[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71287-71288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27120]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. OSHA-2010-0046]
QPS Evaluation Services, Inc.: Grant of Expansion of Recognition
AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In this notice, OSHA announces the final decision to expand
the scope of recognition for QPS Evaluation Services, Inc. as a
Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL).
DATES: The expansion of the scope of recognition becomes effective on
December 15, 2021.
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, U.S. Department of Labor, telephone: (202) 693-1999;
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, U.S. Department of Labor, phone:
(202) 693-2110 or email: robinson.kevin@dol.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Notice of Final Decision
OSHA hereby gives notice of the expansion of the scope of
recognition of QPS Evaluation Services, Inc. (QPS) as a NRTL. QPS's
expansion covers the addition of eleven 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 and is not a delegation or grant of government
authority. As a result of recognition, employers may use products
properly approved by the NRTL to meet OSHA standards that require
testing and certification of the products.
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 the 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 QPS, 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.
QPS submitted an application, dated January 30, 2020 (OSHA-2010-
0046-0015) to add eleven additional test standards to QPS's NRTL
recognition. OSHA staff performed a detailed analysis of the
application packet and reviewed other pertinent information. OSHA did
not perform any on-site reviews in relation to this application.
OSHA published the preliminary notice announcing QPS's expansion
application in the Federal Register on August 16, 2021 (86 FR 45759).
The agency requested comments by August 31, 2021, but it received no
comments in response to this notice. OSHA is now proceeding with this
final notice to grant expansion of QPS's scope of recognition.
To obtain or review copies of all public documents pertaining to
QPS's application, go to http://www.regulations.gov or contact the
Docket Office at (202) 693-2350 (TTY (877) 889-5627) for assistance in
locating docket submissions. Docket No. OSHA-2010-0046 contains all
materials in the record concerning QPS's recognition.
II. Final Decision and Order
OSHA staff examined QPS's expansion application, its capability to
meet the requirements of the test standard, and other pertinent
information. Based on its review of this evidence, OSHA finds that QPS
meets the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.7 for expansion of its
recognition, subject to the limitations and conditions listed in this
notice. OSHA, therefore, is proceeding with this final notice to grant
this expansion to QPS's scope of recognition. OSHA limits the expansion
of QPS's recognition to testing and certification of products for
demonstration of conformance to the test standards listed below in
Table 1.
Table 1--List of Appropriate Test Standards for Inclusion in QPS's NRTL
Scope of Recognition
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Test standard Test standard title
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UL 60079-0............... Explosive Atmospheres--Part 0: Equipment--
General Requirements.
UL 60079-1............... Explosive Atmospheres--Part 1: Equipment
Protection by Flameproof Enclosures ``d''.
UL 60079-2............... Explosive Atmospheres--Part 2: Equipment
Protection by Pressurized Enclosure ``p''.
UL 60079-7............... Explosive Atmospheres--Part 7: Equipment
Protection by Increased Safety ``e''.
UL 60079-11.............. Explosive Atmospheres--Part 11: Equipment
Protection by Intrinsic Safety ``i''.
UL 60079-15.............. Explosive Atmospheres--Part 15: Equipment
Protection by Type of Protection ``n''.
UL 60079-18.............. Explosive Atmospheres--Part 18: Equipment
Protection by Encapsulation ``m''.
UL 60079-25.............. Explosive Atmospheres--Part 25: Intrinsically
Safe Electrical Systems.
UL 60079-26.............. Explosive Atmospheres--Part 26: Equipment for
Use in Class I, Zone 0 Hazardous
(Classified) Locations.
UL 60079-28.............. Explosive Atmospheres--Part 28: Protection of
Equipment and Transmission Systems Using
Optical Radiation.
UL 60079-31.............. Explosive Atmospheres--Part 31: Equipment
Dust Ignition Protection by Enclosure ``t''.
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OSHA's recognition of any NRTL for a particular test standard is
limited to equipment or materials for which OSHA standards require
third-party testing and certification before using them in the
workplace. Consequently, if a test standard also covers any products
for which OSHA does not require such testing and certification, a
NRTL's scope of recognition does not include these products.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) may approve the
test standard listed above as an American National Standard. However,
for convenience, OSHA may use the designation of the standards-
developing organization for the standard as opposed to the ANSI
designation. Under the NRTL Program's policy (see OSHA Instruction CPL
01-00-004, Chapter 2, Section VIII), only standards determined to be
appropriate test standards may be approved for NRTL recognition. Any
NRTL recognized for an appropriate test standard may use either the
proprietary version of the test standard or the ANSI version of that
standard. Contact ANSI to determine whether a test standard is
currently ANSI-approved.
A. Conditions
In addition to those conditions already required by 29 CFR 1910.7,
QPS must abide by the following conditions of the recognition:
1. QPS must inform OSHA as soon as possible, in writing, of any
change of ownership, facilities, or key personnel, and of any major
change in its operations as a NRTL, and provide details of the
change(s);
2. QPS must meet all the terms of its recognition and comply with
all OSHA policies pertaining to this recognition; and
3. QPS must continue to meet the requirements for recognition,
including all previously published conditions on QPS's scope of
recognition, in all areas for which it has recognition.
Pursuant to the authority in 29 CFR 1910.7, OSHA hereby expands the
scope of recognition of QPS, subject to the limitations and conditions
specified above.
III. Authority and Signature
Douglas L. Parker, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational
Safety and Health, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210,
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, September 18, 2020) and 29 CFR
1910.7.
Signed at Washington, DC, on December 7, 2021.
Douglas L. Parker,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2021-27120 Filed 12-14-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P
