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

OSHA is convening an informal public hearing to receive testimony and documentary evidence on the proposed rule for Cranes and Derricks in Construction (29 CFR part 1926, subpart CC) which published on October 9, 2008 (73 FR 59714).

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

OSHA is requesting data, information, and comment on issues related to occupational exposure to diacetyl and food flavorings containing diacetyl, including current employee exposures to diacetyl; the relationship between exposure to diacetyl and the development of adverse health effects; exposure assessment and monitoring methods; exposure control methods; employee training; medical surveillance for adverse health effects related to diacetyl exposure; and other pertinent subjects. In this notice, OSHA intends the term ``diacetyl and food flavorings containing diacetyl'' to encompass other constituents of food flavorings containing diacetyl. In addition to information on diacetyl, OSHA seeks information on acetoin, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, furfural, and other compounds present in food flavorings that may cause or contribute to flavoring-related lung disease. The Agency is also interested in and seeks information about diacetyl present in substances other than food flavorings (e.g., naturally occurring diacetyl or diacetyl in fragrances) as well as substitutes used in place of diacetyl (e.g., diacetyl trimer). The information received in response to this document will assist the Agency in developing a proposed standard addressing occupational exposure to diacetyl and food flavorings containing diacetyl.

This notice, which sets forth the basic philosophy and requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP), revises VPP's traditional focus on individual fixed worksites by adding two new ways to participate: Mobile workforce and corporate. A significant reorganization of the program helps clarify the multiple participation options now available. Additional changes include: Greater flexibility in the VPP Demonstration Program; modified provisions concerning Star Program Rate Reduction Plans and 1-Year Conditional status; clarified requirements for Federal agency participants performing construction activities; and a new expectation concerning outreach and mentoring activities.

This document is a notice of addenda to the August 28, 1992 interagency Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Energy. That MOU states that DOE has exclusive authority over the occupational safety and health of contractor employees at DOE Government-Owned and Contractor- Operated facilities (GOCOs). In addition, the MOU between the departments dated July 25, 2000, on safety and health enforcement at privatized facilities and operations provides that OSHA has regulatory authority over occupational safety and health at certain privatized facilities and operations on DOE land leased to private enterprises. This action is taken in accordance with the MOU of July 25, 2000, which establishes specific interagency procedures for the transfer of occupational safety and health coverage for such privatized facilities and operations from DOE to OSHA and state agencies acting under state plans approved by OSHA pursuant to section 18 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act), 29 U.S.C. 667. The MOUs may be found on the internet via the OSHA Web page https://www.osha.gov under the ``D'' for Department of Energy Transition Activities.