protective equipment; training and qualifications; medical evaluation and health monitoring; and safety management. The agency will also be evaluating the types of personnel who would constitute either emergency responders or skilled support employees at such events, as well as the range of activities that might constitute emergency response and preparedness.

OSHA solicits public comment concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements specified in its Standard on Manlifts (29 CFR 1910.68(e)).