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

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its request for an extension of the information collection requirements specified in its standards on Electrical Protective Equipment (29 CFR 1910.137) and Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution (29 CFR 1910.269).

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to revise the information collection requirements currently approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for handling of retaliation complaints filed with OSHA under various whistleblower protection statutes and the procedural regulations described in this notice. These regulations contain procedures employees must use to file a complaint with OSHA alleging that their employer violated a whistleblower protection provision contained in certain statutes that generally prohibit retaliatory action by employers against employees who engage in activities protected by the statutes. The revised information collection requirements include a new form providing additional methods for employees to submit retaliation complaints to OSHA, including electronic submission.

OSHA invites interested parties to participate in informal stakeholder meetings on preventing backover injuries and fatalities. OSHA plans to use information gathered at these meetings to evaluate backover risks across various industries, whether or how backovers may be prevented by new technology or other methods, and how effective those measures are.

OSHA is initiating a regulatory review of its existing safety and health standards in response to the President's Executive Order 13563, ``Improving Regulations and Regulatory Review'' (76 FR 38210). The Agency conducted similar regulatory reviews of its existing standards previously as ``standards improvement projects.'' OSHA is issuing this request for information to initiate another of these regulatory reviews, and naming this review the Standards Improvement ProjectPhase IV (SIP-IV). The purpose of SIP-IV is to improve and streamline OSHA standards by removing or revising requirements that are confusing or outdated, or that duplicate, or are inconsistent with, other standards. The purpose of the regulatory review is to reduce regulatory burden while maintaining or enhancing employees' safety and health. SIP-IV will focus primarily on OSHA's construction standards. The purpose of this notice is to invite the public, including employers, employees, and employee representatives involved in the construction industry, to submit recommendations for revisions to existing construction standards, including the rationale for these recommendations. OSHA will review this information to determine the need for, and the content of, any subsequent SIP-IV rulemaking.

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 4,4' Methylenedianiline in Construction (29 CFR 1926.60).

With this notice, OSHA is withdrawing the proposed rule that accompanied its direct-final rule revising its Head Protection standards for general industry, shipyard employment, marine terminals, longshoring, and construction.

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 direct final rule.

The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA Assistant Secretary) invites interested persons to submit nominations for membership on ACCSH.

ACCSH will meet November 29-30, 2012, in Washington, DC. In conjunction with the ACCSH meeting, ACCSH Work Groups will meet November 27-28, 2012. OSHA also announces the renewal of the ACCSH Charter for two years.

The Secretary of Labor will renew the charter of the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH).

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extended its approval for a number of information collection requirements found in sections of 29 CFR parts 1902, 1904, 1905, 1908, 1910, 1915, 1917, 1926, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, and 1956. OSHA sought approval of these requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA-95), and, as required by that Act, is announcing the approval numbers and expiration dates for these requirements.

This document announces the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) decision to modify the Hawaii State Plan's ``final approval'' determination under Section 18(e) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (the Act) and to transition to ``initial approval'' status. OSHA is reinstating concurrent federal enforcement authority over occupational safety and health issues in the private sector, which have been solely covered by the Hawaii State Plan since 1984.

The Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); Department of Interior, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE); Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard (USCG); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) invite interested parties to participate in a co-sponsored stakeholder meeting, and submit comments on the use and implementation of performance-based regulatory models for enhanced safety and environmental performance in the United States oil and gas industry. The meeting will take place at the College of the Mainland, and hosted by the Gulf Coast Safety Institute. Speakers will address the current regulatory landscape and discuss the challenges and benefits of non-prescriptive, outcome-based approaches to reduce the frequency and severity of harmful events. Public attendees will have the opportunity to make comments at the meeting, and all members of the public may submit comments in writing. The purpose of the meeting is to gather information from experts and stakeholders to help inform the consideration of future applications of performance-based regulatory approaches in the oil and gas sector. The agencies involved are soliciting input on potential concepts and options, and are not proposing specific changes to existing regulations at this time.

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 proposed rule, OSHA is proposing to apply the updated requirements to that work. With this proposed rule, OSHA also is proposing to correct 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 General Industry Standard (29 CFR 1910.1025).

OSHA invites interested persons to submit nominations for membership on the Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health.

The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health requests nominations for membership on NACOSH. The terms of four NACOSH members will expire on December 8, 2012.

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

Hawaii administers an occupational safety and health state plan approved by federal OSHA. During the past three years, the state plan has faced significant budgetary constraints and staffing challenges, and has requested federal OSHA assistance to ensure that workers are afforded adequate worker protection during this period. The Hawaii Director of Labor and Industrial Relations has requested a temporary modification of the state plan's approval status from final approval to initial approval, to permit exercise of supplemental federal enforcement and to allow Hawaii sufficient time and assistance to strengthen and improve its state plan performance. Hawaii has pledged to accomplish the necessary corrective action to regain final approval status in a timely manner. OSHA is soliciting written comments to ensure that all relevant information, views and data are available to the Assistant Secretary during this proceeding. Members of the public may also submit requests for an informal hearing, which will be scheduled if the Assistant Secretary finds that substantial issues are raised that necessitate a hearing.

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

OSHA is issuing this direct final rule 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 proposed rule in today's Federal Register taking this same action.

The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health requests nominations for membership on the Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee (WPAC).

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) invites interested parties to participate in an informal stakeholder meeting on 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. The purpose of this meeting is to provide a forum to gather information and ideas on key outcome and activity based indicators and how OSHA can use such indicators to assess the effectiveness of State Plans.

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirement contained in the Standard on Reports of Injuries to Employees Operating Mechanical Power Presses (29 CFR 1910.217(g)).

In accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5. U.S.C., App. 2), the Secretary of Labor intends to establish the Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee (WPAC). The WPAC advises, consults with, and makes recommendations to the Secretary of Labor (Secretary) and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health (Assistant Secretary) on ways to improve the fairness, efficiency, effectiveness and transparency of OSHA's whistleblower protection activities.