[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 228 (Friday, November 27, 2015)][Notices][Pages 74144-74146]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30168]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. OSHA-2010-0046]
QPS Evaluation Services, Inc.: Request for Renewal of Recognition
and Applications for Expansion of Recognition
AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In this notice, OSHA announces the application of QPS
Evaluation Services, Inc. (QPS), for renewal of recognition as a
Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). Additionally, this
notice announces QPS's applications for expansion of its recognition as
an NRTL and presents the Agency's preliminary finding to grant the
application.
DATES: Submit comments, information, and documents in response to this
notice, or requests for an extension of time to make a submission, on
or before December 14, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments by any of the following methods:
1. Electronically: Submit comments and attachments electronically
at http://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal eRulemaking Portal.
Follow the instructions online for making electronic submissions.
2. Facsimile: If submissions, including attachments, are not longer
than 10 pages, commenters may fax them to the OSHA Docket Office at
(202) 693-1648.
3. Regular or express mail, hand delivery, or messenger (courier)
service: Submit comments, requests, and any attachments to the OSHA
Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2010-0046, Technical Data Center, U.S.
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-2625,
Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-2350 (TTY number: (877) 889-
5627). Note that security procedures may result in significant delays
in receiving comments and other written materials by regular mail.
Contact the OSHA Docket Office for information about security
procedures concerning delivery
of materials by express mail, hand delivery, or messenger service. The
hours of operation for the OSHA Docket Office are 8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m.,
e.t.
4. Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and
the OSHA docket number (OSHA-2010-0046). OSHA places comments and other
materials, including any personal information, in the public docket
without revision, and these materials will be available online at
http://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, the Agency cautions commenters
about submitting statements they do not want made available to the
public, or submitting comments that contain personal information
(either about themselves or others) such as Social Security numbers,
birth dates, and medical data.
5. Docket: To read or download submissions or other material in the
docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov or the OSHA Docket Office at
the address above. All documents in the docket are listed in the
http://www.regulations.gov index; however, some information (e.g.,
copyrighted material) is not publicly available to read or download
through the Web site. All submissions, including copyrighted material,
are available for inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket Office.
Contact the OSHA Docket Office for assistance in locating docket
submissions.
6. Extension of comment period: Submit requests for an extension of
the comment period on or before December 14, 2015 to the Office of
Technical Programs and Coordination Activities, Directorate of
Technical Support and Emergency Management, Occupational Safety and
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution
Avenue NW., Room N-3655, Washington, DC 20210, or by fax to (202) 693-
1644.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information regarding this notice is
available from the following sources:
Press inquiries: Contact Mr. Frank Meilinger, Director, OSHA Office
of Communications, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue
NW., Room N-3647, Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-1999;
email: meilinger.francis2@dol.gov.
General and technical information: Contact Mr. Kevin Robinson,
Director, Office of Technical Programs and Coordination Activities,
Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, Occupational
Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200
Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-3655, Washington, DC 20210; phone:
(202) 693-2110, or email: robinson.kevin@dol.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
OSHA recognition of an NRTL signifies that the organization meets
the requirements specified in Section 1910.7. Recognition is an
acknowledgment that the organization can perform independent safety
testing and certification of the specific products covered within its
scope of recognition. Each NRTL's scope of recognition includes (1) the
type of products the NRTL may test, with each type specified by its
applicable test standard; and (2) the recognized site(s) that has/have
the technical capability to perform the product-testing and product-
certification activities for test standards within the NRTL's scope.
Recognition is not a delegation or grant of government authority;
however, recognition enables employers to use products approved by the
NRTL to meet OSHA standards that require product testing and
certification. OSHA maintains an informational Web site for each NRTL
that details its scope of recognition available at
http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/index.html.
The Agency processes applications by an NRTL for renewals and
expansions of recognition following requirements in Appendix A to 29
CFR 1910.7. OSHA conducts renewals in accordance with the procedures in
29 CFR 1910.7, App. II.C. OSHA processes applications for modifying the
scope of recognition in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.7, App. IB4. In
accordance with these procedures, NRTLs may submit an application to
modify its scope of recognition at any time within its recognition
period. For renewals, NRTLs must submit a request to OSHA, between nine
months and one year before the expiration date of its current
recognition. A renewal request includes an application for renewal and
any additional information demonstrating its continued compliance with
the terms of its recognition and 29 CFR 1910.7. If OSHA did not conduct
an on-site assessment of the NRTL's headquarters and key sites within
the past 18 to 24 months, the Agency will schedule the necessary on-
site assessments prior to the expiration date of the NRTL's
recognition. Upon review of the submitted material and, as necessary,
the successful completion of the on-site assessment, OSHA announces its
preliminary decision to grant or deny renewal and QPS's requested scope
expansion in the Federal Register and solicits comments from the
public. OSHA then publishes a final Federal Register notice responding
to any comments and announcing the Agency's Final Decision on modifying
an NRTL's scope of recognition and on the renewal of the NRTL's
recognition.
II. Notice of Application for Expansion
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is providing
notice that QPS is applying for expansion of its current recognition as
an NRTL. QPS requests the addition of seven test standards to its NRTL
scope of recognition.
QPS currently has one facility (site) recognized by OSHA for
product testing and certification, with its headquarters located at:
QPS Evaluation Services, Inc., 81 Kelfield Street, Unit 8, Toronto,
Ontario, M9W 5A3.
III. General Background on the Application for Expansion
QPS submitted two applications, one dated July 16, 2014, and one
dated June 9, 2015 (QPS Exhibit 14-1--Expansion Application for Six
Standards OSHA-2010-0046 and QPS Exhibit 15-1--Amended Expansion
Application to Add an Additional Standard OSHA-2010-0046), to expand
its recognition to include seven additional test standards. These two
applications were combined. OSHA staff performed a comparability
analysis and reviewed other pertinent information. OSHA performed an
on-site review in relation to these applications (as well as the
application for renewal) on July 16-17, 2015.
Table 1 below lists the appropriate test standards found in QPS's
applications for expansion for testing and certification of products
under the NRTL Program.
Table 1--Proposed Appropriate Test Standards for Inclusion in QPS's NRTL
Scope of Recognition
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Test standard Test standard title
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UL 48............................. Standard for Electric Signs.
UL 8750........................... Standard for Light Emitting Diode
(LED) Equipment for Use in Lighting
Products.
UL 73............................. Standard for Motor-Operated
Appliances.
UL 1310........................... Standard for Class 2 Power Units.
UL 1598........................... Luminaries.
UL 1741........................... Standard for Inverters, Converters,
Controllers and Interconnection
System Equipment for Use with
Distributed Energy Resources.
ANSI/ISA 12.12.01................. Nonincendive Electrical Equipment
for Use in Class I and II, Division
2 and Class III, Divisions 1 and 2
Hazardous (Classified) Locations.
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IV. General Background on Application for Renewal
OSHA is additionally providing notice that QPS is applying for
renewal of its current recognition as an NRTL. QPS initially received
OSHA recognition as an NRTL on March 2, 2011 (76 FR 11518) for a five-
year period expiring on March 2, 2016. QPS submitted a timely request
for renewal, dated April 21, 2015 (Exhibit 2--Renewal Application,
OSHA-2010-0046) and retains its recognition pending OSHA's final
decision in this renewal process. The current address of QPS facilities
recognized by OSHA and included as part of the renewal request are:
1. QPS Evaluation Services, Inc., 81 Kelfield Street,Unit 8,
Toronto, Ontario, M9W 5A3 Canada.
V. Notice of Preliminary Findings of the Applications
QPS submitted acceptable applications for expansion of its scope of
recognition. OSHA's review of the application file and on-site review
indicate that QPS can meet the requirements prescribed by 29 CFR 1910.7
for expanding its recognition to include the addition of the test
standards for NRTL testing and certification noted in Table 1 above.
This preliminary finding does not constitute an interim or temporary
approval of QPS's applications.
This requested renewal covers QPS's existing NRTL scope of
recognition. OSHA evaluated QPS's application for renewal, conducted an
on-site review of QPS's facilities and preliminarily determined that
QPS can continue to meet the requirements prescribed by 20 CFR 1910.7
for recognition. This information includes OSHA's most recent on-site
assessment of QPS's facilities conducted on July 16-17, 2015 (Toronto,
Canada). The assessors found some nonconformances with the requirements
of 29 CFR 1910.7. QPS addressed these issues sufficiently to meet the
applicable NRTL requirements. This preliminary finding does not
constitute an interim or temporary approval of the application.
OSHA welcomes public comment as to whether QPS meets the
requirements of 29 CFR 1910.7 for expansion and renewal of its
recognition as an NRTL. Comments should consist of pertinent written
documents and exhibits. Commenters needing more time to comment must
submit a request in writing, stating the reasons for the request.
Commenters must submit the written request for an extension by the due
date for comments. OSHA will limit any extension to 10 days unless the
requester justifies a longer period. OSHA may deny a request for an
extension if it is not adequately justified. To obtain or review copies
of the exhibits identified in this notice, as well as comments
submitted to the docket, contact the Docket Office, Room N-2625,
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Labor, at the above address. These materials also are available online
at http://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. OSHA-2010-0046.
OSHA staff will review all comments submitted to the docket in a
timely manner and, after addressing the issues raised by these
comments, will recommend whether to grant QPS's application for renewal
and for expansion of its scope of recognition. The Assistant Secretary
will make the final decision on granting the application and, in making
this decision, may undertake other proceedings prescribed in Appendix A
to 29 CFR 1910.7.
OSHA will publish a public notice of this final decision in the
Federal Register.
Authority and Signature
David Michaels, Ph.D., MPH, Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Occupational Safety and Health, 200 Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20210, authorized the preparation of this notice.
Accordingly, the Agency is issuing this notice pursuant to 29 U.S.C.
657(g)(2), Secretary of Labor's Order No. 1-2012 (77 FR 3912, Jan. 25,
2012), and 29 CFR 1910.7.
Signed at Washington, DC, on November 23, 2015.
David Michaels,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2015-30168 Filed 11-25-15; 8:45 am]
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