Safety: OSHA pulls an about-face on two key issues

In a move that federal OSHA is calling small business friendly, the agency recently reversed its position on two issues that caught the eye of the entire business community. First, OSHA withdrew its proposed interpretation that would have allowed it to enforce engineering controls ahead of hearing conservation programs. Since it was addressed in an interpretation, formal rule-making would not have been necessarya move that many felt was controversial.

The second about-face came last week when OSHA announced it would temporarily withdraw a proposal to add a column to tally musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) on the OSHA 300 Log. Even though MSDs remain the leading cause of injuries in this country, many business leaders saw adding a column as burdensome and a prelude to an even more burdensome ergonomics rule. With these reversals in position, OSHA is signaling a slowdown on some controversial issues, but theres no telling how long these issues will remain on the shelf. Vigilant will keep you posted as developments occur.