MSD Column Proposal Appears on OSHA’s Spring 2011 Regulatory Agenda

July 8, 2011
On July 7, OSHA released its Spring 2011 semi-annual regulatory agenda, which lists impending final rules for confined spaces in construction and hazard communication and reintroduces the proposed rule to restore a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) column on the OSHA 300 log. OSHA will hold a Web chat to discuss the agenda July 11 at 2:30pm EDT.

The agency first proposed reinstating the MSD column in January 2010 but withdrew it a year later following concerns from the business community, a controversial decision among safety stakeholders. (See “OSHA Withdraws Proposed MSD Column on Injury/Illness Logs” to learn more.) OSHA reopened the public record on this proposal in May. The rule would not change existing recordkeeping regulations but instead compel employers to mark the MSD column box if an already-recorded accident meets the definition of an MSD.

OSHA plans to review information gathered from stakeholder meetings held in conjunction with the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy regarding the MSD column proposal “and take appropriate action based on the information received.”

OSHA’s Injury and Illness Prevention Program (I2P2), a rule that would require employers to “find and fix” hazards and has been a special priority of OSHA Administrator David Michaels, remains on the agenda in the pre-rule stage. The agency initiated the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement and Fairness Act (SBREFA) process for I2P2 in June.

Other proposed rules on the agenda include Walking Working Surfaces and Personal Fall Protection Systems (Slips, Trips, and Fall Prevention), for which the agency will analyze comments in August; and a rule to modernize OSHA’s reporting system, for which OSHA still intends to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in September.

Final Rules in Construction Confined Space, HazCom

The Spring 2011 agenda also points to several rulemakings expected to become final rules this year: confined spaces in construction, in November; the Hazard Communication Standard, in September; and Electric Power Transmission and Distribution/Electrical Protective Equipment, in September, among others.

The agenda includes a ruling to revise underground construction and demolition standards, which is expected to become a direct final rule in August. According to the agenda, this rule will “clarify and simplify OSHA’s standards applicable to cranes and derricks in construction by establishing a single set of standards for all construction activities involving cranes and derricks.”

Other direct final rulings include the agency’s intention to update its standards on acetylene and PPE in accordance with national consensus standards.

Rulemakings for combustible dust, diacetyl, beryllium, infectious diseases, bloodborne pathogens and reinforced concrete in construction are listed, as some have been for years, in the agenda’s pre-rule stage.

To view all regulatory actions on the agenda, visit http://www.dol.gov/asp/regs/agenda.htm. To learn how to participate in the July 11 Web chat, visit http://www.dol.gov/regulations.

About the Author

Laura Walter

Laura Walter was formerly senior editor of EHS Today. She is a subject matter expert in EHS compliance and government issues and has covered a variety of topics relating to occupational safety and health. Her writing has earned awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE), the Trade Association Business Publications International (TABPI) and APEX Awards for Publication Excellence. Her debut novel, Body of Stars (Dutton) was published in 2021.

Sponsored Recommendations

Avetta Named a Leader in The Verdantix Green Quadrant: Supply Chain Sustainability Software 2024

Nov. 26, 2024
Avetta was named a leader by Verdantix in a 2024 sustainability software report for our ability to help clients and suppliers build sustainable supply chains.

Avetta is a Leader in Supply Chain Sustainability Software

Nov. 26, 2024
Verdantix has named Avetta a leader in its 2024 Green Quadrant for Supply Chain Sustainability Software. Download the report for independent insights into market trends and top...

The Power of Benchmarking in Procurement: Driving Success and Strategic Planning

Nov. 26, 2024
Explore the strategic impact of benchmarking in procurement to drive success and plan effectively.

The Five Eras of Safety Maturity

Nov. 26, 2024
Discover the 5 Eras of Safety Maturity, from reactive measures to data-driven assurance, and how organizations can evolve toward proactive safety cultures.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!