2024-11556. TUV SUD America, Inc.: Application for Expansion of Recognition

AGENCY:

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In this notice, OSHA announces the application of TUV SUD America, Inc. (TUVAM) 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 June 12, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be submitted as follows:

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

Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency's name and the docket number for this rulemaking (Docket No. OSHA-2007-0043). All comments, including any personal information you provide, are placed in the public docket without change and may be made available online at https://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, OSHA cautions commenters about submitting information they do not want made available to the public, or submitting materials that contain personal information (either about themselves or others), such as Social Security numbers and birthdates.

Docket: To read or download comments or other material in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov. Documents in the docket (including this Federal Register notice) are listed in the http://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 through the OSHA Docket Office. Contact the OSHA Docket Office at [phone] (TTY [phone]) for assistance in locating docket submissions.

Extension of comment period: Submit requests for an extension of the comment period on or before June 12, 2024 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 by phone: [phone] or 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 by phone: [phone] or email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Notice of the Application for Expansion

OSHA is providing notice that TUV SUD America, Inc. (TUVAM) is applying for expansion of the current recognition as a NRTL. TUVAM requests the addition of eighteen recognized testing 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 its scope of recognition. Each NRTL's scope of recognition includes (1) the type of products the NRTL may test, with each type specified by its 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 an application by a NRTL for initial recognition and for an expansion or renewal of this recognition, following requirements in Appendix A, 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 its 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 TUVAM, which details the NRTL's scope of recognition. These pages are available from the OSHA website at: https://www.osha.gov/​nationally-recognized-testing-laboratory-program.

TUVAM currently has sixteen facilities (sites) recognized by OSHA for product testing and certification, with its headquarters located at: TUV SUD America, Inc., 401 Edgewater Place, Suite 500, Wakefield, MA 01880. A complete list of TUVAM's scope of recognition (including sites recognized by OSHA) is available at: https://www.osha.gov/​nationally-recognized-testing-laboratory-program.

II. General Background on the Application

TUVAM submitted an application to OSHA for expansion of the NRTL scope of recognition on September 30, 2021 (OSHA-2007-0043-0059), requesting the expansion of the NRTL scope of recognition to include eighteen additional test standards. OSHA did not perform any on-site reviews with respect to this application.

Table 1 below lists the appropriate test standards found in TUVAM's application for expansion for testing and certification of products under the NRTL Program.

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

Test standard	Test standard title
UL 6141	Wind Turbines Permitting Entry of Personnel.
UL 62841-1	Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools and Lawn and Garden Machinery—Safety—Part 1: General Requirements.
UL 62841-2-1	Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools and Lawn and Garden Machinery—Safety—Part 2-1: Particular Requirements for Hand-Held Drills and Impact Drills.
UL 62841-2-2	Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools and Lawn and Garden Machinery—Safety—Part 2-2: Particular Requirements for Hand-Held Screwdrivers And Impact Wrenches.
UL 62841-2-4	Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools and Lawn and Garden Machinery—Safety—Part 2-4: Particular Requirements For Hand-Held Sanders And Polishers Other Than Disc Type.
UL 62841-2-5	Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools and Lawn and Garden Machinery—Safety—Part 2-5: Particular Requirements for Hand-Held Circular Saws.
UL 62841-2-8	Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools And Lawn and Garden Machinery—Safety—Part 2-8: Particular Requirements for Hand-Held Shears and Nibblers.
UL 62841-2-9	Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools And Lawn And Garden Machinery—Safety—Part 2-9: Particular Requirements for Hand-Held Tappers and Threaders.
UL 62841-2-10	Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools And Lawn And Garden Machinery—Safety—Part 2-10: Particular Requirements for Hand-Held Mixers.
UL 62841-2-11	Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools And Lawn And Garden Machinery—Safety—Part 2-11: Particular Requirements For Hand-Held Reciprocating Saws.
UL 62841-2-14	Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools And Lawn And Garden Machinery—Safety—Part 2-14: Particular Requirements for Hand-Held Planers.
UL 62841-2-21	Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools And Lawn And Garden Machinery—Safety—Part 2-21: Particular Requirements for Hand-Held Drain Cleaners.
UL 62841-3-1	Electrical Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools And Lawn And Garden Machinery—Safety—Part 3-1: Particular Requirements For Transportable Table Saws.
UL 62841-3-4	Electrical Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools And Lawn And Garden Machinery—Safety—Part 3-4: Particular Requirements for Transportable Bench Grinders.
UL 62841-3-6	Electrical Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools And Lawn And Garden Machinery—Safety—Part 3-6: Particular Requirements for Transportable Diamond Drills With Liquid System.
UL 62841-3-9	Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools And Lawn And Garden Machinery—Safety—Part 3-9: Particular Requirements for Transportable Mitre Saws.
UL 62841-3-10	Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools And Lawn And Garden Machinery—Safety—Part 3-10: Particular Requirements for Transportable Cut-Off Machines.
UL 62841-3-13	Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools And Lawn And Garden Machinery—Safety—Part 3-13: Particular Requirements for Transportable Drills.

III. Preliminary Findings on the Application

TUVAM submitted an acceptable application for expansion of the NRTL scope of recognition. OSHA's review of the application file, and pertinent documentation, indicate that TUVAM can meet the requirements prescribed by 29 CFR 1910.7 for expanding their recognition to include the addition of eighteen additional testing standards for NRTL testing and certification. This preliminary finding does not constitute an interim or temporary approval of TUVAM's applications. OSHA seeks comment on this preliminary determination.

IV. Public Participation

OSHA welcomes public comment as to whether TUVAM 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 by the due date for comments. OSHA will limit any extension to 10 days unless the requester justifies a longer time period. OSHA may deny a request for an extension if it is not adequately justified.

To review copies of the exhibits identified in this notice, as well as comments submitted to the docket, contact the Docket Office, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. These materials also are generally available online at https://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. OSHA-2007-0043 (for further information, see the “ Docket ” heading in the section of this notice titled ADDRESSES ).

OSHA staff will review all comments to the docket submitted in a timely manner. After addressing the issues raised by these comments, staff will make a recommendation to the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health on whether to grant TUVAM's applications for expansion of the scope of recognition. The Assistant Secretary will make the final decision on granting the applications. 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 .

V. Authority and Signature

James S. Frederick, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210, authorized the preparation of this notice. Accordingly, the Agency is issuing this notice pursuant to Section 29 U.S.C. 657(g)(2), Secretary of Labor's Order No. 8-2020 (85 FR 58393; Sept. 18, 2020), and 29 CFR 1910.7.

Signed at Washington, DC, on May 20, 2024.

James S. Frederick,

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.