A final rule that, according to OSHA, streamlines standards while reducing employer burdens, was published in the June 8, 2011 Federal Register. The rule stems from President Obama’s Jan. 18 Executive Order, “Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review.”
Some of the more significant changes that will result from the new rule include:
- Changes to OSHA’s existing respiratory protection standard, such as aligning air cylinder testing requirements for self-contained breathing apparatuses with U.S. Department of Transportation regulations, and clarifying that aftermarket cylinders meet National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health quality assurance requirements.
- Updating the definition of the term “potable water” to be consistent with the current Environmental Protection Agency standards instead of the former and outdated Public Health Service Corps definition.
- Eliminating a number of requirements for employers to transmit exposure and medical records to NIOSH, thus saving NIOSH significant costs to store and maintain the records.
The final rule sets no new requirements, and OSHA predicts it will save employers more than $43 million along with significant reductions in paperwork burden hours.
