[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 22 (Tuesday, February 3, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4959-4962]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-02156]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. OSHA-2019-0009]
DEKRA Certification Inc.: Application for Expansion of
Recognition and Proposed Modification to the NRTL Program's List of
Appropriate Test Standards
AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In this notice, OSHA announces the application of DEKRA
Certification Inc., for expansion of the recognition as a Nationally
Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) and presents the agency's
preliminary finding to grant the application. Additionally,
[[Page 4960]]
OSHA proposes to add one test standard to the NRTL Program's List of
Appropriate Test Standards.
DATES: Submit comments, information, and documents in response to this
notice, or requests for an extension of time to make a submission, on
or before February 18, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted as follows:
Electronically: You may submit comments, including attachments,
electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, the Federal eRulemaking
Portal. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
Instructions: All submissions must include the agency's name and
the docket number for this rulemaking (Docket No. OSHA-2019-0009). All
comments, including any personal information you provide, are placed in
the public docket without change and may be made available online at
https://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, OSHA cautions commenters about
submitting information they do not want made available to the public,
or submitting materials that contain personal information (either about
themselves or others), such as Social Security numbers and birthdates.
Submission of comments: You may submit comments and attachments,
identified by Docket No. OSHA-2019-0009, electronically at
www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Follow
the online instructions for making electronic submissions. The Federal
e-Rulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov is the only way to submit
comments on this Notice.
Docket: To read or download comments or other material in the
docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov. Documents in the docket
(including this Federal Register notice) are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index; however, some information (e.g., copyrighted
material) is not publicly available to read or download through the
website. All submissions, including copyrighted material, are available
for inspection through the OSHA Docket Office. Contact the OSHA Docket
Office at (202) 693-2350 (TTY (877) 889-5627) for assistance in
locating docket submissions.
Extension of comment period: Submit requests for an extension of
the comment period on or before February 18, 2026 to the Office of
Technical Programs and Coordination Activities, Directorate of
Technical Support and Emergency Management, Occupational Safety and
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution
Avenue NW, Room N-3653, Washington, DC 20210, or by fax to (202) 693-
1644.
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 or 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, phone: (202) 693-1911 or email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Notice of the Application for Expansion
OSHA is providing notice that DEKRA Certification Inc. (DEKRA), is
applying for expansion of the current recognition as a NRTL. DEKRA
requests the addition of nine test standards to the NRTL scope of
recognition.
OSHA's recognition of a NRTL signifies that the organization meets
the requirements specified in 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. Each NRTL's scope of recognition includes: (1)
the type of products the NRTL may test, with each type specified by the
applicable test standard; and (2) the recognized site(s) that has/have
the technical capability to perform the product-testing and product-
certification activities for test standards within the NRTL's scope.
Recognition is not a delegation or grant of government authority;
however, recognition enables employers to use products approved by the
NRTL to meet OSHA standards that require product testing and
certification.
The agency processes applications by a NRTL for initial recognition
and for an 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. In the second notice,
the agency provides a 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,
including DEKRA, which details the NRTL's scope of recognition. These
pages are available from the OSHA website at http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/index.html.
II. General Background on the Application
DEKRA submitted an application to OSHA for expansion of the NRTL
scope of recognition on February 4, 2025 (OSHA-2019-0009-0022),
requesting the addition of nine test standards. OSHA staff performed a
detailed analysis of the application packet and reviewed other
pertinent information. OSHA staff performed an on-site review of
DEKRA's testing facility at DEKRA Dresden, Enderstrasse 92b, 02177
Dresden, Germany associated with this application on March 3-4, 2025,
in which assessors found some nonconformances with the requirements of
29 CFR 1910.7. DEKRA has addressed these issues sufficiently, and OSHA
staff has preliminarily determined that OSHA should grant the
application.
Table 1, below, lists the appropriate test standards found in
DEKRA's application for expansion for testing and certification of
products under the NRTL Program.
Table 1--Proposed Appropriate Test Standards for Inclusion in DEKRA's
NRTL Scope of Recognition
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Test standard Test standard title
------------------------------------------------------------------------
UL 60335-2-29 * *............ Household and Similar Electrical
Appliances: Particular Requirements for
Battery Chargers.
UL 62841-2-3................. Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools,
Transportable Tools and Lawn and Garden
Machinery--Safety--Part 2-3: Particular
Requirements for Hand-Held Grinders,
Disc-Type Polishers and Disc-Type
Sanders.
UL 62841-3-7................. Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools,
Transportable Tools, Transportable Tools
and Lawn and Garden Machinery--Safety--
Part 3-12: Particular Requirements for
Transportable Threading Machines.
UL 62841-3-12................ Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools,
Transportable Tools and Lawn and Garden
Machinery--Safety--Part 3-12: Particular
Requirements for Transportable Threading
Machines.
UL 62841-3-13................ Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools,
Transportable Tools and Lawn and Garden
Machinery--Safety--Part 3-13: Particular
Requirements for Transportable Drills.
[[Page 4961]]
UL 62841-3-14................ Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools,
Transportable Tools and Lawn and Garden
Machinery--Safety--Part 3-14: Particular
Requirements for Transportable Drain
Cleaners.
UL 62841-4-3 *............... Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools,
Transportable Tools and Lawn and Garden
Machinery--Safety--Part 4-3: Particular
Requirements for Pedestrian Controlled
Walk-Behind Lawnmowers.
UL 62841-4-4................. Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools,
Transportable Tools and Lawn and Garden
Machinery--Safety--Part 4-4: Particular
Requirements for Lawn Trimmers, Lawn
Edge Trimmers, Grass Trimmers, Brush
Cutters and Brush Saws.
UL 1740 * *.................. Industrial Robots and Robotic Equipment.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Represents the standard that OSHA proposes to add to the NRTL
Program's List of Appropriate Test Standards.
** OSHA notes that the title to this standard in the table is taken from
OSHA's List of Appropriate Test Standards (see https://www.osha.gov/nationally-recognized-testing-laboratory-program/list-standards). This
title is not the same as the title currently used by the Standards
Developing Organization that issued the test standard. OSHA intends to
update theList of Appropriate Test Standards to reflect the currently
used title in the near future.
III. Proposal To Add a New Test Standard to the NRTL Program's List of
Appropriate Test Standards
Periodically, OSHA will propose to add new test standards to the
NRTL list of appropriate test standards following an evaluation of the
test standard document. To qualify as an appropriate test standard, the
agency evaluates the document to (1) verify it represents a product
category for which OSHA requires certification by a NRTL, (2) verify
the document represents a product and not a component, and (3) verify
the document defines safety test specifications (not installation or
operational performance specifications). OSHA becomes aware of new test
standards through various avenues. For example, OSHA may become aware
of new test standards by: (1) monitoring notifications issued by
certain Standards Development Organizations; (2) reviewing applications
by NRTLs or applicants seeking recognition to include new test
standards in their scopes of recognition; and (3) obtaining
notification from manufacturers, manufacturing organizations,
government agencies, or other parties. OSHA may determine to include a
new test standard in the list, for example, if the test standard is for
a particular type of product that another test standard also covers, or
it covers a type of product that no standard previously covered.
In this notice, OSHA proposes to add one new test standard to the
NRTL Program's list of appropriate test standards. Table 2, below,
lists the test standard that is new to the NRTL Program. OSHA has
preliminarily determined that this test standard is appropriate and
proposes to include it in the NRTL Program's list of appropriate test
standards. OSHA seeks public comment on this preliminary determination.
Table 2--Standard OSHA Is Proposing To Add to the NRTL Program's List of
Appropriate Test Standards
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Test standard Test standard title
------------------------------------------------------------------------
UL 62841-4-3................. Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools,
Transportable Tools and Lawn and Garden
Machinery--Safety--Part 4-3: Particular
Requirements for Pedestrian Controlled
Walk-Behind Lawnmowers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
IV. Preliminary Findings on the Application
DEKRA submitted an acceptable application for expansion of the
scope of recognition. OSHA's review of the application file and
pertinent documentation indicates that DEKRA has met the requirements
prescribed by 29 CFR 1910.7 for expanding the recognition to include
the addition of the nine test standards for NRTL testing and
certification listed in Table 1. This preliminary finding does not
constitute an interim or temporary approval of DEKRA's application.
OSHA seeks comment on this preliminary determination.
V. Public Participation
OSHA welcomes public comment as to whether DEKRA meets the
requirements of 29 CFR 1910.7 for expansion of recognition as a NRTL
and whether the test standard listed in Table 2 above is an appropriate
test standard that should be included in the NRTL Program's List of
Appropriate Test Standards. Comments should consist of pertinent
written documents and exhibits.
Commenters needing more time to comment must submit a request in
writing, stating the reasons for the request by the due date for
comments. OSHA will limit any extension to 10 days unless the requester
justifies a longer time period. OSHA may deny a request for an
extension if it is not adequately justified.
To review copies of the exhibits identified in this notice, as well
as comments submitted to the docket, contact the Docket Office,
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Labor. These materials also are generally available online at https://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. OSHA-2019-0009 (for further
information, see the ``Docket'' heading in the section of this notice
titled ADDRESSES).
OSHA staff will review all comments to the docket submitted in a
timely manner. After addressing the issues raised by these comments,
staff will make a recommendation to the Assistant Secretary of Labor
for Occupational Safety and Health on whether to grant DEKRA's
application for expansion of the scope of recognition. The Assistant
Secretary will make the final decision on granting the application. In
making this decision, the Assistant Secretary may undertake other
proceedings prescribed in Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.7.
OSHA will publish a public notice of the final decision in the
Federal Register.
VI. Authority and Signature
Amanda Laihow, 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. 7-2025 (90 FR 27878,
June 30, 2025), and 29 CFR 1910.7.
[[Page 4962]]
Signed at Washington, DC, on January 27, 2026.
Amanda Laihow,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety
and Health.
[FR Doc. 2026-02156 Filed 2-2-26; 8:45 am]
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