[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 182 (Thursday, September 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65199-65200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20405]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. OSHA-2007-0042]
TUV Rheinland of North America, 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 TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc., as a
Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL).
DATES: The expansion of the scope of recognition becomes effective on
September 21, 2023.
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) 693-2300 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 TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc. (TUVRNA), as a
NRTL. TUVRNA's expansion covers 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, as well as for an expansion or renewal of 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 the 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 TUVRNA, which details that NRTL's scope of recognition. These
pages are available from the OSHA website at http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/index.html.
TUVRNA submitted an application, dated June 3, 2021 (OSHA-2007-
0042-0068), to expand recognition as a NRTL to include four additional
test standards. 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 TUVRNA's expansion
application in the Federal Register on August 15, 2023 (88 FR 55482).
The agency requested comments by August 30, 2023, but it received no
comments in response to this notice. OSHA is now proceeding with this
final notice to grant expansion to TUVRNA's scope of recognition.
To review copies of all public documents pertaining to TUVRNA's
application, go to http://www.regulations.gov or contact the Docket
Office, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department
of Labor at (202) 693-2350. Docket No. OSHA-2007-0042 contains all
materials in the record concerning TUVRNA's recognition. All
submissions, including copyrighted material, are available for
inspection through the OSHA Docket Office. Contact the OSHA Docket
Office at (202) 693-2350 (TTY number (877) 889-5627) for assistance in
locating docket submissions.
II. Final Decision and Order
OSHA staff examined TUVRNA's expansion application, their
capability to meet the requirements of the test standard, and other
pertinent information. Based on its review of this evidence, OSHA finds
that TUVRNA meets the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.7 for expansion of
its recognition, subject to the limitations and conditions listed
below. OSHA, therefore, is proceeding with this final notice to grant
TUVRNA's scope of recognition. OSHA limits the expansion of TUVRNA's
recognition to testing and certification of products for demonstration
of conformance to the test standards shown below in Table 1.
Table 1--Appropriate Test Standards for Inclusion in TUVRNA's NRTL Scope
of Recognition
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Test standard Test standard title
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UL 355................................. Cord Reels.
UL 498A................................ Current Taps and Adapters.
UL 1977................................ Component Connectors for Use in
Data, Signal, Control and
Power Applications.
UL 2438................................ Outdoor Seasonal-Use Cord-
Connected Wiring Devices.
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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.
A. Conditions
Recognition is contingent on continued compliance with 29 CFR
1910.7, including but not limited to, abiding by the following
conditions of recognition:
1. TUVRNA 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. TUVRNA must meet all the terms of its recognition and comply
with all OSHA policies pertaining to this recognition; and
3. TUVRNA must continue to meet the requirements for recognition,
including all previously published conditions on TUVRNA'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 TUVRNA as a NRTL, subject to the limitations
and conditions specified above.
III. Authority and Signature
James S. Frederick, Deputy 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; Sept. 18, 2020),
and 29 CFR 1910.7.
Signed at Washington, DC.
James S. Frederick,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2023-20405 Filed 9-20-23; 8:45 am]
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