2019-09984. QAI Laboratories, Ltd. Application for Expansion of Recognition

AGENCY:

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In this notice, OSHA announces the application of QAI Laboratories, Ltd., for expansion of recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) and presents the agency's preliminary finding to grant the application.

DATES:

Submit comments, information, and documents in response to this notice, or requests for an extension of time to make a submission, on or before May 30, 2019.

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments by any of the following methods:

Electronically: You may submit comments and attachments electronically at: https://www.regulations.gov,, which is the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for submitting comments.

Facsimile: If your comments, including attachments, are not longer than 10 pages, you may fax them to the OSHA Docket Office at [phone].

Mail, hand delivery, express mail, messenger, or courier service: When using this method, you must submit a copy of your comments and attachments to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2009-0026, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3653, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210. Deliveries (hand, express mail, messenger, and courier service) are accepted during the Docket Office's normal business hours, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., ET.

Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and OSHA docket number (OSHA-2013-0017). OSHA places comments and other materials, including any personal information, in the public docket without revision, and these materials will be available online at http://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, the agency cautions commenters about submitting statements they do not want made available to the public, or submitting comments that contain personal information (either about themselves or others) such as Social Security numbers, birth dates, and medical data.

Docket: To read or download comments or other material in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov or the OSHA Docket Office at the above address. All documents in the docket (including this Federal Register notice) are listed in the https://www.regulations.gov index; however, some information (e.g., copyrighted material) is not publicly available to read or download through the website. All submissions, including copyrighted material, are available for inspection at the OSHA Docket Office.

Extension of comment period: Submit requests for an extension of the comment period on or before May 30, 2019 to the Office of Technical Programs and Coordination Activities, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room N-3653, Washington, DC 20210, or by fax to [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Information regarding this notice is available from the following sources:

Press inquiries: Contact Mr. Frank Meilinger, Director, OSHA Office of Communications, U.S. Department of Labor, telephone: [phone]; email: [e-mail].

General and technical information: Contact Mr. Kevin Robinson, Director, Office of Technical Programs and Coordination Activities, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, phone: [phone] or email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Notice of the Application for Expansion

OSHA is providing notice that QAI Laboratories, Ltd. (QAI), is applying for expansion of recognition as a NRTL. QAI requests the addition of ten test standards to the NRTL scope of recognition.

OSHA recognition of a NRTL signifies that the organization meets the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.7. Recognition is an acknowledgment that the organization can perform independent safety testing and certification of the specific products covered within the scope of recognition. Each NRTL's scope of recognition includes (1) the type of products the NRTL may test, with each type specified by the applicable test standard; and (2) the recognized site(s) that has/have the technical capability to perform the product-testing and product-certification activities for test standards within the NRTL's scope. Recognition is not a delegation or grant of government authority; however, recognition enables employers to use products approved by the NRTL to meet OSHA standards that require product testing and certification.

The agency processes applications by a NRTL for initial recognition and for an expansion or renewal of this recognition, following requirements in Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.7. This appendix requires that the agency publish two notices in the Federal Register in processing an application. In the first notice, OSHA announces the application and provides a preliminary finding. In the second notice, the agency provides the final decision on the application. These notices set forth the NRTL's scope of recognition or modifications of that scope. OSHA maintains an informational web page for each NRTL, including QAI, which details the NRTL's scope of recognition. These pages are available from the OSHA website at http://www.osha.gov/​dts/​otpca/​nrtl/​index.html.

QAI currently has two facility (sites) recognized by OSHA for product testing and certification, with headquarters located at: QAI Laboratories, Ltd., 3980 North Fraser Way, Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5J 5K5. A complete list of QAI's scope of recognition is available at https://www.osha.gov/​dts/​otpca/​nrtl/​qai.html.

II. General Background on the Application

QAI submitted an application, dated August 4, 2017 (OSHA-2013-0017-0009), to expand recognition to include ten additional test standards. OSHA staff performed a detailed analysis of the application packet and reviewed other pertinent information. OSHA did not perform any on-site reviews in relation to this application.

Table 1 lists the appropriate test standard found in QAI's application to expand for testing and certification of products under the NRTL Program.

Table 1—Proposed List Appropriate Test Standards for Inclusion in QAI's NRTL Scope of Recognition

Test standard	Test standard title
UL 50	Enclosures for Electrical Equipment, Non-Environmental Considerations.
UL 50E	Enclosures for Electrical Equipment, Environmental Considerations.
UL 467	Grounding and Bonding Equipment.
UL 962A	Standard for Furniture Power Distribution Units.
UL 1012	Standard for Power Units Other Than Class 2.
UL 1310	Standard for Class 2 Power Units.
UL 1573	Standard for Stage and Studio Luminaires and Connector Strips.
UL 1951	Standard for Electric Plumbing Accessories.
UL 60950-21	Information Technology Equipment—Safety—Part 21: Remote Power Feeding.
UL 60950-23	Information Technology Equipment—Safety—Part 23: Large Data Storage Equipment.

III. Preliminary Findings on the Application

QAI submitted an acceptable application for expansion of the scope of recognition. OSHA's review of the application file, and pertinent documentation, indicates QAI can meet the requirements prescribed by 29 CFR 1910.7 for expanding recognition to include the addition of these ten test standards for NRTL testing and certification listed above. This preliminary finding does not constitute an interim or temporary approval of QAI's application.

OSHA welcomes public comment as to whether QAI meets the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.7 for expansion of recognition as a NRTL. Comments should consist of pertinent written documents and exhibits. Commenters needing more time to comment must submit a request in writing, stating the reasons for the request. Commenters must submit the written request for an extension by the due date for comments. OSHA will limit any extension to 10 days unless the requester justifies a longer period. OSHA may deny a request for an extension if the request is not adequately justified. To obtain or review copies of the exhibits identified in this notice, as well as comments submitted to the docket, contact the Docket Office, Room N-3655, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, at the above address. These materials also are available online at http://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. OSHA-2013-0017.

OSHA staff will review all comments to the docket submitted in a timely manner. After addressing the issues raised by these comments, the agency will make a recommendation to the Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health whether to grant QAI's application for expansion of the scope of recognition. The Assistant Secretary will make the final decision on granting the application. In making this decision, the Assistant Secretary may undertake other proceedings prescribed in Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.7.

OSHA will publish a public notice of the final decision in the Federal Register.

IV. Authority and Signature

Loren Sweatt, Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, authorized the preparation of this notice. Accordingly, the agency is issuing this notice pursuant to 29 U.S.C. 657(g)(2), Secretary of Labor's Order No. 1-2012 (77 FR 3912, Jan. 25, 2012), and 29 CFR 1910.7.

Signed at Washington, DC, on May 7, 2019.

Loren Sweatt,

Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.