Amidst complaints that it was moving too fast, OSHA has withdrawn its fast-track proposal for new rules governing construction operations around streets and highways and announced plans to begin a normal public rulemaking procedure for the adoption of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s “Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.” The rule had been scheduled to take effect August 13.
OSHA received eight comments on the proposed rule, five of which were dissenting. Those opposed were concerned by the agency’s rapid timetable for implementing the rule, citing insufficient time to inform and educate members of industry about the new safety regulations. Some groups, NECA among them, were also concerned that the new rules could have put construction contractors in violation of OSHA standards on projects that had already been planned and budgeted without knowledge of the proposed new rule.