OSHA is granting a 30-day extension in response to industry and labor requests for additional time to submit written comments on the agency's first set of industry-specific ergonomic guidelines, "Guidelines for Nursing Homes," that were announced on Aug. 30 in the Federal Register. The original deadline for comments was Sept. 30.
The guidelines are intended to provide practical solutions for reducing ergonomic-related injuries and illnesses in nursing homes. They will not be used for enforcement purposes. Draft guidelines are being developed for other industries and will also be available for comment.
Interested parties must submit written comments by Oct. 30. Written comments (10 pages or fewer) can be faxed to OSHA's Docket Office at (202) 693-1648 or sent electronically to ecomments.osha.gov. Three copies of written comments and attachments must be submitted to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. GE2002-1, Room N-2625, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20210.
Individuals who wish to comment but who do not have Internet access can request a printed copy of the guidelines by calling OSHA toll-free at 1-800-321-OSHA.
OSHA will hold a one-day stakeholder meeting in the Washington, DC, area on Nov. 18, 2002. The meeting location will be announced following the comment period.
Further information on submitting comments can be obtained by calling the Docket Office at (202) 693-2350.
Notice of the extension is scheduled to appear in today's issue of the Federal Register.