OSHA Unified Agenda - [Long-Term Actions]

Title: Hearing Conservation Program for Construction Workers 

Abstract: OSHA issued a section 6(b)(5) health standard mandating a comprehensive hearing conservation program for noise-exposed workers in general industry in 1983. However, no rule was promulgated to cover workers in the construction industry. A number of recent studies have shown that many construction workers experience work-related hearing loss. In addition, the use of engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment to reduce exposures to noise is not extensive in this industry. OSHA published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to gather information on the extent of noise-induced hearing loss among workers in different trades in this industry, current practices to reduce this loss, and additional approaches and protections that could be used to prevent such loss in the future. Work continues on collecting and analyzing information to determine technological and economic feasibility of possible approaches. 

Agency: Department of Labor(DOL) 

Priority: Economically Significant 

RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda 

Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Long-Term Actions 

Major: Undetermined 

Unfunded Mandates: Undetermined 

CFR Citation: 29 CFR 1926.52 

Legal Authority: 29 USC 655(b); 40 USC 333 

Legal Deadline:  None

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
ANPRM	08/05/2002	67 FR 50610
ANPRM Comment Period End	11/04/2002
Stakeholder Meetings	03/24/2004
Additional Stakeholder Meeting	07/21/2004
Next Action Undetermined	To Be Determined

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined 

Government Levels Affected: None 

Federalism: No 

Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 

RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 

Agency Contact:
Dorothy Dougherty
Director, Directorate of Standards and Guidance
Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
200 Constitution Avenue NW., FP Building, Room N3718,
Washington, DC 20210
Phone:202 693-1950
Fax:202 693-1678
Email: dougherty.dorothy@dol.gov