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

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements for OSHA's Data Initiative program.

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements specified in the Standard on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Shipyard Employment (29 CFR part 1915, subpart I).

OSHA is confirming the effective date of its direct final rule that revises the Head Protection standards for general industry, shipyard employment, marine terminals, longshoring, and construction by updating the reference to a standard published by a standards- developing organization, the American National Standards Institute. In the June 22, 2012, direct final rule, OSHA stated that it would withdraw the companion proposed rule and confirm the effective date of the direct final rule if the Agency received no significant adverse comments. OSHA did not receive significant adverse comments on the direct final rule. Therefore, OSHA is confirming that the direct final rule became effective on September 20, 2012.

OSHA invites interested parties to participate in an open, informal public meeting to discuss proposals in preparation for the 24th session of the United Nations Sub-committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UNSCEGHS). The UNSCEGHS meeting will be held December 12-14, 2012, in Geneva, Switzerland. OSHA, along with the U.S. Interagency GHS Coordinating Group, plans to consider the comments and information gathered at this public meeting when developing the U.S. Government positions for the UNSCEGHS meeting.

OSHA is broadening the exemption for digger derricks in its standard for cranes and derricks. OSHA issued a final standard updating the requirements for cranes and derricks on August 9, 2010, and the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) petitioned for review of the standard in the United States Court of Appeals. After petitioning, EEI provided OSHA with new information regarding digger derricks. OSHA reviewed the additional information and the rulemaking record, and decided to broaden the exemption for digger derricks used in the electric-utility industry by means of this proposed rule.

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of the information collection requirements specified in the Standard on Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals.

NACOSH will meet November 15, 2012, in Washington, DC. In conjunction with the committee meeting, the NACOSH Effectiveness Measures Work Group will meet on November 14, 2012.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is announcing that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the revised information collection requirements contained in the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) (29 CFR parts 1910, 1915, and 1926) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA-95). The OMB control number is 1218-0072.

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of the information collection requirements specified in the Hexavalent Chromium Standards for General Industry (29 CFR 1910.1026), Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915.1026), and Construction (29 CFR 1926.1126).

The Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health (FACOSH) will meet October 18, 2012, in Washington, DC.

On August 9, 2010, OSHA issued a final standard updating the requirements for cranes and derricks used in construction work. For most construction work, the final rule replaced a prior cranes and derricks standard. However, the prior standard continues to apply to demolition and underground construction work. Through this direct final rule, OSHA is applying the updated requirements to that work. With this direct final rule, OSHA also is correcting inadvertent errors made to the demolition and underground construction standards when it issued the final rule for cranes and derricks in construction.

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of the information collection requirements specified in the Lead in Construction Standard (29 CFR 1926.62).

OSHA is correcting the medical evaluation questionnaire in Appendix C of its Respiratory Protection standard by removing the term ``fits'' in a question. OSHA also is correcting its Mechanical Power Presses standard for general industry by restoring requirements that were removed inadvertently from the regulatory text. Finally, the Agency is correcting a cross reference made in two paragraphs in Appendix A to subpart L of its scaffold standards for construction.

This document provides the final text of regulations governing employee protection (or ``whistleblower'') claims under the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 (STAA), as amended, implementing statutory changes to STAA enacted into law on August 3, 2007, as part of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. On August 31, 2010, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published an interim final rule (IFR) for STAA whistleblower complaints in the Federal Register and requested public comment on the IFR. This final rule implements changes to the IFR in response to comments received, where appropriate. This final rule also finalizes changes to the procedures for handling whistleblower complaints under STAA that were designed to make them more consistent with OSHA's procedures for handling retaliation complaints under Section 211 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, and other whistleblower provisions. It also sets forth interpretations of STAA.

This notice announces the application of TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc., for expansion of its recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory, and presents the Agency's preliminary finding to grant this request. This preliminary finding does not constitute an interim or temporary approval of this application.

OSHA is correcting a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) with regard to the construction industry head protection standards to eliminate confusion resulting from a drafting error. OSHA published the NPRM on June 22, 2012 (77 FR 37617). OSHA also is publishing a correction to the direct final rule that it published the same day in the Federal Register (77 FR 37587).

This document provides the final text of regulations governing the employee protection (whistleblower) provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). An interim final rule governing these provisions and request for public comment was published in the Federal Register on August 31, 2010. Three comments were received. This rule responds to those comments and establishes the final procedures and time frames for the handling of retaliation complaints under CPSIA, 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.

OSHA is proposing to revise the personal protective equipment (PPE) sections of its general industry, shipyard employment, longshoring, and marine terminals standards regarding requirements for head protection. OSHA is updating the references in its standards to recognize the 2009 edition of the American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection, and is deleting the 1986 edition of that national consensus standard because it is out of date. OSHA also is including the construction industry in this rulemaking to ensure consistency among the Agency's standards. OSHA is publishing a direct final rule in today's Federal Register taking this same action.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is extending the comment period for its notice to gather information and ideas about establishing definitions and measures to determine whether OSHA-approved State Plans for occupational safety and health (State Plans) are at least as effective as the Federal OSHA program as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.

This Federal Register notice announces meetings of the full Committee and the workgroups on July 24 and 25, 2012 in Seattle, Washington.

NACOSH will meet June 20, 2012, in Washington, DC. In conjunction with the committee meeting, NACOSH Work Groups will meet on June 19, 2012.

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements contained in the Temporary Labor Camps Standard (29 CFR 1910.142).

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of the information collection requirements specified by the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Standard (29 CFR 1910.120).

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements contained in the Standards on Marine Terminals (29 CFR part 1917) and Longshoring (29 CFR part 1918).

This notice announces the opportunity for interested non- profit organizations, including qualifying trade associations, labor unions, and community-based and faith-based organizations that are not an agency of a state or local government to submit applications to become an OSHA Training Institute Education Center and deliver standard classroom instruction on a regional basis. State or local government- supported institutions of higher education are eligible to apply. Eligible organizations can apply independently or in partnership with other eligible organizations, but in such a case, a lead organization must be identified along with a list of any consortium partners. Current OSHA-authorized OSHA Training Institute Education Centers must submit a new application in order to maintain their OSHA Training Institute Education Center status. Applications will only be accepted during the solicitation period and will be rated on a competitive basis. Complete application instructions are contained in this notice. Please note that all applicants selected to be OSHA Training Institute Education Centers must attend a mandatory orientation meeting at the OSHA Directorate of Training and Education, 2020 South Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005-4102, at a time and date to be determined. This notice also contains information on a proposal conference designed to provide potential applicants with information about the OSHA Training Institute Education Centers Program. The conference will clarify OSHA expectations for OSHA Training Institute Education Centers, courses and methods of instruction, as well as administrative and program requirements for OSHA Training Institute Education Centers and the OSHA Outreach Training Program. Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend the proposal conference. OSHA will enter into five-year, non-financial cooperative agreements with successful applicants. These authorization agreements are intended solely to facilitate the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of safety training provided by authorized OSHA Training Institute Education Centers. These cooperative agreements will not constitute a grant or financial assistance instrument, and OSHA will provide no compensation to authorized OSHA Training Institute Education Centers.