I2P2 Proposed Rule Coming in September
The new semiannual regulatory agenda updates OSHA's plans for the injury and illness prevention program rule.
OSHA will issue a proposed rule in September 2014 that would require employers to implement an injury and illness prevention program, according to its newly published semiannual regulatory agenda. The rule, known as I2P2, has been described by Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels as his top rulemaking priority.
Currently, voluntary Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines are in place, and these were published in 1989. The agenda states that OSHA's rule would build on these, as well as lessons learned from the OSHA VPP and SHARP programs, the American National Standards Institute/AIHA Z10 standard, and the Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series 18001.
Agenda completion dates are frequently missed, but they give some idea of how soon agencies believe a significant regulatory action will occur. Other highlights in this latest OSHA regulatory agenda are:
- A confined spaces in construction final rule will be issued in February 2014.
- The small business advocacy review process will begin in January 2014 for a proposed infectious diseases rule, one meant to ensure employees are protected in workplaces such as health care facilities, emergency response, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, drug treatment programs, mortuaries, and coroners' offices from diseases such as MRSA, tuberculosis, and pandemic flu.
- The small business advocacy review process will begin in June 2014 for a proposed rule intended to prevent backover injuries and fatalities. OSHA has held stakeholder meetings on this subject and is conducting site visits to employers as it evaluates technologies and best practices for preventing these.