NACOSH to OSHA: Move forward on proposed rules

Washington – The National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health recently recommended that OSHA move forward on proposed regulations.

In the recommendations, NACOSH said it was “deeply distressed” that the proposed standard on silica has been under review far longer than required, and expressed concern and disappointment regarding the lack of progress on the Injury and Illness Prevention Program proposed rule.

According to NACOSH Chairman Michael Silverstein, OSHA administrator David Michaels attended a Dec. 15 NACOSH meeting and acknowledged that the agency’s work was proceeding slower than had been hoped but stressed that OSHA remained committed to moving forward.

Also in its Dec. 21 recommendations, NACOSH – which advises the secretaries of labor and health and human services on occupational safety and health programs and policies – repeated its suggestion that an Injury and Illness Prevention Program symposium should take place, and encouraged OSHA to complete the transition from using Standard Industrial Classifications to the North American Industry Classification System.