As reported in an Agribusiness Committee Bulletin for the Business Law Section of the State Bar of California, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration in its proposed rule published in the Federal Register on Friday, July 2, 2010 (29 CFR Parts 1910, 1915, 1917, et al. Standards Improvement Project – Phase III), presents several regulatory changes in an effort to remove or revise outdated, duplicative, unnecessary and inconsistent requirements in its safety and health standards. Among the proposed changes are revisions to the Agricultural Standards (29 CFR Part 1928), by updating the definition of the term “potable water.”  Revisions to the “General Industry Standards,” which apply to most businesses, are also proposed.

OSHA is proposing a number of actions amending its standards, including revisions to its general industry, maritime, construction, and agricultural standards. The proposed rule changes can be found here: http://fdsys.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-07-02/html/2010-15156.htm.

A detailed discussion of each of the proposed revisions is set forth in the linked material, including a discussion of comments the Agency received in response to the ANPRM. Some of the revisions proposed affect more than one industry. For example, the proposed revisions to the general industry Slings standard also would affect shipyard employment and the construction industry. When proposed revisions in a general industry standard would affect additional industries, OSHA will discuss the revisions fully in the general industry section, and then reference the provisions affected in the sections covering the other industries.