Occupational Safety and Health Administration December 19, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Between 1975 and 1977, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (``OSHA'' or ``the Agency'') granted permanent variances to 24 companies engaged in the construction of cylindrical steel tanks. The variances specified several conditions that served as an alternative means of compliance to the falling-object-protection and fall-protection requirements of the standard on general requirements for scaffolds in effect during this period. In 1996, OSHA revised Sec. 1926.451 to include provisions that duplicated the conditions specified by these variances. Therefore, OSHA believes the alternative means of compliance granted by the variances is no longer necessary, and is proposing to revoke the variances.