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NRTL Updates - NRTL Update #5 (March 29, 1999) |
Printing Instructions
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NRTL Update #5 (March 29, 1999)
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Greetings Everyone:
We have a few items of interest to update you on:
- Training Program
As mentioned to you previously, the NRTL staff has worked with the OSHA Training Institute staff to develop a training program regarding the NRTL Program. It was developed as a module that could be added to other training courses for our compliance staff, but could also be used as a stand-alone training product that might be appropriate for staff meetings or less formal training situations. The program has now been distributed to regional and area offices of OSHA, as well as to state plan states and consultation programs. The Training Institute reports that they have already gotten positive feedback and requests for additional copies of the program. I am attaching an electronic version of the slide presentation (in PowerPoint) so you can see what was developed. We are very pleased at the response thus far, and believe this is a useful tool to increase awareness about the NRTL Program:
(Note: click here for presentation)
The training program will also be made available on OSHA's web site, both in the training materials as well as on the NRTL page.
- Web Page
In addition to providing them as a handout to accompany the training program for our compliance staff, we have added your marks to our web page for reference by OSHA staff and the general public. If you have any suggestions for other materials that would be helpful to have for reference on the web page, please let us know. We are always open to suggestions to improve its utility.
- Certificates of Recognition
We sent out the new certificates of recognition to all of the existing NRTLs except those in the renewal process. I hope you have received yours--if not, please let us know and we will send another. I heard from a couple of you that you received them and were pleased--we were glad to hear that.
- MRA Issues
It has been brought to our attention that some inaccurate information about OSHA's presentation in Brussels has been in a couple of documents distributed to some of the NRTLs. The information addressed the issue of OSHA's position on performance of onsite visits to laboratories applying for NRTL recognition from Europe. In the Brussels meeting, OSHA stated that it would follow the usual NRTL recognition procedures that it applies to laboratories from any country, i.e., onsite assessments will be performed by OSHA prior to recognition as will post-recognition audits to maintain recognition. The correct position was included in the slide presentation I attached to the last update. However, this issue is important to OSHA, and we want to ensure that everyone has the correct understanding of the position as expressed in the Brussels meeting as well as during the original negotiations.
- Application Guidelines
We have completed development of new application guidelines to help people ensure they have a complete application. The final version will be accessible on our web site very soon.
- Other Issues
Work continues on finalization of the fees notice and the directive with the procedures for the Program. In the last update, I solicited comments from you on some new descriptions of policies and other issues. I received comments from 2 of you on the issue of follow-up audits, but no comments on other issues. We are making some changes in the text as a result of those comments, and will make the full text available when it has been cleared within OSHA.
As always, please feel free to e-mail or call us if you have any specific questions about current events or any pending items regarding your laboratory.
Jennifer Silk
Director
Office of Technical Programs and Coordination Activities
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
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