U.S. Department of Labor seeks information on updating OSHA’s mechanical power presses standard

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA, Washington D.C., U.S.) has published a Request for Information (RFI) seeking information and public input as the agency considers updates to its mechanical power presses standard.

This standard was first issued by OSHA in 1971, based on the American National Standards Institute (ANSI, New York, N.Y., U.S.) industry consensus standard. ANSI has updated the standard several times since. OSHA defines a mechanical power press as “a mechanically powered machine that shears, punches, forms or assembles metal or other material by means of cutting, shaping or combination by dies attached to slides” (29 CFR 1910.211(d)(46)).

The agency is requesting information regarding the need to update the mechanical power presses standard, how closely the standard should follow the current ANSI standard, the types of presses that should be covered, the use and certification of equipment, presence-sensing device initiation systems and requirements for press modifications, training and injury reporting. OSHA will use the information received to determine what action, if any, it may take to reduce regulatory burdens while maintaining worker safety.

Comments must be submitted electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Read the Federal Register notice for submission instructions. Submit all comments by Oct. 26, 2021.