[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 236 (Friday, December 7, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 72998-72999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-29631]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 91, 121, 125 and 135

[Docket No.: FAA-2012-0953]


Policy Statement on Occupational Safety and Health Standards for 
Aircraft Cabin Crewmembers

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of a proposed policy 
statement regarding the regulation of some occupational safety and 
health conditions affecting cabin crewmembers on aircraft by the 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This policy 
statement will enhance occupational safety and health in the aircraft 
cabin by establishing the extent to which OSHA requirements may apply 
to the working conditions of aircraft cabin crew while they are onboard 
aircraft in operation.

DATES: Send comments on or before January 7, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2012-0953 
using any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. 
Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room 
W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket 
Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
    Privacy: The FAA will post all comments it receives, without 
change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information the

[[Page 72999]]

commenter provides. Using the search function of the docket Web site, 
anyone can find and read the electronic form of all comments received 
into any FAA docket, including the name of the individual sending the 
comment (or signing the comment for an association, business, labor 
union, etc.). DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement can be found in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-19478), as 
well as at http://DocketsInfo.dot.gov.
    Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at 
http://www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions 
for accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 
of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical questions concerning 
this proposed policy statement, contact Gene Kirkendall, Part 121 Air 
Carrier Operations Branch (AFS-220), Flight Standards Service, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20591; telephone (202) 267-8166; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites interested persons to participate by submitting 
written comments, data, or views on the policy statement. The most 
helpful comments reference a specific portion of the policy statement, 
explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting 
data. To ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, 
commenters should send only one copy of written comments, or if 
comments are filed electronically, commenters should submit only one 
time.
    The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well 
as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this notice. The FAA will consider comments filed 
after the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without 
incurring expense or delay. The proposed policy statement is available 
for review in the assigned docket at http://www.regulations.gov.

Background

    On July 10, 1975, the FAA published a notice in the Federal 
Register setting forth the FAA's determination that its authority to 
promote the safety of civil aircraft operations included occupational 
safety and health for aircraft crewmembers. The FAA Modernization and 
Reform Act of 2012 currently requires the FAA to initiate development 
of a policy statement to set forth the circumstances in which the 
requirements of the OSHA may be applied to crewmembers while working in 
an aircraft. Since this proposed policy statement changes an existing 
FAA policy that has been in effect for 37 years, and this new policy 
would change the extent of FAA's jurisdiction over cabin crewmembers, 
FAA believes that the aviation industry as well as all interested 
parties should have the opportunity to comment on the proposed policy 
statement before it is implemented.
    Therefore, this notice is requesting comment on the proposed policy 
statement which is available for review in the assigned docket.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 29, 2012.
John M. Allen,
Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-29631 Filed 12-6-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P