Occupational Safety and Health Administration November 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

ACCSH will meet December 10 and 11, 2009, in Washington, DC. In conjunction with ACCSH's meeting, its Work Groups will meet December 8 and 9, 2009.

OSHA is confirming the effective date of its direct final rule that revises the Acetylene Standard for general industry by updating references to standards published by standards-developing organizations. The direct final rule stated that it would become effective on November 9, 2009, unless OSHA received no significant adverse comments on the direct final rule by September 10, 2009. OSHA received eight comments on the direct final rule by that date, which it determined were not significant adverse comments. Therefore, OSHA is confirming that the direct final rule became effective on November 9, 2009.

Avalotis Corp. (``the applicant'') applied for a permanent variance from the provisions of the OSHA standards that regulate boatswain's chairs and hoist towers, specifically paragraph (o)(3) of 29 CFR 1926.452 and paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(4), (c)(8), (c)(13), (c)(14)(i), and (c)(16) of 29 CFR 1926.552. In addition, the applicant requested an interim order based on the alternative conditions specified by the variance application. These alternative conditions consist of the same conditions specified in recent variances granted by OSHA from these hoist-tower and boatswain's-chair provisions, as well as several additional conditions that would provide workers with protection from shearing, fall, and struck-by hazards. Therefore, OSHA is granting the applicant's request for an interim order.

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements specified in the Standard on Ethylene Oxide (EtO) (29 CFR 1910.1047).