[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 185 (Wednesday, September 23, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59828-59829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20953]


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

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. OSHA-2013-0017]


QAI Laboratories, Ltd.: Grant of Expansion of Recognition

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: In this notice, OSHA announces the final decision to expand 
the scope of recognition for QAI Laboratories, Ltd., as a Nationally 
Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL).

DATES: The expansion of the scope of recognition becomes effective on 
September 23, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information regarding this notice is 
available from the following sources:
    Press inquiries: Contact Mr. Frank Meilinger, Director, OSHA Office 
of Communications, phone: (202) 693-1999; email: 
[email protected].
    General and technical information: Contact Mr. Kevin Robinson, 
Director, Office of Technical Programs and Coordination Activities, 
Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, Occupational 
Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, phone: 
(202) 693-2110; email: [email protected]. OSHA's web page includes 
information about the NRTL Program (see http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/index.html).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Notice of Final Decision

    OSHA hereby gives notice of the expansion of the scope of 
recognition of QAI Laboratories, Ltd. (QAI), as a NRTL. QAI's expansion 
covers the addition of one test standard to the scope of recognition.
    OSHA recognition of a NRTL signifies that the organization meets 
the requirements specified by 29 CFR 1910.7. Recognition is an 
acknowledgment that the organization can perform independent safety 
testing and certification of the specific products covered within the 
scope of recognition and is not a delegation or grant of government 
authority. As a result of recognition, employers may use products 
properly approved by the NRTL to meet OSHA standards that require 
testing and certification of the products.
    The agency processes applications by a NRTL for initial 
recognition, or for expansion or renewal of this recognition, following 
requirements in Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.7. This appendix requires 
that the agency publish two notices in the Federal Register in 
processing an application. In the first notice, OSHA announces the 
application and provides a preliminary finding and, in the second 
notice, the agency provides the final decision on the application. 
These notices set forth the NRTL's scope of recognition or 
modifications of that scope. OSHA maintains an informational web page 
for each NRTL that details the scope of recognition. These pages are 
available from the agency's website at http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/index.html.
    QAI submitted an application, dated November 8, 2017 (OSHA-2013-
0017-0015), to expand their scope of recognition to include one 
additional test standard. OSHA staff performed a detailed analysis of 
the application packet and reviewed other pertinent information. OSHA 
did not perform any on-site reviews in relation to this application. 
OSHA published the preliminary notice announcing QAI's expansion 
application in the Federal Register on February 26, 2020 (85 FR 11108). 
The agency requested comments by March 12, 2020, but it received no 
comments in response to this notice. OSHA now is proceeding with this 
final notice to grant expansion of QAI's scope of recognition.
    To obtain or review copies of all public documents pertaining to 
QAI's application, go to www.regulations.gov or contact the Docket 
Office, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Docket No. OSHA-
2013-0017 contains all materials in the record concerning QAI's 
recognition.

II. Final Decision and Order

    OSHA staff examined QAI's expansion application, the capability to 
meet the requirements of the test standards, and other pertinent 
information. Based on a review of this evidence, OSHA finds that QAI 
meets the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.7 for expansion of the scope of 
recognition, subject to the conditions listed below. OSHA, therefore, 
is proceeding with this final notice to grant the expansion of QAI's 
scope of recognition. OSHA limits the expansion of QAI's scope of 
recognition to testing and certification of products for demonstration 
of conformance to the test standards listed below in Table 1.

 Table 1--Appropriate Test Standard for Inclusion in QAI's NRTL Scope of
                               Recognition
------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Test standard                     Test standard title
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AAMI ES60601-1.............  Medical Electrical Equipment--Part 1:
                              General Requirements for Basic Safety and
                              Essential Performance (with amendments).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    OSHA's recognition of any NRTL for a particular test standard is 
limited to equipment or materials for which OSHA standards require 
third-party testing and certification before using them in the 
workplace. Consequently, if a test

[[Page 59829]]

standard also covers any products for which OSHA does not require such 
testing and certification, a NRTL's scope of recognition does not 
include these products.
    The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) may approve the 
test standards listed above as American National Standards. However, 
for convenience, the designation of the standards-developing 
organization for the standard as opposed to the ANSI designation may be 
used. Under the NRTL Program's policy (see OSHA Instruction CPL 1-0.3, 
Appendix C, paragraph XIV), any NRTL recognized for a particular test 
standard may use either the proprietary version of the test standard or 
the ANSI version of that standard. Contact ANSI to determine whether a 
test standard is currently ANSI-approved.

A. Conditions

    In addition to those conditions already required by 29 CFR 1910.7, 
QAI must abide by the following conditions of the recognition:
    1. QAI must inform OSHA as soon as possible, in writing, of any 
change of ownership, facilities, or key personnel, and of any major 
change in the operations as a NRTL, and provide details of the 
change(s);
    2. QAI must meet all the terms of the recognition and comply with 
all OSHA policies pertaining to this recognition; and
    3. QAI must continue to meet the requirements for recognition, 
including all previously published conditions on QAI's scope of 
recognition, in all areas for which it has recognition.
    Pursuant to the authority in 29 CFR 1910.7, OSHA hereby expands the 
scope of recognition of QAI, subject to the conditions specified above.

III. Authority and Signature

    Loren Sweatt, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
Occupational Safety and Health, authorized the preparation of this 
notice. Accordingly, the agency is issuing this notice pursuant to 29 
U.S.C. 657(g)(2), Secretary of Labor's Order No. 1-2012 (77 FR 3912, 
Jan. 25, 2012), and 29 CFR 1910.7.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on September 17, 2020.
Loren Sweatt,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety 
and Health.
[FR Doc. 2020-20953 Filed 9-22-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P