[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 22 (Friday, February 1, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7460-7463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02173]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. OSHA-2012-0055]
Stakeholder Meeting on the Nationally Recognized Testing
Laboratory Program
AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.
ACTION: Notice of stakeholder meeting.
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SUMMARY: OSHA invites interested parties to attend an informal
stakeholder meeting concerning Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory
(NRTL) Program policies. The meeting will focus on the following
topics: NRTL independence; the NRTL initial application process and
timeline; the NRTL renewal process; and, at OSHA's discretion and as
time permits, other topics raised by participants or OSHA staff. OSHA
plans to use the information gathered at this meeting to explore
development of new or revised policies, procedures, or guidelines for
the NRTL Program.
DATES: The stakeholder meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 6,
2013, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., e.t., in Washington, DC. The deadline to
register to attend the meeting as a participant or an observer is
Friday, February 22, 2013. Those who submit their registrations after
February 22, 2013, may not receive confirmation of their attendance
from OSHA. The
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deadline to submit, in writing, suggestions of additional topics for
the meeting is Wednesday, February 13, 2013. Information concerning
other forms of attendance (e.g., by phone) and the room number for the
meeting will be available, no later than Wednesday, February 20, 2013,
on OSHA's NRTL Program Web site http://www.osha.gov/nrtlpi, and in the
docket for this meeting (Docket ID: OSHA-2012-0055, available at http://www.regulations.gov, and the OSHA Docket Office).
ADDRESSES: The meeting location, and addresses for registering and for
suggesting additional topics, are as follows:
1. Stakeholder Meeting
OSHA will hold the stakeholder meeting in the Francis Perkins
Building, U.S. Department of Labor, at 200 Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20210. See DATES and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
concerning the room number for the meeting.
2. Registration to Attend
To register to attend as a participant or an observer, use one of
the three methods listed below. For additional information about
registering, see the ``Registration'' section of this notice under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.
a. Electronically: Email your notification to attend to Ms. Lisa
Saylor Gentry at [email protected], and label the subject line of the
email ``NRTL March 6, 2013, Stakeholder Meeting Registration.''
b. Facsimile: Fax your notification to attend to Ms. Gentry at
(202) 693-1644, and label it ``NRTL March 6, 2013, Stakeholder Meeting
Registration.''
c. Regular or express mail, hand delivery, or messenger (courier)
service: Send your notification to attend to: OSHA Directorate of
Technical Support and Emergency Management, 200 Constitution Ave. NW.,
Room N-3655, Washington, DC 20210, Attention: Lisa Saylor Gentry. On
the outside of the envelope, write ``NRTL March 6, 2013, Stakeholder
Meeting Registration.'' Note that security procedures may result in
significant delays in receiving registrations by regular mail. If you
have any questions about these instructions, contact Ms. Gentry at
(202) 693-1996.
3. Suggesting Additional Topics
Submit, in writing to the public docket, your suggestions for
additional topics to address at the meeting through one of the three
methods listed below. For additional information about submissions to
the public docket, see the ``Submissions to the Public Docket'' section
of this notice under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, below.
a. Electronically: Submit suggested topics and any attachments
electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal
eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for making
electronic submissions.
b. Facsimile: If submissions, including attachments, are not longer
than ten (10) pages, commenters may fax them to the OSHA Docket Office
at (202) 693-1648.
c. Regular or express mail, hand delivery, or messenger (courier)
service: Submit suggestions of additional topics and any attachments
to: OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2012-0055, Technical Data
Center, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-2350 (TDY number: (877) 889-
5627). Note that security procedures may result in significant delays
in receiving submissions and other written materials by regular mail.
Contact the OSHA Docket Office for information about security
procedures concerning delivery of materials by regular or express mail,
hand delivery, or messenger (courier) service. The hours of operation
for the OSHA Docket Office are 8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m., e.t.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information regarding this notice is
available from the following sources:
Press inquiries: Contact Frank Meilinger, Director, OSHA Office of
Communications, Room N-3647, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-1999; email:
[email protected].
General and technical information: Contact Lisa Saylor Gentry,
Program Analyst, OSHA Directorate of Technical Services and Emergency
Management, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room
N-3655,Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-1996; email:
[email protected].
Copies of this Federal Register notice: Electronic copies are
available at http://www.regulations.gov. This Federal Register notice,
as well as news releases and other relevant information, also are
available on the OSHA Web page at http://www.osha.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Background
OSHA's safety standards require that a Nationally Recognized
Testing Laboratory (NRTL) approve thirty-eight (38) types of products
as safe for use in the workplace. NRTLs are independent laboratories
that meet OSHA's requirements for performing safety testing and
certification of products used in the workplace. NRTLs test and certify
(i.e., approve) these products to determine whether they conform to
appropriate U.S. product-safety test standards. Each NRTL authorizes
manufacturers of approved products to use the NRTL's certification mark
to signify the NRTL tested and certified the product as meeting the
requirements of the appropriate test standard(s). To obtain and retain
recognition from OSHA as an NRTL, the NRTLs must meet the requirements
of 29 CFR 1910.7, as well as the policies contained in the NRTL Program
Directive, Directive Number CPL 01-00-003.
OSHA staff currently is reexamining several aspects of the NRTL
Program in an effort to determine whether it should revise NRTL Program
policies, procedures, or guidelines to improve the quality of services
provided to NRTLs. As part of that effort, the NRTL Program may soon
propose new or revised policies, procedures, or guidelines in the areas
of independence, the NRTL application process, and the process for NRTL
renewal. Any revisions that OSHA plans to make will not reduce worker
safety.
OSHA will conduct this stakeholder meeting as a group discussion on
certain topics described below. OSHA determined that informal
discussion with stakeholders would be beneficial to its further
deliberations on how to proceed with respect to proposing new or
revised NRTL Program policies, procedures, or guidelines. The meeting
also will serve as a forum to solicit input from stakeholders
concerning specific topics related to the NRTL Program, which will
inform OSHA staff as they continue in their development and update
efforts. To facilitate as much group interaction as possible, OSHA is
not permitting formal presentations by meeting attendees.
2. Stakeholder Meeting
The meeting will last about three hours. Attendees should arrive at
least thirty (30) minutes early to allow time for security clearance.
The nearest Metro station is Judiciary Square (Red Line), and private
parking is available within walking distance of the building. Meeting
attendees must have a valid photo identification (e.g., driver's
license), and will need to obtain a pass from our security desk to
enter the building. Security-clearance information is available at
http://www.dol.gov/dol/aboutdol/visit.htm. Information concerning other
forms of attendance (e.g., by phone) and the room number
[[Page 7462]]
for the meeting will be available, no later than Wednesday, February
20, 2013, on OSHA's NRTL Program Web site http://www.osha.gov/nrtlpi,
and in the docket for this meeting (Docket ID: OSHA-2012-0055,
available at http://www.regulations.gov, and the OSHA Docket Office).
OSHA is limiting the meeting to approximately 20 participants, but
may accommodate more participants at its discretion and as time
permits. OSHA will try to accommodate all attendees who wish to
participate. To ensure that all views are represented, OSHA encourages
individuals and groups having similar interests to consolidate their
information and participate through a single representative. Members of
the general public not chosen to participate may observe, but not
participate in, the meeting, unless time permits; such participation is
at OSHA's discretion. OSHA staff will be present to take part in the
discussions.
The specific topics for discussion include:
a. The effectiveness of the current NRTL Program independence
policy, and a potential draft NRTL Program independence policy and
draft independence worksheet;
b. The NRTL Program initial application timeline and the
application process;
c. The NRTL Program process for NRTL renewal; and
d. At OSHA's discretion and as time permits, any other topics
submitted to OSHA through the process, described in the ``Suggesting
Additional Topics'' section under ADDRESSES above and in the
``Submissions to the Public Docket'' section, below, or raised by OSHA
staff.
OSHA will provide to the public the final meeting agenda, and any
specific documents OSHA will use at the stakeholder meeting, by
Wednesday February 20, 2013. These documents will be available by that
date at OSHA's NRTL Program Web site http://www.osha.gov/nrtlpi; and in
the docket for this notice, Docket ID: OSHA-2012-0055, available at:
http://www.regulations.gov, and the OSHA Docket Office.
Eastern Research Group (ERG), Inc., (110 Hartwell Avenue,
Lexington, MA 02421) will provide a facilitator for the meeting. OSHA
will prepare a full transcript of the meeting, and post this transcript
on the NRTL Program Web site http://www.osha.gov/nrtlpi, and in the
docket for this notice, Docket ID: OSHA-2012-0055, available at http://www.regulations.gov and the OSHA Docket Office.
3. Registration
Submit a notification to attend as a participant or an observer in
the stakeholder meeting by Friday, February 22, 2013, using one of the
three methods described above in the ``Notification to Attend'' section
of this notice under ADDRESSES. If you would like to attend by means
other than in-person attendance (e.g., if you would like to attend by
phone), please include this information with your registration.
OSHA will accommodate attendees who do not register for the meeting
if space permits. However, those who wish to participate in the meeting
must register as participants. OSHA will consider as an observer any
attendee who does not register as a participant.
The number of attendees who may participate in the meeting is
limited; therefore, OSHA will grant priority as a participant to
current or former NRTLs, and current NRTL applicants. Only one
representative from each organization may attend as a participant, but
this organization may have more than one observer in attendance (space
permitting).
Any individual or entity not affiliated with a current or former
NRTL, or a current NRTL applicant, wishing to participate in the
meeting must submit, with their notification to attend, a written
statement that indicates their interest in the NRTL Program and the
specific topic(s) they wish to discuss. OSHA will treat these
submissions as suggestions for potential additional topics for
discussion at the meeting, and will enter the statements into the
docket for the meeting. However, if OSHA receives these statements
after Wednesday, February 13, 2013 (the last day to timely submit
topics), OSHA may not review the statements for the purpose of
generating a meeting agenda (see relevant discussion in the
``Submissions to the Public Docket'' section, directly below).
Registrants not affiliated with a current or former NRTL, or a
current NRTL applicant, who raise a specific topic they would like
discussed at the meeting will have priority as participants over
similar attendees who raise broad topics only. OSHA cannot guarantee
participation for all those who register as participants, but it will,
at its discretion, accommodate registrants who want to participate, and
make every effort to ensure a fair representation of interests and to
facilitate gathering diverse viewpoints.
In registering, current or former NRTLs, and current NRTL
applicants, need not submit statements indicating their interest in the
NRTL Program and the specific topic(s) they wish to discuss. However,
these organizations are welcome to submit, in writing, suggestions for
additional topics for discussion (pursuant to the procedures described
in the ``Suggesting Additional Topics'' section under ADDRESSES, above,
and in the ``Submissions to the Public Docket'' section, directly
below).
When registering, please provide the following information:
a. Name, contact address, daytime phone, fax, and email address;
b. The organization for which you work or represent, if any;
c. Whether you are employed at, affiliated with, or represent a
current or former NRTL or a current NRTL applicant;
d. Whether you are attending as a participant or observer;
e. If you will be attending by means other than in-person
attendance (e.g., by phone) and wish to be a participant; and
f. If you are not affiliated with a current or former NRTL, or
current NRTL applicant, and wish to attend as a participant, a written
statement that indicates your interest in the NRTL Program and the
specific topic(s) you wish to discuss. (OSHA will, at its discretion,
make these topics part of the meeting agenda.)
4. Submissions to the Public Docket
All submissions to the public docket must: (1) Be made using any of
the methods listed above in the section of this notice titled
``Suggesting Additional Topics'' under ADDRESSES; and (2) include the
Agency name (i.e., OSHA) and the OSHA docket number (i.e., OSHA-2012-
0055). To be considered timely, you must make submissions to the public
docket by Wednesday, February 13, 2013.
Note that a submission to the public docket does not constitute
registration to attend the meeting as a participant or an observer. To
register as a participant or an observer, you must follow the
procedures described above in the section of this notice titled
``Registration'' under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
OSHA will use the submissions it timely receives to help it
establish the meeting agenda, which it will release on Wednesday
February 20, 2013, by way of OSHA's NRTL Program Web site http://www.osha.gov/nrtlpi, and in the docket for this notice, Docket ID:
OSHA-2012-0055, available at http://www.regulations.gov and the OSHA
Docket Office. OSHA will consider submissions made after February 13,
2013, untimely and may not use such submissions in generating the
meeting agenda.
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OSHA will place all submissions, including any personal
information, in the public docket without revision. Therefore, OSHA
cautions commenters about submitting statements they do not want made
public, or submissions that contain personal information (either about
themselves or others) such as Social Security numbers, birth dates, and
medical data. To read or download submissions or other material in the
docket (e.g., public submissions of suggested topics), go to http://www.regulations.gov or to the OSHA Docket Office. All documents placed
in the docket will be referenced electronically at http://www.regulations.gov (Docket ID: OSHA-2012-0055); however, some
information (e.g., copyrighted material) is not publicly available to
read or download through the Web site. All submissions, including
copyrighted material, will be available for inspection at the OSHA
Docket Office. Contact the OSHA Docket Office for assistance in
locating docket submissions.
Authority and Signature
David Michaels, Ph.D., MPH, Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Occupational Safety and Health, 200 Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20210, authorized the preparation of this notice.
Accordingly, the Agency is issuing this notice pursuant to 29 U.S.C.
657(g)(2)), and Secretary of Labor's Order No. 1-2012 (77 FR 3912, Jan.
25, 2012).
Signed at Washington, DC, on January 29, 2013.
David Michaels,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2013-02173 Filed 1-31-13; 8:45 am]
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