OSHA is seeking information and comments on a proposal from the Information Technology Industry Council (ITIC) to permit the use of a "Supplier's Declaration of Conformity" (SDoC) as an alternative means of approval for information technology equipment in lieu of product approval from Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs). OSHA currently requires this equipment to be approved by NRTLs independent facilities that are recognized by OSHA to perform independent safety testing and product certification.
An SDoC is a written statement produced by an equipment manufacturer or supplier that a product meets or conforms to a specified test standard or a set of requirements. SDoC is an internationally recognized term for manufacturer's self-approval of products.
The RFI will gather information on the workings of existing SDoC systems and operations, plus a number of areas related to the ITIC proposal, such as the safety of products in SDoC systems and possible benefits or disadvantages for workers, employers or OSHA if the agency were to allow SDoC product approval. The RFI will be used as a basis to determine what steps, if any, the agency will take.
Written comments on the RFI must be submitted in triplicate to the Docket Office, Docket NRTL03-SDOC, Room N2625, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Room N2625, Washington, D.C., 20210; telephone (202) 693-2350. (OSHA's TTY number is (877) 889-5627). Comments of 10 pages or fewer may be faxed to the Docket Office at (202) 693-1648, provided that the original and one copy are sent to the docket office immediately thereafter. Electronic comments should be sent to ecomments.osha.gov.
To read the Federal Register notice, click on www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=FEDERAL_REGISTER&p_id=18459.