OSHA Expands Exemption for Digger Derricks Used in Construction Work
On May 29, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a final rule that revises the regulations for cranes and derricks used in construction. These amendments expand the digger-derrick exemption to include all digger derricks used in construction work subject to 29 CFR1926 subpart V, Power Transmission and Distribution. A digger derrick (also called a radial boom derrick) is a specialized type of equipment designed to install utility poles. This revision removes from coverage under 29 CFR 1926 subpart CC certain types of non-pole digger-derrick work described by Edison Electrical Institute. OSHA also made several minor clarifications to the text of the exemption.
OSHA Updates General Industry and Construction Standards for Accident Prevention Signs and Tags
OSHA issued a direct final rule on June 13 to update its general industry and construction signage standards by adding references to the latest versions of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards on specifications for accident prevention signs and tags, ANSI Z535.1–2006(R2011), Z535.2–2011 and Z535.5–2011. In this rulemaking, OSHA is retaining the existing references to the earlier ANSI standards, ANSI Z53.1–1967, Z35.1–1968 and Z35.2–1968, in its signage standards. Employers may choose to comply with the updated standards or the earlier ones.
Did You Know?
OSHA has established an ongoing, nationwide Heat Illness Prevention Campaign in order to raise awareness and teach workers and employers about the dangers of working in hot weather. The Heat Illness Prevention Campaign, which started in 2011, provides a variety of resources for employers, including fact sheets, posters, quick cards, training materials, a heat index, and wallet cards. Most of these resources are available in both English and Spanish and may be found at https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/index.html. Although OSHA does not have a specific standard that covers working in hot environments at the federal level, both California and Washington have their own heat illness prevention standards. Even though there is no specific federal regulation, under the OSH Act employers have a duty to protect workers from recognized serious hazards in the workplace, including heat-related hazards.
STP has recently updated Federal Regulatory Training Requirements Compliance Guide and also publishes the following OSHA related guides:
