View Rule

View EO 12866 Meetings Printer-Friendly Version     Download RIN Data in XML

DOL/OSHA RIN: 1218-AD01 Publication ID: Fall 2015 
Title: ●Revocation of Obsolete Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) 
Abstract:

OSHA is initiating a new regulatory project to revoke a small number of obsolete permissible exposure limits (PELs) for chemicals contained in the 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1. This project is in accordance with Executive Order 13563, which is intended to facilitate the review of existing regulations that may be outmoded, ineffective, insufficient, or excessively burdensome, and to modify, streamline, expand, or repeal them. As the agency has previously discussed in its Request for Information on Chemical Management and Permissible Exposure Limits (RIN: 1218-AC74), there is widespread agreement among industry, labor, and professional occupational safety and health organizations that OSHA's PELs are outdated. In particular, the Agency will propose revocation of a small number of chemical PELs for which the OSHA PEL substantially exceeds other recommended occupational exposure limits and for which the agency has evidence that workers are not generally being exposed at a level approaching the OSHA PEL (e.g., employers have not been cited for violation of the PEL for some time). The agency is particularly concerned that the continued existence of these obsolete PELS imparts a false level sense of security to workers and employers who mistakenly believe that the PEL represents the level at which there are no adverse health effects. The agency expects that upon revocation of these outmoded and ineffective PELS that it may use other enforcement tools (e.g., the General Duty clause) in limited circumstances should worker health and safety be jeopardized.

 
Agency: Department of Labor(DOL)  Priority: Other Significant 
RIN Status: First time published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Prerule Stage 
Major: Undetermined  Unfunded Mandates: Undetermined 
CFR Citation: 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1   
Legal Authority: Not Yet Determined   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
Request for Information (RFI)  07/00/2016 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined  Government Levels Affected: Undetermined 
Federalism: Undetermined 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
William Perry
Director, Directorate of Standards and Guidance
Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
200 Constitution Avenue NW., FP Building, Room N-3718,
Washington, DC 20210
Phone:202 693-1950
Fax:202 693-1678
Email: perry.bill@dol.gov