Deregulatory Rulemaking

Public Hearings Information

OSHA convened a series of virtual informal public hearings for multiple deregulatory actions listed on this page between August 19 and August 26, 2026. The post-hearing comment periods for individuals who submitted a Notice of Intention to Appear (NOITA) are as follows:

For the proposed rule on Amending the Medical Evaluation Requirements in the Respiratory Protection Standard for Certain Types of Respirators the deadline for submitting post-hearing comments and additional evidence or data is September 19, 2026. The deadline for submitting final written briefs is October 4, 2026.

For the proposed rule to amend the Walking-Working Surfaces Standard - Fixed Ladders the deadline for submitting post-hearing comments and additional evidence or data is September 23, 2026. The deadline for submitting final written briefs is October 8, 2026.

For the proposed rules to amend Respiratory Protection Provisions in 16 Chemical Standards the deadline for submitting post-hearing comments and additional evidence or data is September 24, 2026. The deadline for submitting final written briefs is October 9, 2026.

For the proposed rule on Safety Color Code for Marking Physical Hazards; Textiles; Sawmills; Safety Color Code for Marking Physical Hazards for Shipyard Employment the deadline for submitting post-hearing comments and additional evidence or data is September 25, 2026. The deadline for submitting final written briefs is October 10, 2026.

Information on the hearings is available below:

For further information on the hearings, please see https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/03/2026-11126/12-dibromo-3-chloropropane-1-3-butadiene-13-carcinogens-4-nitrobiphenyl-etc-acrylonitrile-asbestos.

For ongoing updates and further information, stakeholders are encouraged to utilize the related links provided on this webpage. Additional information on OSHA's rulemaking process and how stakeholders can participate is available at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/rulemakingprocess.

The proposed rulemakings are available for viewing at the Federal Register links and all public comments are accessible on regulations.gov.

Overview

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a series of proposed rulemakings in the Federal Register on July 1, 2025, as well as an additional proposed rulemaking on April 6, 2026 regarding Walking-Working Surfaces. These deregulatory initiatives reflects OSHA's commitment to modernizing workplace safety standards, addressing outdated regulations, and enhancing the flexibility of compliance strategies across multiple industries. These efforts are aligned with Executive Order 14192, “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation,” which directs agencies to streamline regulatory obligations by repealing outdated or redundant standards, thereby reducing compliance costs and fostering economic growth.

Notices of Proposed Rulemaking