It took exactly one day for OSHA under the new Obama administration to move forward on two proposed regulations.
OSHA has issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on occupational exposure to diacetyl and food flavorings containing the substance.
The proposal seeks public comments on issues including methods to evaluate and monitor exposure, controls, employee training, and medical monitoring.
OSHA is accepting comments through April 21. The Federal Register notice is online here.
The agency has also issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to establish revised procedures for fit testing respiratory protection face masks.
In 1998, OSHA issued the revised Respiratory Protection Standard, which incorporated two categories of respirator fit tests. Some tests expose wearers to airborne agents to determine if they can detect them. Other tests use a machine to measure how much of a test agent leaks into a mask.
The proposed revisions would allow certain machine-based fit tests to be conducted more quickly and increase the required score for passing them.
Comments on this proposal are due by March 23. It’s online here.
