Occupational Safety and Health Administration 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This Federal Register notice announces meetings of the full Committee and the workgroups on April 15 and 16, 2014, in Washington, DC.

The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health requests nominations for membership on NACOSH.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is extending the deadline for submitting comments on the Request for Information on Process Safety Management and Prevention of Major Chemical Accidents.

In this notice, OSHA announces SGS North America, Inc.'s (SGS), application containing a request for renewal of recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) under 29 CFR 1910.7.

In this notice, OSHA announces Southwest Research Institute's (SWRI) application containing a request for renewal of recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) under 29 CFR 1910.7.

In this notice, OSHA announces the TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc. (TUVRNA), application containing a request for renewal of recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) under 29 CFR 1910.7.

In this notice, OSHA announces Factory Mutual Approvals LLC's (FM) application containing a request for renewal of recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) under 29 CFR 1910.7.

In this notice, OSHA announces the Canadian Standards Association's (CSA) application containing a request for renewal of recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) under 29 CFR 1910.7.

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements specified in its Standard on Powered Platforms for Building Maintenance (29 CFR 1910.66).

This document provides the interim final regulations governing the employee protection (whistleblower) provision found at section 402 of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which added section 1012 to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. This interim rule establishes procedures and time frames for the handling of retaliation complaints under FSMA, including procedures and time frames for employee complaints to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), investigations by OSHA, appeals of OSHA determinations to an administrative law judge (ALJ) for a hearing de novo, hearings by ALJs, review of ALJ decisions by the Administrative Review Board (ARB) (acting on behalf of the Secretary of Labor), and judicial review of the Secretary's final decision.

On August 9, 2010, OSHA issued a final standard establishing requirements for cranes and derricks used in construction work. The standard requires employers to ensure that crane operators are certified by November 10, 2014. Until that date, employers also have added duties under the standard to ensure that crane operators are trained and competent to operate the crane safely. The Agency is proposing to extend the deadline for operator certification by three years to November 10, 2017, and to extend the existing employer duties for the same period.

On April 12, 2013, the Acting Secretary of Labor announced, the reestablishment of the Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (MACOSH). On January 16, 2014, he selected 15 members and a Special Agency Liaison to serve on the Committee. The Committee is diverse and balanced, both in terms of segments of the maritime industry represented (e.g., shipyard employment, longshoring, and marine terminal industries), and in the views and interests represented by the members. The MACOSH charter was signed on May 6, 2013, and will expire after two years on May 6, 2015.

In this notice, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (``OSHA'' or the ``Agency'') is proposing to revoke permanent variances that it granted between 1973 and 2010 to 24 companies engaged in chimney construction (hereafter, ``previous variances''). The previous variances provided the companies with an alternative means of complying with provisions of OSHA standards regulating boatswains' chairs, personnel platforms, and hoist towers. On October 2, 2013, OSHA published a Federal Register notice (78 FR 60900) in which it updated the previous variances with a single, permanent variance (``the uniform variance''). The 2013 Federal Register notice granted the uniform variance to a number of the companies that held previous variances. OSHA determined that, compared to the previous variances, the uniform variance: (1) provides more consistency across the conditions specified by the variance, thereby expediting OSHA's enforcement of the conditions; (2) allows employers to use updated technology and industry practices; and (3) increases worker safety. Therefore, OSHA is proposing to revoke the previous variances and to invite employers not covered by the uniform variance to submit applications for an equivalent variance.

In this notice, OSHA announces its final decision granting renewal of recognition of T[Uuml]V S[Uuml]D Product Services GmbH's (TUVPSG) as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) under 29 CFR 1910.7.

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements specified in the Gear Certification Standard (29 CFR part 1919).

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). The standard protects workers from adverse health effects from occupational exposure to ethylene oxide.

NACOSH will meet February 12, 2014, in Washington, DC. In conjunction with the committee meeting, a NACOSH Work Group will meet February 11, 2014.