OSHA Schedules Virtual Hearings on Proposed Rules and Deregulatory Efforts

Washington — OSHA is scheduled to kick off a series of virtual public hearings on more than 20 proposed rules, all of which are part of the agency’s deregulatory efforts.

According to a notice published on June 3, 16 of the proposed rules apply to chemical substances, including 1,3-butadiene, asbestos, benzene, cotton dust and lead.

"The intent of each proposal is to reduce compliance burdens, allow for the use of more up-to-date technology and/or better align the rules with the general Respiratory Protection standard (1910.134) to improve the comprehensibility of the requirements for respiratory protection programs for each chemical," OSHA says.

Other proposed rules are intended to:

• Remove medical evaluation requirements for employees wearing filtering facepiece respirators or loose-fitting powered air-purifying respirators. In another notice published on June 3, OSHA extended the comment period for this proposal to July 6.
• End the Safety Color Code for Marking Physical Hazards Standard and remove other related paragraphs in sawmills, shipyards and textiles standards.
• Eliminate a 2036 deadline for installing ladder safety or personal fall arrest systems on fixed ladders that extend more than 24 feet above a lower level.

The first hearing is set for 9:30 a.m. Eastern on Aug. 19.

"To testify, provide documentary evidence or question other witnesses at the hearing, interested persons must electronically submit their Notice of Intention to Appear (NOITA) on or before July 6," OSHA says. "In addition, those who request more than 10 minutes for their presentation at the informal hearing and those who intend to submit documentary evidence at the hearing must submit the full text of their testimony, as well as a copy of any documentary evidence, no later than Aug. 5."