Steel Erection Standard Effective Date Extended

July 17, 2001
OSHA announced Friday that its final steel erection standard will\r\ngo into effect Jan. 18, 2002. The original effective date was to be\r\nJuly 18, 2001.

OSHA announced Friday that its final steel erection standard will go into effect Jan. 18, 2002. The original effective date was to be July 18, 2001.

"This is the first OSHA safety standard developed under the negotiated rulemaking process and it''s important that we continue to work cooperatively in order to protect the safety of America''s iron workers," said Acting OSHA Administrator R. Davis Layne. "The revised effective date allows additional time for the agency to conduct outreach activities and affords the industry sufficient time to adjust to the new requirements."

The new effective date gives additional time to the industry to become familiar with the new requirements and to provide training to employees in the construction industry.

OSHA is also preparing outreach and training material to assist industry in the training process.

OSHA expects that the additional six months will also allow employers time to make the necessary changes to avoid costly re-fabrication of already made components and avoid serious delays to projects that would affect all trades involved in the construction process.

Components are typically fabricated two or three months prior to being erected.

The agency said it will not apply the component requirements of the new standard to the following two situations:

  • to components used in steel erection projects where the building permit was obtained before the final rule was published (Jan. 18, 2001); and
  • to components used in steel erection projects in which the steel erection work has begun before Sept. 16, 2001.

OSHA''s new rule on steel erection, developed in concert with industry and union groups, is expected to prevent 30 fatalities and 1,142 injuries annually and save employers nearly $40 million a year.

The standard enhances protections provided to iron workers by addressing the hazards that have been identified as the major causes of injuries and fatalities in the steel erection industry.

These are hazards associated with working under loads; hoisting, landing and placing decking; column stability; double connections; landing and placing steel joints; and falls to lower levels.

Information regarding OSHA''s decision to revise the effective date of the final steel erection standard is scheduled for publication in today''s issue of the Federal Register.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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