OSHA has announced a second proposed delay in the effective date of the Occupational Exposure to Beryllium standard.  The final rule was published on January 9, 2017, but following the White House’s January 24, 2017 memorandum “Implementation of Regulatory Freeze,” OSHA delayed the effective date until March 21, 2017.  The memorandum directed agencies:

“Where appropriate and as permitted by applicable law, you should consider proposing for notice and comment a rule to delay the effective date for regulations beyond that 60 day period. In cases where the effective date has been delayed in order to review questions of fact, law, or policy, you should consider potentially proposing further notice-and-comment rulemaking.”

Following its initial review, OSHA announced in a News Release today that it

has preliminarily determined that it is appropriate to further delay the effective date to May 20, 2017, for the purpose of additional review into questions of law and policy.

The Agency is accepting comments on this second proposed delay in the effective date of the rule through March 13, 2017.  OSHA cautioned that these proposed delays in the effective date do not change the compliance deadlines which, with two exceptions, are March 12, 2018 for general industry, shipyards, and construction.

OSHA’s National News Release can be read here.