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

This notice announces the application of Electrical Reliability Services, Inc. (formerly Electro-Test, Inc.) for renewal of its recognition, and presents the Agency's preliminary finding to deny renewal of its request.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announces that OMB has extended its approval for a number of information collection requirements found in sections of 29 CFR parts 1910, 1915, 1917, 1918, 1926, and 1928; and for OSHA's Data Initiative. OSHA sought approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA-95), and, as required by that Act, is announcing the approval numbers and expiration dates for those requirements.

OSHA proposes to revise the explosives and blasting agents standard in subpart H of part 1910. This revision of Sec. 1910.109 is intended to enhance the protections provided to employees engaged in the manufacture, storage, sale, transportation, handling, and use of explosives. The proposal updates and clarifies the regulatory language, addresses regulatory inconsistencies between OSHA and other Federal agencies, incorporates updated consensus standards, and provides the regulated community with greater compliance flexibility.

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements specified in its Asbestos in General Industry Standard (29 CFR 1910.1001). The Standard protects employees from the adverse health effects that may result from occupational exposure to Asbestos in General Industry, including asbestosis, an emphysema-like condition; lung cancer; mesothelioma; and gastrointestinal cancer.

OSHA solicits public comment concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements specified in its Standard on Presence Sensing Device Initiation (29 CFR 1910.217(h)).

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements contained in the construction standards on Fall Protection Systems Criteria and Practices (29 CFR 1926.502) and Training Requirements (29 CFR 1926.503). The Fall Protection Systems Criteria and Practices Standard allows employers to develop alternative procedures to the use of conventional fall protection systems when the systems are infeasible or create a greater hazard. The alternative procedures (plan) must be written. Also, employers who use safety net systems may certify that the installation meets the Standard's criteria in lieu of performing a drop-test on the net. The Training Requirements Standard requires employers to prepare training certification records for their employees. The plan and certification records ensure that employers comply with the requirements to protect employees from falls.

OSHA solicits public comment concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirement specified in its standard on Additional Requirements for Special Dipping and Coating Operations (Dip Tanks) (29 CFR 1910.126(g)(4)). The provision is to ensure that employers make employees aware of the minimum distance between goods being electrostatically deteared.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) invites interested parties to participate in informal stakeholder meetings on Occupational Exposure to Ionizing Radiation. These meetings are a continuation of OSHA's information collection efforts on ionizing radiation.

This notice announces the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's final decision renewing and expanding the recognition of Southwest Research Institute (SWRI) as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory under 29 CFR 1910.7.

The Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health (FACOSH) will meet March 1, 2007, in Washington, DC.

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements contained in its Formaldehyde Standard (29 CFR 1910.1048). The Standard protects employees from the adverse health effects that may result from occupational exposure to Formaldehyde, including an itchy, runny, and stuffy nose; a dry or sore throat; eye irritation; headache; and cancer of the lung, buccal cavity, and pharynx.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is revising the general industry electrical installation standard found in Subpart S of 29 CFR Part 1910. The Agency has determined that electrical hazards in the workplace pose a significant risk of injury or death to employees, and that the requirements in the revised standard, which draw heavily from the 2000 edition of the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces (NFPA 70E), and the 2002 edition of the National Electrical Code (NEC), are reasonably necessary to provide protection from these hazards. This final rule focuses on safety in the design and installation of electric equipment in the workplace. This revision will provide the first update of the installation requirements in the general industry electrical installation standard since 1981. OSHA is also replacing the reference to the 1971 NEC in the mandatory appendix to the general industry powered platform standard found in Subpart F of 29 CFR Part 1910 with a reference to OSHA's electrical installation standard.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announces that OMB has extended its approval for a number of information collection requirements found in sections of 29 CFR parts 1910, 1915, 1917, 1918, 1926, and 1928. OSHA sought approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA-95), and, as required by that Act, is announcing the approval numbers and expiration dates for those requirements.

The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health invites interested parties to submit nominations for membership on ACCSH.

OSHA requests comment concerning its request for an extension of the information-collection requirements specified by its Regulation on National Recognized Testing Laboratory (29 CFR 1910.7). The Regulation specifies procedures that organizations must follow to apply for, and to maintain, OSHA's recognition to test and certify equipment, products, or material for workplace safety purposes.

OSHA routinely conducts reviews of its existing safety and health standards to improve and update them. As part of this ongoing process, OSHA is issuing this ANPRM to initiate Phase III of the Standards Improvement Project (SIPs III). SIPs III is the third in a series of rulemaking actions intended to improve and streamline OSHA standards by removing or revising individual requirements within rules that are confusing, outdated, duplicative, or inconsistent. These revisions maintain or enhance employees' safety and health, while reducing regulatory burdens where possible. OSHA has already identified a number of provisions that are potential candidates for inclusion in SIPs III. These candidates include recommendations received from the public in other rulemakings. The purpose of this notice is to invite comment on these recommendations, as well as provide an opportunity for commenters to suggest other candidates that might be appropriate for inclusion in this rulemaking. OSHA will use the information received in response to this notice to help determine the scope of SIPs III.

This notice announces the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's final decision expanding the recognition of TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc., (TUV) as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory under 29 CFR 1910.7.

Congress created NACOSH to advise the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on matters relating to the administration of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. The purpose of this Federal Register notice is to announce the upcoming NACOSH meeting. The Agenda items for the meeting will include updates on activities of both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Presentation will also be made on the following: National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA); Cooperative Programs; Enforcement Update; Standards Update; and Cranes and Derricks Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) Update.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is making a minor amendment to its final rule governing occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium in general industry, which was promulgated on February 28, 2006. This amendment implements a settlement agreement (Agreement) entered into among OSHA, the Surface Finishing Industry Council (SFIC), Public Citizen Health Research Group (HRG), and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (Steelworkers) on October 25, 2006, to resolve SFIC's legal challenge to the standard.

On September 15, 2004, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a new fire protection final rule for shipyards that incorporated by reference 19 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. Ten of those NFPA standards had been updated by NFPA since the fire protection rule was proposed and an additional NFPA standard has been updated since the final rule was published. In today's Federal Register, OSHA is publishing a direct final rule (DFR) replacing the references to the 11 older NFPA standards in OSHA's fire protection standard for shipyards with their most recent versions. If OSHA does not receive significant adverse comment on the DFR, the updated versions of the NFPA standards will replace their older versions in OSHA's fire protection standard for shipyards on the effective date stated in the DFR. If significant adverse comment on the updated versions is received, OSHA will withdraw the DFR and proceed with rulemaking on this proposed rule. However, if significant adverse comments are received regarding certain provisions included in the DFR, but not others, OSHA may finalize those changes that did not receive significant adverse comment, and conduct further rulemaking under the proposed rule for the changes that did receive significant adverse comment. A subsequent Federal Register document will be published to announce OSHA's action.

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements contained in its Ethylene Oxide (EtO) Standard (29 CFR 1910.1047). The Standard protects employees from the adverse health effects that may result from occupational exposure to EtO, including carcinogenic, mutagenic, genotoxic, reproductive, neurologic, and sensitization hazards to employees.

This notice announces the application of Southwest Research Institute (SWRI) for renewal and expansion of its recognition and presents the Agency's preliminary finding in favor of granting this request. This preliminary finding does not constitute an interim or temporary approval of this application.

OSHA solicits public comment concerning its request for an extension of the information collection requirements specified by its standard on Walking-Working Surfaces (29 CFR part 1910, subpart D).

ACCSH will meet October 11-12, 2006, in Washington, DC. This meeting is open to the public. Time and Date: ACCSH will meet from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday, October 11-12, 2006. Place: ACCSH will meet in Room N-3437 A/B/C of the Frances Perkins Building, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210.

The Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health (FACOSH) was established to advise the Secretary of Labor on issues relating to the occupational safety and health of Federal employees. The purpose of this Federal Register notice is to announce the upcoming FACOSH meeting. The Agenda items for the meeting will include: 1. Call to Order. 2. Program Updates. a. GAO Audit. b. SHARE. c. Federal Recordkeeping. d. Federal Agency Training. e. Pandemic Flu Guidance for Federal Agencies. 3. New Business. 4. Adjournment.