[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 6, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16241]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: July 6, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
29 CFR Part 1910
[Docket No. S-060]
RIN 1218-AA71
Personal Protective Equipment for General Industry
AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.
ACTION: Final rule; administrative stay.
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SUMMARY: OSHA's final rule on Personal Protective Equipment for General
Industry, which was published in the Federal Register on April 6, 1994
(59 FR 16334), is scheduled to become effective on July 5, 1994. OSHA
is administratively staying the effective date of certain provisions of
Sec. 1910.132 of the final rule (requirements for hazard assessment and
training) until October 5, 1994.
DATES: Effective July 5, 1994, the effective date for paragraphs (d)
and (f) of 29 CFR 1910.132 will be administratively stayed until
October 5, 1994.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. James F. Foster, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and
Health Administration, Room N-3647, 200 Constitution Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 219-8151.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OSHA has received several requests to extend
the effective date of paragraph (d), hazard assessment, and paragraph
(f), training. It is contended that many employers will not be able to
complete the required hazard assessment and training before the
effective date.
OSHA has also received petitions from the American Forest & Paper
Association (AF&PA), the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), and
the Chocolate Manufacturers Association (CMA) to delay the effective
date of the provisions for hazard assessment and training.
It has been asserted that a worksite hazard assessment, where not
previously performed, could be a major undertaking. Also, longer
periods of time may be necessary if an employer determines that there
is a need for task-specific assessments or training.
For example, in its petition to the Agency, AISI stated:
In some cases, employers may determine that there is a need for
task-specific hazard assessments or training. As the compliance
effort moves along the continuum from generic toward task-specific,
a substantially longer period of time would be required to comply
with the final rule.
It has also been asserted that it would take a substantial amount
of time to develop and implement the type of training program that is
envisioned by the final rule. Even where training programs do exist,
some may not meet all of the requirements of the final rule, and
employers would not be able to implement changes to these programs
before the effective date. In its petition to OSHA, AF&PA remarked:
While some employers may have performed the required hazard
assessments and provided the required training, they may not be
fully comfortable certifying that their employees have the necessary
knowledge and abilities with respect to PPE without some form of
verification. Some employers may find gaps or weak points in their
existing PPE programs. Other employers will find that their existing
PPE programs are so informal that they will conclude they must begin
from ``ground zero.''
After evaluating these comments, OSHA has decided that it is
reasonable to allow an additional amount of time for employers to meet
the requirements pertaining to the hazard assessment (Sec. 1910.132(d))
and training (Sec. 1910.132(f)).
Therefore, the Agency is granting an administrative stay of the
effective date for paragraphs (d) and (f) of Sec. 1910.132 until
October 5, 1994 to allow employers an additional amount of time to
achieve compliance with these two paragraphs. OSHA expects that
employers will continue to expedite their efforts to fully comply with
all of the provisions of the standard. It is also important to note
that the effective date for all of the other provisions of the final
rule remains July 5, 1994.
List of Subject in 29 CFR Part 1910
Eye protection; Fact protection; Foot protection; Hand protection;
Footwear; Hard hats; Head protection; Occupational safety and health;
Occupational Safety and Health Administration; Personal protective
equipment; Safety glasses; Safety shoes.
Authority
This document was prepared under the direction of Joseph A.
Dear, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and
Health, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20210. It is issued under the authority of sections
4, 6, and 8 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29
U.S.C. 653, 655, 657); Secretary of Labor's Order No. 1-90 (55 FR
9033); and 29 CFR part 1911.
Accordingly, effective July 5, 1994, the effective date for
paragraph (d), hazard assessment, and paragraph (f), training, of 29
CFR 1910.132 is administratively stayed until October 5, 1994.
Signed at Washington, DC, this 29th day of June, 1994.
Joseph A. Dear,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 94-16241 Filed 7-5-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-M
