News Release USDL: 95.309
Wednesday, August 9, 1995
Contact: Frank Kane, (202) 219-8151

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced today that it is extending a partial stay of enforcement of 12 provisions of the new final rule on logging operations for an additional 30 days, until Sept. 8.

The partial stay for six months had been due to end Aug. OSHA is extending the partial stay in order to complete its reconsideration of issues raised about some provisions of the standard, complete corrections and clarifications in the regulatory text and preamble, and revise its compliance directive to reflect those changes.

Other provisions of the final rule were not affected by the partial stay and became effective on Feb. 9.

On Oct. 12, 1994, OSHA issued the final logging rule, which included, among other things, requirements for the use of personal protective equipment; first-aid kits at logging work sites; machine stability and slope limitations; discharge of hydraulic and pneumatic storage devices on forestry machines; machine braking systems; vehicle inspection and maintenance; and tree harvesting.

Several parties raised questions about some of these requirements.

The provisions included in the partial stay involve requirements relating to logging boots that protect against penetration by chain saws; face protection [eye protection became effective Feb. 9, 1995]; health-care provider approval of first- aid kits; prohibition of machine operation on slopes greater than recommended by the manufacturer; discharge of stored energy from hydraulic and pneumatic storage; machine rollover protective structures (ROPS); machine operator cab protective material for the lower portion; the capability of the parking brakes to stop a moving braking system; the employer's obligation to assure that employee-owned vehicles for use off public roads are inspected and maintained in serviceable condition; and backcuts for loggers employing the Humboldt cutting method.

Notice of the extension of the partial stay for the 12 provisions is included in the Wednesday, Aug. 9 Federal Register.