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DOL/OSHA

RIN: 1218-AB37

Publication ID: Spring 2002

Title: Indoor Air Quality in the Workplace
Abstract: The health of American workers may be affected by indoor air pollution in the workplace. After reviewing and analyzing available information, OSHA published a proposed indoor air quality rule on April 5, 1994. The proposal would require employers to write and implement indoor air quality compliance plans that would include inspection and maintenance of current building ventilation systems to ensure they are functioning as designed. In buildings where smoking is allowed, the proposal would require designated smoking areas that would be separate, enclosed rooms where the air would be exhausted directly to the outside. Other proposed provisions would require employers to maintain healthy air quality during renovation, remodeling, and similar activities. As proposed, the provisions for indoor air quality would apply to 70 million workers and more than 4.5 million nonindustrial indoor work environments, including schools and training centers, offices, commercial establishments, health care facilities, cafeterias and factory break rooms. The proposed environmental tobacco smoke provisions would apply to all 6 million industrial and nonindustrial work environments under OSHA's jurisdiction. On December 17, 2001, OSHA withdrew its Indoor Air Quality proposal and terminated the rulemaking proceeding (66 FR 64946). In the years since the proposal was issued in 1994 a great many state and local governments and private employers have taken action to curtail smoking in public areas and in workplaces. In addition, the portion of the proposal not related to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) received little attention during the rulemaking proceedings and the record evidence supporting the non-ETS portion of the proposal is sparse. The Agency found that withdrawal of the proposal would allow it to devote its resources to other projects.
Agency: Department of Labor(DOL)	Priority: Economically Significant
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda	Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Completed Actions
Major: Yes	Unfunded Mandates: Undetermined
CFR Citation: 29 CFR 1910 29 CFR 1915 29 CFR 1926 29 CFR 1928
Legal Authority: 29 USC 655

Legal Deadline: None

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
Request for Information	09/20/1991	56 FR 47892
NPRM	04/05/1994	59 FR 15968
NPRM Comment Period End	08/13/1994	59 FR 30560
Record Closed	02/09/1996
Withdrawn	12/17/2001	66 FR 64946

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined	Government Levels Affected: State
Federalism: Yes
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No
Agency Contact: Steven F. Witt Director, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs Department of Labor 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-3700, FP Building, Washington, DC 20210 Phone:202 693-2200 Fax:202 693-1671 Email: witt.steven@dol.gov