[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