Hearing Conservation Standards and Regulations
CONGRESS SLATED TO URGE OSHA TO FOCUS ON HEARING PROTECTION
According to a May 2008 report by the International
Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), the U.S. House of
Representatives plans to move forward with a recommendation
to OSHA that, with its FY09 funding, the Agency should focus
on hearing protection regulations. The recommendation is
in the form of "report language," which is not binding, but
federal agencies heed it closely. The hearing protection "report
language" addresses hearing protection for construction and
general industry. The report language would state:
- The Committee notes that OSHA is responsible for regulation of occupational exposure to hazardous noise, but nearly thirty
years after the issuance of a hearing standard for general
industry, OSHA has failed to issue a similar rule to protect
workers in the construction industry. Though a hearing
conservation standard has been on OSHA's regulatory agenda
for years, it has been downgraded to an item for long-term
action.
- The Committee urges OSHA to put this rulemaking back
on the active regulatory agenda and move forward to
issue a regulation.
- In addition, when the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) publishes its final rule on hearing protectors, for
which EPA's Office of Air and Radiation has jurisdiction,
the Committee expects OSHA shall develop apian, with
timelines for expected action, to update regulations for
occupational exposure to hazardous noise based on the
new EPA rule, current science, and best practices.
ISEA reports that, while the appropriations process is moving forward, there is no specific date for next action on the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill, which contains funding for OSHA. If you'd like to help support these recommendations please contact ISEA Public Affairs Director Dan Glucksman for more information and suggestions for contacting members of Congress.
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