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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-8151.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
today published corrections and technical amendments to the final rule on
logging operations. All provisions are now effective.
"There were some concerns and questions from stakeholders
about some provisions of the rule," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Occupational Safety and Health Joseph A. Dear. "We took the time necessary to
respond to the concerns, to answer all the questions, and to make the standard
as effective as possible in protecting the safety of loggers."
The stay of enforcement for 12 provisions expires today.
Other provisions of the final rule were not affected by the partial stay and
became effective on Feb. 9.
On Oct. 12, 1994, OSHA issued the final logging rule,
which included, among other things, requirements for the use of personal
protective equipment; first-aid kits at logging work sites; machine
specification and operation requirements; vehicle inspection and maintenance;
training; and tree harvesting including manual felling, limbing, bucking and
yarding. All provisions had been slated to become effective Feb. 9, 1995.
However, several parties raised questions about these and some other of the
requirements.
After considering their questions, OSHA officials
determined that a six-month delay in enforcement of 12 provisions was
appropriate to clarify language in the regulatory text. The corrections and
amendments published today ensure the standard adequately expresses agency
intent regarding some of these provisions and provide additional information on
other provisions.
On Aug. 9 OSHA published a Federal Register notice
extending the partial stay 30 days, until Sept. 8 to complete its
reconsideration of the issues, to complete corrections and clarifications in
the regulatory text and preamble, and revise its compliance directive to
reflect those changes.
The corrections and clarifications are published in the
Sept. 8, 1995, Federal Register.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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