Despite delays, OSHA says to expect several rules soon

Washington – Several final and proposed OSHA rules – including a long-delayed update to the beryllium rule – are expected to be published in the next few months, according to the agency’s spring regulatory agenda, released May 21.

A notice of proposed rulemaking that would update OSHA’s Beryllium Standard was set for publication in May, but had not been released as of press time. In its fall regulatory agenda, OSHA indicated its intent to publish the beryllium NPRM last January. Stakeholders have long called for a revision to the rule, and the agency has been pursuing an update since at least 2002.

Another rule set for May publication but not yet released is a revision to OSHA’s eye and face protection rules to reflect the latest consensus standards.

The publication of two final rules will see a slight delay under the spring agenda. A rule on walking/working surfaces to address slip, trip and fall hazards has been pushed back two months to August, and a rule to improve tracking of occupational injuries and illnesses by changing OSHA’s reporting system has been pushed back one month to September.

According to the agenda, OSHA remains on track to complete the next steps for several other major rulemakings, including completing by June its analysis of comments on a proposed silica rule. A silica rule has been in the works since 2003, and OSHA has proposed new permissible exposure limits based on recommendations NIOSH originally issued more than 40 years ago.