OSHA considering eliminating more jobs

[Quantum Windbag]

With little fanfare, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) has quietly announced that it is considering a radical change to its interpretation of an employer’s obligations concerning employee exposure to occupational noise. The announcement may have been quiet, but the impacts will be loud. If adopted in their current form, the new obligations will be substantial and the potential cost to employers is likely to be immense. Any employer with potential noise hazards needs to carefully review this announcement and consider whether to comment.

An October 19, 2010, notice from OSHA in the Federal Register invites the submission of comments by December 20, 2010, on the proposed change that would apply to all employers subject to OSHA’s general industry or construction industry occupational noise standards (29 CFR 1910.95 or 1926.52). 75 Fed. Reg. 64216 (10/19/10).

Under an interpretation dating back to 1983, OSHA has allowed employers to use a combination of “feasible administrative or engineering controls” and personal protective equipment (PPE) such as ear plugs and ear muffs, to protect employees from exposure to excessive levels of noise. As a practical matter, if PPE is sufficiently effective, OSHA has not required employers to implement more costly administrative or engineering controls. In most workplaces where a noise hazard exists, employers have been able to protect employees adequately by providing, and requiring use of, PPE.

OSHA announces a radical new and enormously costly interpretation of occupational noise standards

Typical bureaucratic answer to a non existent problem, make it more inconvenient.

 

[Revere]

Not necessary, the EPA has already chased all heavy industry out of the USA.

 

[FA_Q2]

And in the same breath the libs will bitch about outsourcing. Does no one realize this IS the reason industry no longer exists within this nation. These agencies will ensure our destruction and do so through a process that COMPLETELY SIDESTEPS the constitution because these are not 'law' but 'regulations.' As though there is any real difference.

 

[Oddball]

OSHA considering eliminating more jobs

As long as they're eliminating "jobs" at OSHA , I'm good with it.

Or did I misinterpret the headline?

 

[Mr. H.]

More folks are exposed to recreational noise. Who's "protecting" them?