[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 12 (Thursday, January 21, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6368-6370]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-01221]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. OSHA-2006-0028]
MET Laboratories, Inc.: Applications for Expansion of Recognition
and Proposed Modification to the NRTL Program's List of Appropriate
Test Standards
AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In this notice, OSHA announces the applications of MET
Laboratories, Inc., for expansion of the recognition as a Nationally
Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) and presents the agency's
preliminary finding to grant the applications. Additionally, OSHA
proposes to add two new test standards to the NRTL Program's List of
Appropriate Test Standards.
DATES: Submit comments, information, and documents in response to this
notice, or requests for an extension of time to make a submission, on
or before February 5, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments by any of the following methods:
Electronically: Submit comments and attachments electronically at
http://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal eRulemaking Portal.
Follow the instructions online for making electronic submissions.
Facsimile: If your comments, including attachments, are not longer
than 10 pages, you may fax them to the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-
1648.
Mail, hand delivery, express mail, messenger, or courier service:
When using this method, you must submit a copy of your comments and
attachments to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2006-0028,
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Labor, Room N-3653, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210.
Deliveries, (hand, express mail, messenger, and courier service) are
accepted during the Docket Office's normal business hours, 10:00 a.m.
to 3:00 p.m., ET. Please note: While OSHA's docket office is continuing
to accept and process submissions by regular mail, due to the COVID-19
pandemic, the Docket Office is closed to the public and not able to
receive submissions to the rulemaking record by express delivery, hand
delivery, and messenger service.
Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and the
OSHA docket number (OSHA-2006-0028). OSHA places comments and other
materials, including any personal information, in the public docket
without revision, and these materials will be available online at
http://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, the agency cautions commenters
about submitting statements they do not want made available to the
public, or submitting comments that contain personal information
(either about themselves or others) such as Social Security numbers,
birth dates, and medical data.
Docket: To read or download comments or other material in the
docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov or the OSHA Docket Office at
the above address. All documents in the docket (including this Federal
Register notice) are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index;
however, some information (e.g., copyrighted material) is not publicly
available to read or download through the website. All submissions,
including copyrighted material, are available for inspection and
copying at the OSHA Docket Office.
Extension of comment period: Submit requests for an extension of
the comment period on or before February 5, 2021 to the Office of
Technical Programs and Coordination Activities, Directorate of
Technical Support and Emergency Management, Occupational Safety and
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution
Avenue NW, Room N-3653, Washington, DC 20210, or by fax to (202) 693-
1644.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information regarding this notice is
available from the following sources:
Press inquiries: Contact Mr. Frank Meilinger, Director, OSHA Office
of Communications, phone: (202) 693-1999 or email:
meilinger.francis2@dol.gov.
General and technical information: Contact Mr. Kevin Robinson,
Director, Office of Technical Programs and Coordination Activities,
Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, Occupational
Safety and Health Administration, phone: (202) 693-2110 or email:
robinson.kevin@dol.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Notice of the Application for Expansion
OSHA is providing notice that MET Laboratories, Inc. (MET), is
applying for expansion of the current recognition as a NRTL. MET
requests the addition of four test standards to the NRTL scope of
recognition.
OSHA recognition of a NRTL signifies that the organization meets
the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.7. Recognition is an
acknowledgment that the organization can perform independent safety
testing and certification of the specific products covered within the
scope of recognition. Each NRTL's scope of recognition includes: (1)
The type of products the NRTL may test, with each type specified by the
applicable test standard; and (2) the recognized site(s) that has/have
the technical capability to perform the product-testing and product-
certification activities for test standards within the NRTL's scope.
Recognition is not a delegation or grant of government authority;
however, recognition enables employers to use products approved by the
NRTL to meet OSHA standards that require product testing and
certification.
The agency processes applications by a NRTL for initial recognition
and for an expansion or renewal of this recognition, following
requirements in Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.7. This appendix requires
that the agency publish two notices in the Federal Register in
processing an application. In the first notice, OSHA announces the
application and provides a preliminary finding. In the second notice,
the agency provides a final decision on the application. These notices
set forth the NRTL's scope of recognition or modifications of that
scope. OSHA maintains an informational web page for each NRTL,
including MET, which details the NRTL's scope of recognition. These
pages are available from the OSHA website at http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/index.html.
MET currently has one facility (site) recognized by OSHA for
product testing
and certification, with the headquarters located at: MET Laboratories,
Inc., 914 West Patapsco Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21230. A complete
list of MET's scope of recognition is available at https://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/met.html.
II. General Background on the Application
MET submitted four applications, one dated November 6, 2017 (OSHA-
2006-0028-0042), two dated April 4, 2018 (OSHA-2006-0028-0043 and OSHA-
2006-0028-0044), and a fourth on January 14, 2019 (OSHA-2006-0028-0045)
to expand the recognition to include four additional test standards.
OSHA staff performed a detailed analysis of the application packets and
reviewed other pertinent information. OSHA did not perform any on-site
reviews in relation to these applications.
Table 1, below, lists the appropriate test standards found in MET's
applications for expansion for testing and certification of products
under the NRTL Program.
Table 1--Proposed Appropriate Test Standards for Inclusion in MET's NRTL
Scope of Recognition
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Test standard Test standard title
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UL 61010-2-201 *................. Safety Requirements for Electrical
Equipment for Measurement, Control
and Laboratory Use--Part 2-201:
Particular Requirements for Control
Equipment.
UL 61010-2-030................... Safety Requirements for Electrical
Equipment for Measurement, Control
and Laboratory Use--Part 2-030:
Particular Requirements for Testing
and Measuring Circuits.
UL 61010-031..................... Safety Requirements for Electrical
Equipment for Measurement, Control
and Laboratory Use--Part 031: Safety
Requirements for Hand-Held and Hand-
Manipulated Probe Assemblies for
Electrical Measurement and Test.
UL 60335-2-72 *.................. Household and Similar Electrical
Appliances--Safety--Part 2-72:
Particular Requirements for Floor
Treatment Machines With or Without
Traction Drive, for Commercial Use.
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* Represents the standards that OSHA proposes to add to the NRTL
Program's List of Appropriate Test Standards.
III. Proposal To Add New Test Standards to the NRTL Program's List of
Appropriate Test Standards
Periodically, OSHA will propose to add new test standards to the
NRTL list of appropriate test standards following an evaluation of the
test standard document. To qualify as an appropriate test standard, the
agency evaluates the document to: (1) Verify it represents a product
category for which OSHA requires certification by a NRTL, (2) verify
the document represents an end product and not a component, and (3)
verify the document defines safety test specifications (not
installation or operational performance specifications). OSHA becomes
aware of new test standards through various avenues. For example, OSHA
may become aware of new test standards by: (1) Monitoring notifications
issued by certain Standards Development Organizations; (2) reviewing
applications by NRTLs or applicants seeking recognition to include new
test standards in their scopes of recognition; and (3) obtaining
notification from manufacturers, manufacturing organizations,
government agencies, or other parties. OSHA may determine to include a
new test standard in the list, for example, if the test standard is for
a particular type of product that another test standard also covers or
it covers a type of product that no standard previously covered.
In this notice, OSHA proposes to add two new test standards to the
NRTL Program's List of Appropriate Test Standards. Table 2, below,
lists the test standards that are new to the NRTL Program. OSHA
preliminarily determined that these test standards are appropriate test
standards and proposes to include them in the NRTL Program's List of
Appropriate Test Standards. OSHA seeks public comment on this
preliminary determination.
Table 2--Test Standards OSHA Is Proposing To Add to the NRTL Program's
List of Appropriate Test Standards
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Test standard Test standard title
------------------------------------------------------------------------
UL 61010-2-201................... Safety Requirements for Electrical
Equipment for Measurement, Control
and Laboratory Use--Part 2-201:
Particular Requirements for Control
Equipment.
UL 60335-2-72.................... Household and Similar Electrical
Appliances--Safety--Part 2-72:
Particular Requirements for Floor
Treatment Machines With or Without
Traction Drive, for Commercial Use.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
III. Preliminary Findings on the Applications
MET submitted acceptable applications for expansion of the scope of
recognition. OSHA's review of the application file, and pertinent
documentation, indicate that MET has met the requirements prescribed by
29 CFR 1910.7 for expanding the recognition to include the addition of
these four test standards for NRTL testing and certification listed in
Table 2. This preliminary finding does not constitute an interim or
temporary approval of MET's applications.
OSHA welcomes public comment as to whether MET meets the
requirements of 29 CFR 1910.7 for expansion of the recognition as a
NRTL. Comments should consist of pertinent written documents and
exhibits. Commenters needing more time to comment must submit a request
in writing, stating the reasons for the request. Commenters must submit
the written request for an extension by the due date for comments. OSHA
will limit any extension to 10 days unless the requester justifies a
longer period. OSHA may deny a request for an extension if the request
is not adequately justified. To obtain or review copies of the exhibits
identified in this notice, as well as comments submitted to the docket,
contact the Docket Office at the above address. These materials also
are available online at http://www.regulations.gov under Docket No.
OSHA-2006-0028.
OSHA staff will review all comments to the docket submitted in a
timely manner and, after addressing the issues raised by these
comments, will make a recommendation to the Assistant Secretary for
Occupational Safety and Health whether to grant MET's
applications for expansion of the scope of recognition. The Assistant
Secretary will make the final decision on granting the application. In
making this decision, the Assistant Secretary may undertake other
proceedings prescribed in Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.7.
OSHA will publish a public notice of the final decision in the
Federal Register.
IV. Authority and Signature
Loren Sweatt, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Occupational Safety and Health, authorized the preparation of this
notice. Accordingly, the agency is issuing this notice pursuant to 29
U.S.C. 657(g)(2), Secretary of Labor's Order No. 8-2020 (85 FR 58393,
Sept. 18, 2020)), and 29 CFR 1910.7.
Signed at Washington, DC, on January 14, 2021.
Loren Sweatt,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety
and Health.
[FR Doc. 2021-01221 Filed 1-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P
