No more weekly inspections of mechanical power presses?

Link to full news release here. Link to Federal Register notice here.

OSHA's most recent national news release discusses outdated or obsolete regulations.

On November 20, 2013, OSHA issued a rule with a notice of proposed rule-making to revise the requirement for weekly inspections of mechanical power presses.

These presses are used to punch holes in and form/assemble metal and other materials. When the presses are not properly maintained or damaged, workers operating the presses can experience injuries on their hands, and arms.

Per the Federal Register notice: "OSHA is revising a provision that requires employers to develop and maintain certification records of periodic inspections performed on the presses by adding a requirement that they develop and maintain certification records of any maintenance and repairs they perform on the presses during the periodic inspections. [...] OSHA is removing the requirement from another provision that employers develop and maintain certification records of weekly inspections and tests performed on the presses." 

OSHA believes that removing the requirement for documented weekly inspection and test certifications will save 613,600 hours of unnecessary paperwork time for businesses. Pending no significantly adverse comments, the final rule will become effective on February 18, 2014.

If this raises your hackles, you may submit comments electronically at www.regulations.gov.

The proposed rule-making would modify the existing standard's maintenance and repair requirements to be in line with the ANSI standard for mechanical power presses. ANSI B11.01-2009 requires that maintenance and repair be completed before the press is operated, and that the entire machine be "certified" as being maintained and repaired properly prior to use.