Trade News Release
Friday, Sept.24, 1999
CONTACT: Frank Kane
PHONE: (202) 693-1999

In response to requests from construction contractor associations, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is extending the comment period on Safety Standards for Fall Protection in the Construction Industry to Jan. 24, 2000.

The period for submitting written comments was to expire on Oct. 22, 1999. However, a number of stakeholder associations requested a 90-day extension for submitting written comments and information.

In its Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, published July 14, 1999, in the Federal Register, OSHA requested comments and information on fall protection for workers engaged in certain construction activities covered by OSHA's standards. OSHA has received requests for information regarding compliance with the existing construction fall protection standard in residential and post-frame construction, while climbing reinforced steel, erecting precast concrete, drilling shafts, and when providing prompt rescue.

Two copies of comments must be submitted to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket S206C, Room N2625, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20210 (phone 202-693-2350). Comments of 10 pages or less may be faxed to the Docket Office at 202-693-1648. Two hard copies must then be mailed within two days. Electronic comments can be submitted on the Internet at http://www.osha-slc.gov/e-comments/e-comments-fallprotection.html.

Notice of the extension is in the Friday, Sept.24,1999, issue of the Federal Register.

The text of this news release is on the Internet World Wide Web at http://www.osha.gov. Information on this news release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-693-1999.