SAFETY TIPS
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced in the Aug. 31 Federal Register that it will hold an informal public hearing regarding OSHA's plan to update its personal protective equipment (PPE) design standards. The hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Dec. 4, 2007, at the Department of Labor's Frances Perkins Building in Washington, D.C.
Those who intend to present testimony at the hearing must notify OSHA in writing of their intention to do so no later than October 1, 2007. Parties who request more than 10 minutes for their presentations at the hearing and those who will present documentary evidence must submit the full text of their testimony and all documentary evidence no later than November 1, 2007.
OSHA is proposing to revise the personal protective equipment (PPE) sections of its general industry, shipyard employment, longshoring, and marine terminals standards regarding the use of eye and face protective devices, head protection, and foot protection. OSHA is proposing to replace the existing references to specific consensus standards with performance language requiring PPE to be constructed in accordance with good design standards. The proposed revision includes guidance for determining what is a good design standard. In addition, OSHA is proposing to add non-mandatory appendices that list standards that constitute good design standards as used in the requirement.
OSHA is also proposing to delete a paragraph in its ventilation standard that requires safety shoes to comply with a specific American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard, and another paragraph in in its welding, cutting and brazing standard that requires filter
lenses and plates in eye protective equipment to meet a test for transmission of radiant energy prescribed in another specific ANSI standard. In proposing to delete these paragraphs, OSHA intends for this safety equipment to comply with the applicable PPE design
provisions in Subpart I of the general industry standards.
These proposed revisions are a continuation of OSHA's effort to update or remove references to specific consensus and industry standards located throughout the Agency's standards.
Submitted by Sharon Roman, Regulatory Compliance Consultants, Inc.
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