DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

NACOSH HazCom Workgroup Meeting

Notice is hereby given that a workgroup of the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH), established under section 7(a) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 656) to advise the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on matters relating to the administration of the Act, will meet on March 20-21 in N3437 A-D of the Department of Labor Building located at 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC. This meeting was previously announced in the November 15, 1995, Federal Register, but a second day has been added. This meeting is open to the public and will run from 10:00 am to approximately 4:30 pm the first day, and from 8:00 am to approximately 3:00 pm the second day.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has asked NACOSH to form a workgroup to identify ways to improve chemical hazard communication and the right-to-know in the workplace. OSHA has asked the Committee to provide OSHA with recommendations in approximately six months related to simplification of material safety data sheets, reducing the amount of required paperwork, improving the effectiveness of worker training, and revising enforcement policies so that they focus on the most serious hazards.

On March 20-21, presentations by specialists will be made on the following subjects: label comprehension, electronic access systems, training programs, and the experience of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in developing standards for the preparation of material safety data sheets (MSDSs) and labeling of hazardous industrial chemicals.

It is anticipated that the final product of this workgroup will be submitted to the full National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health in the summer.

Written data, views or comments for consideration by the workgroup may be submitted, preferably with 20 copies, to Joanne Goodell at the address provided below. Any such submissions will be provided to the members of the Workgroup and will be included in the record of the meeting. Individuals with disabilities who need special accommodations should contact Tom Hall (202-219-8615) a week before the meeting.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Joanne Goodell, Directorate of Policy, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Room N-3641, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC., 20210, telephone (202) 219-8021, extension 107.

Signed at Washington, D.C., this 29th day of February, 1996.

Joseph A. Dear,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.

[FR Doc. 96-5407 Filed 3-6-96; 8:45 am]