OSHA Instruction STP 2-1.147A August 7, 1989 Office of State Programs
Subject: Safety Testing or Certification of Certain Workplace Equipment and
Materials, 29 CFR 1910.7 et al
A. Purpose. This instruction describes a Federal program change to the
Regions and State designees.
B. Scope. This instruction applies OSHA-wide.
C. Reference. OSHA Instruction STP 2-1.117, State Standards.
D. Cancellation. OSHA Instruction STP 2-1.147, July 13, 1988, Safety
Testing or Certification of Certain Workplace Equipment and Materials, is
canceled.
E. Federal Program Change. This instruction describes a Federal program
change which affects State programs. Each Regional Administrator shall:
1. Ensure that this instruction is forwarded to each State designee.
2. Provide a copy of the Federal Register notice to the State
designee upon request.
3. Explain the technical content of the Federal Register notice at
53 FR 12102, April 12, 1988, as amended at 53 FR 16838, May 11, 1988, Safety
Testing or Certification of Certain Workplace Equipment and Materials; Final
Rule, to the State designee upon request. This final rule amends 23
standards provisions in 29 CFR 1910 requiring employers to use materials or
equipment listed or approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Factory
Mutual Research Corporation (FMRC), and replaces this requirement with an
obligation to use equipment or materials listed or approved by a "nationally
recognized testing laboratory" (NRTL). The standard at 29 CFR 1910.7 also
defines NRTL and provides procedures whereby testing laboratories may obtain
OSHA recognition as NRTLs.
4. Ensure that each State designee acknowledges receipt of this
instruction in writing, within 30 days of notification, to the Regional
Administrator.
OSHA Instruction STP 2-1.147A August 7, 1989 Office of State Programs
The acknowledgment should include (a) the State's plan to adopt
and implement identical standards amendments, modified to clearly explain
that the State will not establish its own program for laboratory
accreditation but will instead use the Federal program; (b) the State's plan
to adopt alternative standards amendments which are as effective, including
establishing an independent State testing laboratory accreditation program,
or (c) the reasons why no change is necessary to maintain a program which is
as effective.
5. Explain that, because of the technical complexity involved in
the recognition process for testing laboratories and because one approval
program with nationwide applicability allows a more efficient use of
resources, the States are encouraged to adopt standards that rely on
Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories accredited by Federal OSHA; i.e.,
where workplace equipment and materials require safety certification or
testing, the testing laboratory must have received Federal OSHA recognition
as an NRTL for that equipment or material. States choosing to establish
their own program for accrediting testing laboratories may do so but must (1)
accept accreditation by NRTL's recognized by OSHA for testing of equipment
and materials where State safety requirements are the same as the Federal;
(2) assure that organizations receiving State accreditation understand that
State recognition applies only within that State; and (3) establish an at
least as effective program, including site inspections of the facilities of
the testing laboratory, etc. No 23(g) or State matching funds may be used
for the establishment or operation of State testing laboratory accreditation
programs.
6. Inform each State designee that the State must amend its
standards to ensure that they remain at least as effective as the Federal
standards actions modifying the 23 Federal standards in 29 CFR 1910 by
requiring safety certification or testing by an OSHA-approved NRTL. Where a
State decides to establish an independent State testing
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OSHA Instruction STP 2-1.147A August 7, 1983 Office of State Programs
laboratory accreditation program for different State equipment
and materials requirements with in-State applicability and enforcement, the
State must adopt a standard at least as effective as the Federal 1910.7.
Appropriate plan supplements must be submitted within 6 months of the date of
Federal publication.
7. Inform each State designee that States which have adopted a
standard prior to the issuance of this amended instruction should review and
revise their standard as appropriate or issue necessary clarifying policy
documents to assure that State requirements for certification of certain
equipment and materials and recognition of testing laboratories reflect the
State's intent to either accept only Nationally Recognized Testing
Laboratories approved by Federal OSHA or establish an independent State
program. Such amendments/clarifications must be submitted as part of the
plan supplement.
F. Effective date. The effective date of these standards amendments is
June 13, 1988.
G. Interim Enforcement. Under 29 CFR 1953.23(a) and (b), State plan States
are provided up to 6 months from publication of the Federal standard in the
Federal Register to promulgate an identical or at least as effective
standard. If a State, for whatever reason, is unable to promulgate a
standard in a timely manner (6 months for a permanent standard, 30 days for
an emergency temporary standard) the State shall be expected to provide
assurance that it will enforce the substantive provisions of the new or
revised Federal standard through such means as use of its general duty clause
or equivalent, temporary adoption of an identical standard, or an
alternative, specified enforcement mechanism.
H. Different State Standards. Section 18(c) (2) of the OSH Act requires
that State standards be at least as effective as the Federal and, when
applicable to products used or distributed in interstate commerce, be
required by compelling local conditions and not unduly burden interstate
commerce. In addition to the at least as
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OSHA Instruction STP 2-1.147A August 7, 1983 Office of State Programs
effective criterion, this "product clause test" will be applied to
State standards with substantively different requirements from the comparable
Federal standards, as discussed in OSHA Instruction STP 2-1.117.
I. Explanation. 1. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) deleted the names of Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) and Factory
Mutual Research Corporation (FMRC) from 23 testing-related standards
provisions in 29 CFR Part 1910.
2. Under these standards, third-party (or independent) testing for
safety is necessary in order that certain equipment and materials be
acceptable for workplace use. The safety standards being revised either had
explicitly required or had implied that this safety testing be performed only
by UL or FMRC. For a period of five years beginning June 13, 1988 and ending
on June 13, 1993, UL and FMRC are recognized testing laboratories though
their recognition by OSHA is subject to revocation at any time. At the end
of the five year period, the UL and FMRC must apply for renewal of OSHA
recognition utilizing the procedures established in the standard
3. As a result of this UL/FMRC name deletion, the 23 identified
OSHA safety standards now will provide that certain types of workplace
equipment and materials be third-party tested for safety by "nationally
recognized testing laboratories (NRTL)."
4. The final rule includes a requirement that testing laboratories
listing or approving products or equipment required to be approved, listed or
labeled under Part 1910 be recognized as Nationally Recognized Testing
Laboratories by OSHA. Under the section 1910.7 rule OSHA will evaluate
applicant testing and control programs against the NRTL requirements, and
issue a written "recognition" letter. This will be done in accordance with a
new Appendix A which is part of this rule
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OSHA Instruction STP 2-1.147A August 7, 1989 Office of State Programs
and provides for Federal Register notice and comment. OSHA
contemplates continuing surveillance over OSHA-recognized NRTLs to assure
conformance with requirements of the rule.
5. Several testing laboratories have applied to OSHA for
accredition as NRTL's. States are encouraged to participate in the
accreditation process by responding to Federal Register notices concerning
these applicants with comments.
6. Some States have existing testing laboratory programs that are
not necessarily part of their occupational safety and health program. If, in
response to OSHA's new laboratory accreditation program, these States choose
to incorporate their testing laboratory programs into their State plan, or if
States establish new testing laboratory accreditation programs, no 23(g) or
State matching funds may be used for the development or operation of these
programs as they would duplicate a complex technical process already
available Federally.
7. Under 29 CFR 1953.23(a) and (b), States are provided up to 6
months from publication in the Federal Register for adoption of parallel
State standards and amendments.
Alan C. McMillan Acting Assistant Secretary
DISTRIBUTION: National and Regional Offices 18(b) State Monitors State
Designees
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