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

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.

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 Manlifts (29 CFR 1910.68).

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements specified in the Storage and Handling of Anhydrous Ammonia Standard (29 CFR 1910.111). Paragraphs (b)(3) and (b)(4) of the Standard have paperwork requirements that apply to non-refrigerated containers and systems and refrigerated containers, respectively; employers use these containers and systems to store and transfer anhydrous ammonia in the workplace.

In response to Executive Order 13650, OSHA requests comment on potential revisions to its Process Safety Management (PSM) standard and its Explosives and Blasting Agents standard, potential updates to its Flammable Liquids standard and Spray Finishing standard, and potential changes to PSM enforcement policies. In this Request for Information (RFI), the Agency asks for information and data on specific rulemaking and policy options, and the workplace hazards they address. OSHA will use the information received in response to this RFI to determine what action, if any, it may take.

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of the information collection requirements contained in the Logging Operations Standard (29 CFR 1910.266).

This notice announces T[Uuml]V S[Uuml]D Product Services GmbH's 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 the OMB approval of the information collection requirements contained in paragraphs (b)(1), (b)(6)(i), (b)(6)(ii), (c)(15)(ii), (e)(1)(i), (ii), and (iii) and (f)(2) of the Standard on Rigging Equipment for Material Handling (29 CFR 1926.251). These paragraphs require affixing identification tags or markings on rigging equipment, developing and maintaining inspection records, and retaining proof- testing certificates.

OSHA is making two main revisions to its Mechanical Power Presses Standard. First, OSHA is revising a provision that requires employers to develop and maintain certification records of periodic inspections performed on the presses by adding a requirement that they develop and maintain certification records of any maintenance and repairs they perform on the presses during the periodic inspections. Second, OSHA is removing the requirement from another provision that employers develop and maintain certification records of weekly inspections and tests performed on the presses. This rulemaking is part of the Department of Labor's initiative to reduce paperwork burden; it will remove 613,600 hours of unnecessary paperwork burden for employers, while maintaining employee protection. OSHA is publishing a companion proposal elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register taking the same action.

The Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health (FACOSH) will meet December 5, 2013, in Washington, DC.

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 Overhead and Gantry Cranes (29 CFR 1910.179).

The purpose of this rulemaking is to improve workplace safety and health through the collection of useful, accessible, establishment- specific injury and illness data to which OSHA currently does not have direct, timely, and systematic access. With the information acquired through this proposed rule, employers, employees, employee representatives, the government, and researchers will be better able to identify and abate workplace hazards. OSHA is proposing to amend its recordkeeping regulations to add requirements for the electronic submission of injury and illness information employers are already required to keep under OSHA's regulations for recording and reporting occupational injuries and illnesses. The proposed rule amends the regulation on the annual OSHA injury and illness survey of ten or more employers to add three new electronic reporting requirements. The proposed rule does not add to or change any employer's obligation to complete and retain injury and illness records under OSHA's regulations for recording and reporting occupational injuries and illnesses. The proposed rule also does not add to or change the recording criteria or definitions for these records. The proposed rule only modifies employers' obligations to transmit information from these records to OSHA or OSHA's designee.

This document contains corrections to the final regulations, which were published in the Federal Register of Thursday, June 13, 2013 (78 FR 35559). The regulations update OSHA's general industry and construction signage standards by adding references to the latest American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards on specifications for accident prevention signs and tags.

With this notice, OSHA is withdrawing the proposed rule that accompanied its direct final rule revising its signage standards for general industry and construction.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is extending the deadline for submitting comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Occupational Exposure to Crystalline Silica for an additional 47 days and extending the deadline for submitting notices of intention to appear at its informal public hearings for an additional 30 days. OSHA also is delaying the start of the public hearings by two weeks.

OSHA requests comments concerning its proposed revision and extension of the information collection requirements specified by its Regulation at 29 CFR 1910.7, ``definition and requirements for a nationally recognized testing laboratory'' (The Regulation). 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 safe use in the workplace.