Government Affairs Updates

Phase 3 of OSHA’s Standards Improvement Project Published

Thursday, July 15th

From OSHA –

WASHINGTON – OSHA announced today Standards Improvement Project (SIP)-III (http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-15156.htm) a proposed rule to revise and remove requirements within several OSHA standards that are outdated, duplicative or inconsistent. This rulemaking will help keep OSHA standards up-to-date and will help employers better understand their regulatory obligations.

For example, OSHA is proposing in SIP-III to update the definition for “potable water” in the Sanitation standard (1910.141) with the current Environmental Protection Agency clean water standard. OSHA is also proposing to remove an outdated provision in the Bloodborne Pathogens standard (1910.1030) that requires employers to provide hand dryers that use warm air. This will allow use of newer technologies that use room temperature air.

These SIP-Phase III recommendations evolved through the agency’s review of its standards, suggestions and comments from the public, and recommendations from the Office of Management and Budget. The proposal builds on the success of SIP-Phase I published June 18, 1998, and SIP-Phase II published Jan. 5, 2005.

Those interested in submitting comments for this proposed rule can submit them through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Comments may also be submitted by mail to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2006-0049, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. Submissions can also be faxed to the OSHA Docket Office at 202-693-1648. OSHA will accept comments until Sept. 30, 2010.


In this update: