The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) has announced it is withdrawing its
interpretation of the term “feasible administrative or engineering
controls' as used in the General Industry and Construction
Occupational Noise Exposure standards.
The interpretation would have clarified the term as used in
OSHA's noise standard. The proposed interpretation was published
in the Federal Register Oct. 19, 2010. OSHA has decided it needs
more time to analyze the hearing loss problem and establish a
greater resource pool.
“Hearing loss caused by excessive noise levels remains a
serious occupational health problem in this country,” said Dr.
David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational
safety and health. “However, it is clear from the concerns raised
about this proposal that addressing this problem requires much
more public outreach and many more resources than we had
originally anticipated. We are sensitive to the possible costs
associated with improving worker protection and have decided to
suspend work on this proposed modification while we study other
approaches to abating workplace noise hazards.”
According to OSHA, thousands of workers every year
continue to suffer from preventable hearing loss due to high
workplace noise levels. Since 2004, the Bureau of Labor Statistics
has reported that nearly 125,000 workers have suffered
significant, permanent hearing loss. In 2008 alone, BLS reported
more than 22,000 hearing loss cases, and Michaels emphasized that
OSHA remains committed to finding ways to reduce this toll.
PAGE 2 As part of this effort, the agency will:
- Conduct a thorough review of comments that have been
submitted in response to the Federal Register notice and of any
other information it receives on this issue.
- Hold a stakeholder meeting on preventing occupational
hearing loss to elicit the views of employers, workers, and noise
control and public health professionals.
- Consult with experts from the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health, and the National Academy of
Engineering.
- Initiate a robust outreach and compliance assistance
effort to provide enhanced technical information and guidance on
the many inexpensive, effective engineering controls for dangerous
noise levels.
To view the full text and history of the regulation, the
OSHA release, or any further information regarding the noise
exposure standards, visit ASA’s legislative website at
www.TakingTheHill.com.
