OSHA's Semiannual Regulatory Agenda is Available

OSHA's regulatory plan contains a statement of the Department's regulatory priorities and regulatory actions. It can be viewed at www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=FEDERAL_REGISTER&p_id=21872

Among other things, OSHA will be continuing its review of the Bloodborne Pathogen standard. It will also be looking at exposure to Crystalline Silica, Confined Spaces in Construction, Electric Power Transmission and Distribution; Cranes and Derricks, and Methylene Chloride.

Click the hot-link above to get the details and time schedules for various actions.

White House Review Touches Cranes, Diacetyl, Confined Space Rules

OHS reports that "Putting the long-awaited OSHA negotiated rule for safe operation of cranes and derricks into effect apparently will take longer than expected. Ditto for the agency's pending confined spaces in construction rule and the promised regulation, now at OMB, that would require workers to be protected from diacetyl exposure. A memo issued Tuesday (1/20/09) by Rahm Emanuel, President Obama's chief of staff, told heads of executive agencies and departments that regulations not yet published should be held for review by the president's appointees, and they should consider a 60-day extension of the effective date for published regulations not yet in effect."

Although I think we need a federal crane safety standard as soon as possible, I thing a review of the confined space proposal is a good thing. Based on the initial proposal, I think the originally proposed construction confined space standard is cumbersome and burdensome. For most of us construction safety guys who find a confined space hazard on one of our sites, we would turn to the General Industry Standard for help. I'm not sure why we don't simply adopt the GI standard for confined space in a fashion similar to the adoption of the GI HazCom standard.

Send me your comments. And, to read the entire OHS article, click here.