On May 23, 2014 the full semiannual regulatory agenda for federal agencies was published. The regulatory agenda for the Department of Labor includes a total of twenty six regulatory entries for OSHA-specific actions. Nine of these regulatory actions are in the prerule stage, seven are in the proposed rule stage and ten of these specific actions are in the final rule stage.
Three of the biggest changes to OSHA’s regulatory agenda since November 2013 include shifting the combustible dust rulemaking from a proposed rule to a prerule stage, removing the agency’s goal of issuing a notice of proposed rule for an Injury and Illness Prevention Program rule (I2P2) in September 2014 and adding a proposal for a rule on communication towers. Regarding the communication towers, OSHA alleges that in 2013 the industry experienced a dramatic increase in the number of fatalities occurring during communication tower work, with 13 total fatalities.” Therefore, OSHA claims that the current general industry and construction standards regulating communication towers do not adequately protect employees. OSHA intends to publish a request for information in June 2014.
The biggest surprise from OSHA was the Injury and Illness Prevention Program (I2P2) being removed from an active agency action to a long term action, removing the September, 2014 publication date as a proposed rule. Previously, the Asst. Sec. of Labor had repeatedly stated that the issue of a (I2P2) proposed rule was the agency’s highest priority.