DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health; HazCom Workgroup Meeting

Notice is hereby given that a workgroup of the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH), established under section 7(a) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 646) to advise the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on matters relating to the administration of the Act, will meet on October 19 and 20, 1995, in S4215 A-C of the Department of Labor Building located at 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC. The meeting is open to the public and will begin at 9 a.m. each day lasting until approximately 4:30 p.m. on October 19 and 2:30 p.m. on October 20.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has asked NACOSH to form a workgroup to identify ways to improve chemical hazard communication and the right to know in the workplace. OSHA has asked the Committee to provide OSHA with recommendations in approximately six months to simplify material safety data sheets, reduce the amount of required paperwork, improve the effectiveness of worker training, and revise enforcement policies so that they focus on the most serious hazards. Four members of NACOSH have been assigned to the HazCom Workgroup which will be assisted by a variety of specialists in all aspects of hazard communication. In addition, two of the workgroup meetings will be devoted to hearing from representatives of labor organizations, employers, and the public. The workgroup will meet approximately once a month for several months and will prepare draft recommendations which will be submitted to the full committee for its deliberation in public session.

The agenda for the morning of October 19 will include a review of issues to be covered by the HazCom Workgroup and the confirmation of dates and agenda items for the remaining workgroup meetings. Beginning at 1:00 p.m. on October 19 and continuing the morning of October 20, representatives of small businesses and labor organizations are invited to address the workgroup. Presentations will be limited to 10 minutes with time allowed for questions from the workgroup members. Additional information and/or documentation may be submitted and will be entered into the record. A verbatim transcript will be made of the proceedings which will be available to the public in the OSHA Technical Data Center (TDC) located in Room N2625 of the Department of Labor Building (202)-219-7500).

Members of labor organizations and small businesses wishing to make presentations before the HazCom Workgroup on October 19 and 20 should notify, no later than October 13, Joanne Goodell, Directorate of Policy, OSHA, Room N-3641, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20210, telephone (202) 219-8021, ext. 107, or FAX (202) 219-4383. Presenters must provide their name, the capacity in which the person will appear, a brief outline of the content of the presentation, their preference of appearance date, mail address, telephone and FAX numbers. Presenters' specific requests to appear on either the October 19 afternoon session or the October 20 morning session will be honored to the extent the schedule allows. If there is sufficient time, others who have not notified OSHA will be permitted to make presentations on October 20 after all those on the schedule have been heard.

Written data, views or comments for consideration by the workgroup may be submitted, preferably with 20 copies, to Joanne Goodell at the address provided above. Any such submissions received prior to the meeting will be provided to the members of the Committee and will be included in the record of the meeting. Individuals with disabilities who need special accommodations should contact Tom Hall by October 16 at the address indicated below.

For additional information contact: Joanne Goodell, Directorate of Policy, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Room N-3641, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, telephone (202) 219-8021.

Signed at Washington, D.C. this 21st day of September, 1995.

Joseph A. Dear,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.

[FR Doc. 95-24094 Filed 9-27-95; 8:45 am]