|
 Printer-Friendly Version
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-8151
Promised goal surpassed
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today canceled
outdated and duplicative regulations, resulting in savings of almost $10
million annually and elimination of thousands of hours of paperwork for
employers.
Today's reductions are the latest of several under OSHA's standards
improvement project, which has eliminated 1,081 pages of OSHA regulations from
the Code of Federal Regulations.
"We now have removed even more pages of regulations than we promised
President Clinton we would eliminate," said OSHA Administrator Charles N.
Jeffress. "This is part of the New OSHA's focus on common sense regulation. At
the same time, we are making it easier for employers to protect their workers."
The reduction in OSHA regulations stems from a 1995 Presidential
directive that federal agencies review all standards and update or eliminate
any as needed. OSHA committed to eliminate 1,049 pages from the Code of Federal
Regulations by removing obsolete and outdated information, revoking duplicative
and repetitive standards, and revising standards that do not apply to current
industry practices.
Today's final rule on standards improvement is the latest of five OSHA
has issued. This latest action eliminates several standards that cover hazards
outside of OSHA's jurisdiction, such as transportation of certain chemicals and
explosives, which are under the jurisdiction of the Department of
Transportation. The new rule also changes or removes some medical tests
required by standards covering arsenic and coke oven emissions to reflect
current practice.
Changes are being made to:
- Emergency response provisions of the vinyl chloride standard. They
now conform to the standard on hazardous waste operations and emergency
response;
- Rules for safety measures workers must take when they enter confined
spaces in pulp and paper mills. They are now the same as the more
performance-oriented "permit-required confined spaces" standard, which requires
the use of attendants and lifelines.
- Temporary labor camp standards. Public safety measures in the
standard that do not fall within OSHA's jurisdiction are eliminated; and
- Textile industry and other standards. Unnecessary cross-references
are eliminated.
The new rule also eliminates provisions in OSHA's standards for first
aid and medical services that require a consulting physician's approval for
certain first aid supplies. This requirement applied only in cases where no
infirmary, clinic or hospital was near the worksite, and OSHA estimated that
only 10 percent of establishments were affected by the requirement.
In March of 1996, the agency eliminated 275 pages when it made
corrections, deleted redundant provisions and reorganized other provisions in
its standards. In June of 1996, the agency eliminated 645 pages by
consolidating standards in its general industry volume that were repeated for
the shipyard employment and construction standards. In June 25, 1997, another
48 pages were deleted when OSHA updated longshoring and marine terminal
standards. In January 1998, OSHA cut 100 pages by updating the respiratory
protection standard, omitting respiratory provisions in other standards that
duplicated those requirements and revising others to make them consistent.
The new final rule becomes effective Aug. 17, 1998.
Notice of the rule was published Thursday, June 18, 1998, in the Federal
Register.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
| 
