Rynek pracy i bezpieczeństwo · 18/08/1999

Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories; Fees; Reduction of Public Comment Period on Recognition Notices

Under the requirements for nationally recognized testing laboratories (NRTLs), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recognizes private sector laboratories to test and certify the safety of certain equipment or products that will be used in the workplace. Such testing and certification is required by various OSHA safety standards. These laboratories are referred to as Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories, or NRTLs. OSHA proposes to establish fees for specific services the Agency provides to these NRTLs. Congress has authorized OSHA to charge fees for these services since 1997 in bill language in its annual appropriations bills, most recently in Public Law 105-277. These services are: Processing applications for the initial recognition of an organization as an NRTL, or for expansion or renewal of an existing NRTL's recognition, and performing audits (post- recognition reviews) of NRTLs to determine whether they continue to meet the requirements for recognition. Since the inception of the NRTL Program in 1988, OSHA has provided these services at no charge to the NRTLs. In addition, OSHA proposes to amend provisions of the recognition process to reduce the pub