As part of an ongoing effort to revise provisions that may be confusing, outdated or unnecessary, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is proposing 18 changes to the agency’s standards on recordkeeping, general industry, maritime and construction. Changes that will affect dairy companies deal with the control of hazardous energy (also known as lockout/tagout), the reporting of job-related hearing loss and the collection of Social Security numbers.

According to OSHA, the proposed changes would save employers an estimated $3.2 million per year. They are based on responses to a request for information issued in 2012, as well as recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health, OSHA staff and the Office of Management and Budget.

IDFA is reviewing the proposed changes and will work with members to determine whether to submit comments before the Dec. 5 deadline.

This is the fourth rule proposed under OSHA’s Standards Improvement Project, which began in 1995 in response to a Presidential memorandum to improve government regulations. Other improvements to the standards were issued in 1998, 2005 and 2011.

For more information, contact Emily Lyons, IDFA director of regulatory affairs and counsel, at elyons@idfa.org.