Washington – OSHA plans to publish seven final rules by the end of fiscal year 2013, according to the agency’s FY 2013 budget request, released Feb. 13.
In a webchat that same day, OSHA administrator David Michaels said final rules for confined spaces in construction, electric power and cooperation agreements will be published by the end of 2012.
The budget request outlines four final rules scheduled for publication in FY 2013: walking/working surfaces, modernization of recordkeeping and two consensus standard updates. Several notices of proposed rulemaking for high-profile standards also are expected, including combustible dust, beryllium and Michaels’ No. 1 priority: injury and illness prevention programs.
To help promulgate the rules, the budget request (.pdf file) calls for a $1 million boost to the agency’s standards development activities.
OSHA is asking Congress for $565.7 million in overall funding for FY 2013, a $680,000 increase from the current year.
