The Department of Labor (DOL) Aug. 31 withdrew a proposed rule that would have altered the rulemaking process for health standards by requiring all DOL agencies, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, to solicit information about worker exposure to potentially harmful substances before issuing a proposed rule.
The rule, originally proposed Aug. 29, 2008, would have required agencies to issue an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) to gather data regarding frequency, intensity and duration of worker exposure to potentially harmful substances when creating written guidelines that regulate occupational exposure to toxins and hazardous chemicals. DOL would also have to post all information online.
In comments submitted to DOL after the rule was proposed last year, ABC pointed out that the rule would increase understanding of the health issues being regulated and increase transparency in the process.
“Issuing an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for health rulemakings will offer the public an additional opportunity to provide the department with outside studies and scientific data and will ensure that health regulations are formulated using the best possible information available,” ABC stated. “ABC believes that the ANPRM will provide consistency, reliability and transparency in the department’s risk assessment procedures.”
According to DOL, the rule is being withdrawn because it is unnecessary and will inhibit the rulemaking process.
To read the text of the notice of withdrawal, click
here.
To read a copy of ABC’s comments, visit
www.abc.org/comments.