Title 41—Public Contracts and Property Management--Volume 1
PART 50-201—GENERAL REGULATIONS
§ 50-201.1   The Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act.
The Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act, as amended (41 U.S.C. 35-45), hereinafter referred to as the Act, was enacted “to provide conditions for the purchase of supplies and the making of contracts by the United States.” It is not an act of general applicability to industry. The Supreme Court has described it as an instruction by the Government to its agents who were selected and granted final authority to fix the terms and conditions under which the Government will permit goods to be sold to it. Its purpose, according to the Supreme Court “was to impose obligations upon those favored with Government business and to obviate the possibility that any part of our tremendous national expenditures would go to forces tending to depress wages and purchasing power and offending fair social standards of employment.” (“Perkins v. Lukens Steel Co.,” 310 U.S. 113, 128 (1940); “Endicott Johnson Corp. v. Perkins,” 317 U.S. 501 (1943).) To this end, the Act requires those who enter into contracts to perform Government work subject to its terms to adhere to specifically prescribed representations and stipulations as set forth in 41 CFR 50-201.1 pertaining to qualifications of contractors, minimum wages, overtime pay, safe and sanitary working conditions of workers employed on the contract, the use of child labor or convict labor on the contract work, and the enforcement of such provisions. Except as otherwise specifically provided, these representations and stipulations are required to be included in every contract “for the manufacture or furnishing of materials, supplies, articles, and equipment in any amount exceeding $10,000” which is made and entered into by an agency of the United States or other entity as designated in section 1 of the Act, hereinafter referred to as “contracting agency.” Contractors performing work subject to the Act thus “enter into competition to obtain Government business on terms of which they are fairly forwarned by inclusion in the contract.” (“Endicott Johnson Corp. v. Perkins, supra,” 317 U.S. at 507.) The Act also provides for enforcement of the required representations and stipulations by various methods. Certain exemptions from the application of the Act are provided in section 9 of the statute. Other exemptions, variations, and tolerances may be provided under section 6 of the statute by the Secretary of Labor or the President.
§ 50-201.2   Administration of the Act.
(a) The Secretary of Labor is authorized and directed to administer the provisions of the Act, to make investigations, findings, and decisions thereunder, and to make, amend, and rescind rules and regulations with respect to its application (see sections 4 and 5). The Supreme Court has recognized that the Secretary may issue rulings defining the coverage of the Act. (“Endicott Johnson Corp. v. Perkins, supra”.) According to the Court (ibid.), in the statute as originally enacted “Congress submitted the administration of the Act to the judgment of the Secretary of Labor, not to the judgment of the courts.” An amendment to the Act in 1952 added specific provisions for judicial review (see section 10). The Secretary has promulgated regulations to carry out provisions of the Act, which are set forth elsewhere in this chapter (Part 50-201 (General Regulations); Part 50-202 (Minimum Wage Determinations); Part 50-203 (Rules of Practice); and Part 50-204 (Safety and Health Standards)). The Secretary of Labor has delegated to the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division through the Assistant Secretary for Employment Standards the authority to promulgate regulations and to issue official rulings and interpretations. So long as such regulations, rulings, and interpretations are not modified, amended, rescinded, or determined by judicial authority to be incorrect, they may be relied upon as provided in section 10 of the Portal-to-Portal Act of 1947 (61 Stat. 84, 29 U.S.C. 251, et seq., discussed in 29 CFR part 790). Furthermore, these interpretations are intended to indicate the construction of the law which the Department of Labor believes to be correct and which will be followed in the administration of the Act unless and until directed otherwise by Act of Congress or by authoritative rulings of the courts. (“Skidmore v. Swift & Co.”, 323 U.S. 134 (1944), “Roland Co. v. Walling”, 326 U.S. 657 (1946); “Endicott Johnson Corp. v. Perkins, supra”, and “Perkins v. Lukens Steel Co., supra”.)
(b) The courts have held that the “interpretations of the Walsh-Healey Act and the regulations adopted thereunder, as made by the Secretary of Labor acting through his Administrator, are both correct and reasonable.” (“Jno. McCall Coal Company v. United States,” 374 F. 2d 689, 692 (C.A. 4, 1967); see also “United States v. Davison Fuel and Dock Company,” 371 F. 2d 705, 711-714 (C.A. 4, 1967).) These policies are designed to protect not only employees but also the competitive interest of all firms qualified to compete for covered contracts.
§ 50-201.3   Insertion of stipulations.
Except as hereinafter directed, in every contract made and entered into by an executive department, independent establishment, or other agency or instrumentality of the United States, or by the District of Columbia, or by any corporation all the stock of which is beneficially owned by the United States, for the manufacture or furnishing of materials, supplies, articles, and equipment, the contracting officer shall cause to be inserted or incorporated by reference in such invitation or the specifications and in such contract, the following stipulations:
(a) All persons employed by the contractor in the manufacture or furnishing of the materials, supplies, articles, or equipment used in the performance of the contract will be paid, without subsequent deduction or rebate on any account, not less than the minimum wages as determined by the Secretary of Labor to be the prevailing minimum wages for persons employed on similar work or in the particular or similar industries or groups of industries currently operating in the locality in which the materials, supplies, articles, or equipment are to be manufactured or furnished under the contract.
(b) No person employed by the contractor in the manufacture or furnishing of the materials, supplies, articles, or equipment used in the performance of the contract shall be permitted to work in excess of 40 hours in any 1 week unless such person is paid such applicable overtime rate as has been set by the Secretary of Labor: Provided, however, That the provisions of this stipulation shall not apply to any employer who shall have entered into an agreement with his employees pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs 1 or 2 of subsection (b) of section 7 of an act entitled “The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938”: Provided, further, That in the case of such an employer, during the life of the agreement referred to the applicable overtime rate set by the Secretary of Labor shall be paid for hours in excess of 12 in any 1 day or in excess of 56 in any 1 week and if such overtime is not paid, the employer shall be required to compensate his employees during that week at the applicable overtime rate set by the Secretary of Labor for hours in excess of 40 in any 1 week.
(c) No person under 16 years of age and no convict labor will be employed by the contractor in the manufacture or production or furnishing of any of the materials, supplies, articles, or equipment included in the contract.
(d) No part of the contract will be performed nor will any of the materials, supplies, articles, or equipment to be manufactured or furnished under said contract be manufactured or fabricated in any plants, factories, buildings, or surroundings or under working conditions which are unsanitary or hazardous or dangerous to the health and safety of employees engaged in the performance of the contract. Compliance with the safety, sanitary, and factory inspection laws of the State in which the work or part thereof is to be performed shall be prima facie evidence of compliance with this paragraph.
(e) Any breach or violation of any of the foregoing representations and stipulations shall render the party responsible therefor liable to the United States of America for liquidated damages, in addition to damages for any other breach of the contract, in the sum of $33 per day for each person under 16 years of age, or each convict laborer knowingly employed in the performance of the contract, and a sum equal to the amount of any deductions, rebates, refunds, or underpayment of wages due to any employee engaged in the performance of the contract; and, in addition, the agency of the United States entering into the contract shall have the right to cancel same and to make open-market purchases or enter into other contracts for the completion of the original contract, charging any additional cost to the original contractor. Any sums of money due to the United States of America by reason of any violation of any of the representations and stipulations of the contract as set forth herein may be withheld from any amounts due on the contract or may be recovered in a suit brought in the name of the United States of America by the Attorney General thereof. All sums withheld or recovered as deductions, rebates, refunds, or underpayments of wages shall be held in a special deposit account and shall be paid, on order of the Secretary of Labor, directly to the employees who have been paid less than minimum rates of pay as set forth in such contracts and on whose account such sums were withheld or recovered: Provided, That no claims by employees for such payments shall be entertained unless made within 1 year from the date of actual notice to the contractor of the withholding or recovery of such sums by the United States of America.
(f) The contractor shall post a copy of the stipulations in a prominent and readily accessible place at the site of the contract work and shall keep such employment records as are required in the regulations under the act available for inspection by authorized representatives of the Secretary of Labor.
(g) The contractor is not a person who is ineligible to be awarded Government contracts by virtue of sanctions imposed pursuant to the provisions of section 3 of the act.
(h) No part of the contract shall be performed and none of the materials, articles, supplies or equipment manufactured or furnished under the contract shall be manufactured or furnished by any person found by the Secretary of Labor to be ineligible to be awarded Government contracts pursuant to section 3 of the act.
(i) The foregoing stipulations shall be deemed inoperative if this contract is for a definite amount not in excess of $10,000.
§ 50-201.4   Statutory exemptions.
Inclusion of the stipulations enumerated in § 50-201.1 is not required in the following instances:
(a) Where the contracting officer is authorized by the express language of a statute to purchase “in the open market”, or where a purchase of articles, supplies, materials or equipment, either in being or virtually so, is made without advertising for bids under circumstances bringing such purchase within the exception to the General Purchase Statute, R.S. 3709, that is, where immediate delivery is required by the public exigency.
(b) Where the contract relates to perishables, including dairy, livestock, and nursery products (“perishables” covers products subject to decay or spoilage and not products canned, salted, smoked, or otherwise preserved);
(c) Where the contract relates to agricultural or farm products processed for first sale by the original producers;
(d) Where the contract is by the Secretary of Agriculture for the purchase of agricultural commodities or the products thereof;
(e) Where the contract is with a common carrier for carriage of freight or personnel by vessel, airplane, bus, truck, express, or railway line, where published tariff rates are in effect;
(f) Where the contract is for the furnishing of service by radio, telephone, telegraph, or cable companies, subject to the Federal Communications Act of 1934 (48 Stat. 1064 as amended; 47 U.S.C. chapter 5).
§ 50-201.101   Employees affected.
The stipulations shall be deemed applicable only to employees engaged in or connected with the manufacture, fabrication, assembling, handling, supervision, or shipment of materials, supplies, articles, or equipment required under the contract, and shall not be deemed applicable to employees performing only office or custodial work, nor to any employee employed in a bona fide executive, administrative, professional, or outside salesman capacity, as those terms are defined and delimited by the regulations (29 CFR part 541) applicable during the period of performance of the contract under section 13(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended.
§ 50-201.102   Overtime.
(a) Employees engaged in or connected with the manufacture, fabrication, assembling, handling, supervision, or shipment of materials, supplies, articles, or equipment used in the performance of the contract may be employed in excess of 40 hours in any one week: Provided, Such persons shall be paid for any hours in excess of 40 hours in any one week the overtime rate of pay which has been set therefor by the Secretary of Labor.
(b) Until otherwise set by the Secretary of Labor the rate of pay for such overtime shall be one and one-half times the basic hourly rate received by the employee. The “basic hourly rate” means an hourly rate equivalent to the rate upon which time-and-one-half overtime compensation may be computed and paid under section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended. The basic hourly rate may, in no case, be less than the applicable minimum wage.
(c) If in any one week or part thereof an employee is engaged in work covered by the contract's stipulations, overtime shall be paid for any hours worked in excess of 40 hours in any one week at the overtime rate set forth in paragraph (b) of this section.
(d) The overtime pay requirements of this section shall be deemed to be complied with in the case of any employee employed as provided in section 7(b) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) or (2) of that section.
§ 50-201.103   Dealer as agent of undisclosed principal.
Whenever a dealer, to whom a contract within the act and regulations in this part has been awarded, causes a manufacturer to deliver directly to the Government the materials, supplies, articles, or equipment required under the contract, such dealer will be deemed the agent of the manufacturer in executing the contract. As the principal of such agent the manufacturer will be deemed to have agreed to the stipulations contained in the contract.
§ 50-201.104   Protection against unintentional employment of underage minors.
An employer shall not be deemed to have knowingly employed an underage minor in the performance of contracts subject to the Act if, during the period of the employment of such minor, the employer has on file an unexpired certificate of age issued and held pursuant to regulations issued by the Secretary of Labor under section 3(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 CFR 570.121), showing that such minor is at least 16 years of age.
§ 50-201.105   Hours worked.
In determining the hours for which an employee is employed, there shall be excluded any time which is excluded by section 3( o ) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, from the computation of hours worked for purposes of sections 6 and 7 of that act.
§ 50-201.201   Breach of stipulations.
(a) Whenever the Department of Labor notifies the head of a contracting agency that a contractor is liable for liquidated damages by reason of a breach of stipulations as provided in section 2 of the act, there shall be withheld from any balance due under the contract such amount as may be necessary to satisfy such liability pending final disposition of the case.
(b) Whenever a final determination of a breach of stipulations is made, the Secretary of Labor will furnish to the contracting agency a copy of the findings and decision with such recommendations as will assist the contracting agency in determining whether or not the contract should be canceled for such breach.
§ 50-201.301   Agency regulations.
Each agency which prescribes additional regulations for the Administration of the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act and for the implementation of the regulations in this part, shall submit such regulations, directives, and orders to the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division prior to issuance. Any such regulations may not be enforced prior to approval by the Administrator or prior to 60 days after submission if not disapproved by the Administrator. Currently existing regulations are not affected by this section, except where such regulations are not in conformity with the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act and the Department of Labor regulations. In such cases, agency regulations shall be appropriately revised.
§ 50-201.501   Records of employment.
Every contractor subject to the provisions of the act and this part shall maintain the following records of employment which shall be available for the inspection and transcription of authorized representatives of the Secretary of Labor:
(a) Name, address, sex, and occupation of each employee covered by the contract stipulations;
(b) Date of birth of each employee under 19 years of age; and if the employer has obtained a certificate of age as provided in § 50-201.105, there shall also be recorded the title and address of the office issuing such certificate, the number of the certificate, if any, the date of its issuance, and the name, address and date of birth of the minor, as the same appears on the certificate of age;
(c) Wage-and-hour records for each such employee including the rate of wages and the amount paid each pay period, the hours worked each day and each week, and the period during which each such employee was engaged on a Government contract with the number of such contract. Compliance with this paragraph shall be deemed complete if wage-and-hour records for all employees in the plant are maintained during the period between the award of any Government contract and the date of delivery of the materials, supplies, articles, or equipment: Provided, That where no separate records for employees engaged on Government contracts are maintained, it shall be presumed until affirmative proof is present to the contrary that all employees in the plant, from the date of award of any such contract until the date of delivery of the materials, supplies, articles or equipment, were engaged on such Government contract;
(d) The records required by paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this section shall be kept on file for at least 3 years from their last date of entry;
(e) Basic employment and earnings records: All basic time and earning cards or sheets of the employer on which are entered the daily starting and stopping time of individual employees or of separate work forces, or the individual employees' daily, weekly, or pay period amounts of work accomplished (for example, units produced) when those amounts determine in whole or in part the pay period earnings or wages of those employees;
(f) Wage rate tables: All tables or schedules of the employer which provide the piece rates or other rates used in computing straight-time earnings, wages or salary, or overtime excess compensation;
(g) Work time schedules: All schedules or tables of the employer which establish the hours and days of employment of individual employees or of separate work forces;
(h) The records required by paragraphs (e), (f), and (g) of this section shall be kept on file at least 2 years from their last date of entry or their last effective date whichever is later.
§ 50-201.502   Record of injuries.
Every person who is or shall become a party to a Government contract which is subject to the provisions of the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act and the regulations thereunder, or who is performing or shall perform any part of such contract subject to the provisions of such Act or regulations, shall comply with the recordkeeping requirements of 29 CFR Part 1904.
§ 50-201.601   Requests for exceptions and exemptions.
(a)(1) Request for the exception or exemption of a contract or class of contracts from the inclusion or application of one or more of those stipulations required by § 50-201.1 must be made by the head of a contracting agency or department and shall be accompanied with a finding by him setting forth reasons why such inclusion or application will seriously impair the conduct of Government business.
(2) Request for the exception or exemption of a stipulation respecting minimum rates of pay and maximum hours of labor contained in an existing contract must be made jointly by the head of the contracting agency and the contractor and shall be accompanied with a joint finding by them setting forth reasons why such exception or exemption is desired.
(b) All requests for exceptions or exemptions which relate solely to safety and health standards shall be transmitted directly to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20210, or, for those pertaining to coal mines, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22203. All other requests for exceptions or exemptions shall be transmitted to the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division, Employment Standards Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20210.
§ 50-201.602   Decisions concerning exceptions and exemptions.
Decisions concerning exceptions and exemptions shall be in writing and approved by the Secretary of Labor or authorized representative, and shall be transmitted to the department or agency originating the request and to the Comptroller General. All such decisions containing significant issues of general applicability shall be disseminated to all contracting agencies by the Wage and Hour Division, ESA, of the Department of Labor.
§ 50-201.603   Full administrative exemptions.
The following classes of contracts have been exempted from the application of § 50-201.1 pursuant to the procedure required under section 6 of the act:
(a) Contracts for public utility services including electric light and power, water, steam, and gas;
(b) Contracts for materials, supplies, articles, or equipment no part of which will be manufactured or furnished within the geographic limits of the States of the United States of America, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or the District of Columbia: In addition, the representations and stipulations required by the act and this part in any contract for materials, supplies, articles, or equipment to be manufactured or furnished in part within and in part outside such geographic limits shall not be applicable to any work performed under the contract outside such geographic limits;
(c) Contracts covering purchases against the account of a defaulting contractor where the stipulations required in this section were not included in the defaulted contract;
(d) Contracts awarded to sales' agents or publisher representatives, for the delivery of newspapers, magazines or periodicals by the publishers thereof.
§ 50-201.701   Definition of “person.”
Whenever used in the regulations in this part, the word person includes one or more individuals, partnerships, associations, corporations, legal representatives, trustees, trustees in bankruptcy, or receivers.
§ 50-201.1101   Minimum wages.
Determinations of prevailing minimum wages or changes therein will be published in the Federal Register by the Wage and Hour Division, ESA, of the Department of Labor.
§ 50-201.1102   Tolerance for apprentices, student-learners, and handicapped workers.
(a) Apprentices, student-learners, and workers, whose earning capacity is impaired by age or physical or mental deficiencies or injuries may be employed at wages lower than the prevailing minimum wages, determined by the Secretary of Labor pursuant to section 1(b) of the Public Contracts Act, in accordance with the same standards and procedures as are prescribed for the employment of apprentices, student-learners, handicapped persons, and handicapped clients of sheltered workshops under section 14 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, and by the regulations of the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor issued thereunder (29 CFR parts 520, 521, 524, 525, and 528).
(b) Any certificate in effect pursuant to such regulations shall constitute authorization for employment of that worker under the Public Contracts Act in accordance with the terms of the certificate, insofar as the prevailing minimum wage is concerned.
(c) The Administrator is authorized to issue certificates under the Public Contracts Act for the employment of apprentices, student-learners, handicapped persons, or handicapped clients of sheltered workshops not subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, or subject to different minimum rates of pay under the two acts, at appropriate rates of compensation and in accordance with the standards and procedures prescribed by the applicable regulations issued under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 CFR parts 520, 521, 524, and 525).
(d) The Administrator is also authorized to withdraw, annul, or cancel such certificates in accordance with the regulations set forth in 29 CFR parts 525 and 528.
§ 50-201.1201   [Reserved]
§ 50-201.1202   Complaints.
Whenever any officer or employee of the United States Government or of any agency thereof has any knowledge of, or receives any complaint with respect to, a breach or violation of the stipulations required under § 50-201.1, he shall transmit such complaint according to the usual practice in his department to the Department of Labor, together with such other information as he has in his possession.
§ 50-201.1203   Other contracts.
Nothing in this part shall be construed as impairing the authority possessed by any contracting agency to require labor standards in contracts not covered by this act.
§ 50-202.1   Application and scope.
Not less than the minimum wages prescribed in this part shall be paid to employees described in § 50-201.102 of this chapter when their work relates to contracts subject to the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act. The minimum wages prescribed in this part shall apply to all contracts bids for which are solicited or negotiations otherwise commenced on or after the effective date of the applicable determination. Nothing in this part shall affect any obligations for the payment of minimum wages that an employer may have under any law or agreement more favorable to employees than than the requirements of this part.
§ 50-202.2   Minimum wage in all industries.
In all industries, the minimum wage applicable to employees described in § 50-201.102 of this chapter shall be not less than $3.35 per hour commencing January 1, 1981, $3.80 per hour commencing April 1, 1990, and $4.25 per hour commencing April 1, 1991.
§ 50-202.3   Learners, student learners, apprentices, and handicapped workers.
Learners, student learners, apprentices, and handicapped workers may be employed at less than the minimum wage prescribed in § 50-202.2 to the same extent such employment is permitted under section 14 of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
§ 50-203.1   Reports of breach or violation.
(a) Any employer, employee, labor or trade organization or other interested person or organization may report a breach or violation, or apparent breach or violation of the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act of June 30, 1936 (49 Stat. 2036, as amended; 41 U.S.C. 35-45), or of any of the rules or regulations prescribed thereunder.
(b) A report of breach or violation may be reported to the nearest office of the Wage and Hour Division, Employment Standards Administration or with the Administrator, Wage and Hour Division, Employment Standards Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, D.C. 20210.
(c) [Reserved]
(d) In the event that the Wage and Hour Division is notified of a breach or violation which also involves safety and health standards, such Director shall notify the appropriate Regional Director of the Bureau of Labor Standards who shall with respect to the safety and health violation take action commensurate with his responsibilities pertaining to safety and health standards.
(e) The report should contain the following:
(1) The full name and address of the person or organization reporting the breach or violation.
(2) The full name and address of the person against whom the report is made, hereinafter referred to as the “respondent”.
(3) A clear and concise statement of the facts constituting the alleged breach or violation of any of the provisions of the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act, or of any of the rules or regulations prescribed thereunder.
§ 50-203.2   Issuance of a formal complaint.
After a report of a breach or violation has been filed, or upon his own motion and without any report of a breach or violation having been previously filed, the Solicitor may issue and cause to be served upon the respondent a formal complaint stating the charges. Notice of hearing before an administrative law judge designated by the Secretary of Labor shall be issued and served within a reasonable time after the issuance of the complaint. A copy of the complaint and notice of hearing shall be served upon the surety or sureties. Unless the administrative law judge otherwise determines, the date of hearing shall not be sooner than 30 days after the date of issuance of the complaint.
§ 50-203.3   Answer.
(a) The respondent shall have the right, unless otherwise specified in the complaint and notice, within twenty (20) days after date of issuance of the formal complaint, to file an answer thereto. Such answer shall not be limited to a mere denial of the charges. It shall specifically deny or admit each of the charges, and, if the answer is in denial of any one of the charges, it shall contain a concise statement of the facts relied upon in support of the denial. Any charges not specifically denied in the answer shall be deemed to be admitted and may be so found by the administrative law judge, unless the respondent disclaims knowledge upon which to make a denial. If the answer should admit any charge but the respondent believes there are reasons or circumstances warranting special consideration, such reasons and circumstances should be fully but concisely stated.
(b) Such answer shall be in writing, and signed by the respondent or his attorney or by any other duly authorized agent with power of attorney affixed.
(c) If no answer is filed, or if the answer as filed does not warrant a postponement of the hearing, such hearing will be held as scheduled.
(d) The original and two copies of the answer shall be filed with the Chief administrative law judge, Department of Labor, Washington, D.C.
(e) In any case where formal complaints have been amended, the respondent shall have the right to amend his answer within such time as may be fixed by the administrative law judge.
§ 50-203.4   Motions.
(a) All motions except those made at the hearing shall be filed in writing with the Chief administrative law judge, Department of Labor, Washington, D.C., and shall be included in the record. Such motions shall state briefly the order or relief applied for and the grounds for such motion. The moving party shall file an original and two copies of all such motions. All motions made at the hearing shall be stated orally and included in the stenographic report of the hearing.
(b) The administrative law judge designated to conduct the hearing may in his discretion reserve his ruling upon any question or motion.
§ 50-203.5   Intervention.
Any employer, employee, labor or trade organization or other interested person or organization desiring to intervene in any pending proceeding prior to, or at the time it is called for hearing, but not after a hearing, except for good cause shown, shall file a petition in writing for leave to intervene, which shall be served on all parties to the proceeding, with the Chief administrative law judge, Department of Labor, or with the administrative law judge designated to conduct the hearing, setting forth the position and interest of the petitioner and the grounds of the proposed intervention. The Chief administrative law judge, or the administrative law judge, as the case may be, may grant leave to intervene to such extent and upon such terms as he shall deem just.
§ 50-203.6   Witnesses and subpoenas.
(a) Witnesses shall be examined orally under oath except that for good and exceptional cause the administrative law judge may permit their testimony to be taken by deposition under oath.
(b) The administrative law judge shall upon application by any party, and upon a showing of general relevance and reasonable scope of the evidence sought, issue subpoenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of evidence under oath, including books, records, correspondence, or documents. Applications for the issuance of subpoenas duces tecum shall specify the books, records, correspondence or other documents sought.
(c) Witnesses summoned before the administrative law judge shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the courts of the United States, and witnesses whose depositions are taken and the persons taking the same shall severally be entitled to the same fees as are paid for like services in the courts of the United States. Witness fees and mileage shall be paid by the party at whose instance the witnesses appear, and the person taking the depositions shall be paid by the party at whose instance the depositions are taken.
§ 50-203.7   Prehearing conferences.
(a) At any time prior to the hearing the administrative law judge may, on motion of the parties or on his own motion, whenever it appears that the public interest will be served thereby, direct the parties to appear before him for a conference at a designated time and place to consider, among other things:
(1) Simplification of the issues;
(2) The necessity or desirability of amending the pleadings for purposes of clarification, amplification or limitation;
(3) Obtaining stipulations of fact or admissions of undisputed facts or the authenticity of documents;
(4) The procedure at the hearing;
(5) Limiting the number of witnesses;
(6) The propriety of mutual exchange among parties of prepared testimony or exhibits; or
(7) Any other matters which would tend to expedite the disposition of the proceeding.
(b) The action taken at the conference may be recorded, in summary form or otherwise, for use at the hearing. Such record, when agreed to by the parties and approved by the administrative law judge, shall be conclusive as to the action embodied therein. Stipulations and admissions of fact and amendments to pleadings shall be made a part of the record of the proceeding.
§ 50-203.8   Hearing.
(a) The hearing for the purpose of taking evidence upon a formal complaint shall be conducted by an administrative law judge. Administrative law judges shall, so far as practicable, be assigned to cases in rotation. In case of the death, illness, disqualification or unavailability of the administrative law judge presiding in any proceeding, another administrative law judge may be designated to take his place. Such hearings shall be open to the public unless otherwise ordered by the administrative law judge.
(b) The administrative law judges shall perform no duties inconsistent with their duties and responsibilities as administrative law judges. Save to the extent required for the disposition of ex parte matters as authorized by law, no administrative law judge shall consult any person or party as to any fact in issue unless upon notice and opportunity for all parties to participate.
(c) Administrative law judges shall act independently in the performance of their functions as administrative law judge and shall not be responsible to, or subject to the supervision or direction of, any officer, employee or agent engaged in the performance of investigative or prosecuting functions for the Department of Labor in the enforcement of the Public Contracts Act.
(d) At all hearings it shall be the right of counsel for the Government to open and close, subject to the right of the administrative law judge to designate, upon cause shown, who shall open and close.
(e) It shall be the duty of the administrative law judge to inquire fully into the facts as to whether the respondent has breached or violated any of the provisions of the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act of June 30, 1936 (49 Stat. 2036, as amended; 41 U.S.C. 35-45), or any rules or regulations prescribed thereunder, as set forth in the formal complaint. Counsel for the Government, and the administrative law judge, shall have the power to call, examine, and cross-examine witnesses and to introduce into the record documentary or other evidence.
(f) Any party to the proceeding shall have the right to appear at such hearing in person, by counsel, or otherwise, to call, examine, and cross-examine witnesses, and to introduce into the record documentary or other evidence.
(g) In any such proceedings, the rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity shall not be controlling. However, it shall be the policy to exclude irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious evidence.
(h) In any such proceedings, in the discretion of the administrative law judge, stipulations of fact may be made with respect to any issue.
(i) Any objection with respect to the conduct of the hearing, including any objection to the introduction of evidence, shall be stated orally, together with a short statement of the grounds for such objection, and included in the stenographic report of the hearing. No such objection shall be deemed waived by further participation in the proceeding.
(j) Unless the administrative law judge otherwise directs, any party to the proceeding shall be entitled to a reasonable period at the close of the hearing for oral argument, which shall not be included in the stenographic report of the hearing unless the administrative law judge directs.
(k) In the discretion of the administrative law judge, the hearing may be continued from day to day, or adjourned to a later date, or to a different place, by announcement thereof at the hearing by the administrative law judge, or by other appropriate notice.
(l) Contemptuous conduct at any hearing before an administrative law judge shall be ground for exclusion from the hearing. The failure or refusal of a witness to appear at any such hearing or to answer any question which has been ruled to be proper shall be ground for the action provided in section 5 of the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act of June 30, 1936 (sec. 5, 49 Stat. 2039; 41 U.S.C. 39), and in the discretion of the administrative law judge may be ground for the striking out of all testimony which may have been previously given by such witness on related matters.
§ 50-203.9   Briefs.
(a) Any interested person or organization shall be entitled to file with the administrative law judge, Department of Labor, Washington, D.C., briefs, proposed findings of fact or conclusions of law, or other written statements, within the time allowed by the administrative law judge.
(b) Any brief or written statement shall be stated in concise terms.
(c) Three copies of all such documents shall be filed.
(d) Briefs or written statements of more than twenty pages shall be properly indexed.
§ 50-203.10   Decision of the administrative law judge.
(a) Following the hearing and upon completion of the record, the administrative law judge shall issue an order and decision embodying his findings of fact and conclusions of law on all issues as to whether respondent has violated the representations and stipulations of the act and the amount of damages due therefor, which shall become final, unless a petition for review is filed under § 50-203.11, before the expiration of the time provided for the filing of such petition. The decision of the administrative law judge shall be inoperative unless and until it becomes final. If the respondent is found to have violated the act, the administrative law judge in his decision shall make recommendations to the Administrative Review Board as to whether respondent should be relieved from the application of the ineligible list provisions of section 3 of the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act of June 30, 1936 (sec. 3, 49 Stat. 2037; 41 U.S.C. 37).
(b) The decision of the administrative law judge shall be made part of the record, and a copy thereof shall be served upon the respondent or respondents by mailing a copy thereof by registered mail to the respondent or respondents or to the attorney or attorneys of record. Upon request from employees or other interested persons, the decision will be served upon such persons, and in the discretion of the administrative law judge, the decision will be served upon such other persons or their attorneys who appeared at the hearing or upon brief by mailing a copy thereof to such persons.
§ 50-203.11   Review.
(a) Within twenty (20) days after service of the decision of the administrative law judge any interested party to the proceeding may file with the Chief administrative law judge an original and four copies of a petition for review of the decision. The petition shall set out separately and particularly each error assigned. The request for review and the record will then be certified to the Administrative Review Board.
(b) The petitioner may file a brief (original and four copies) in support of his petition within the period allowed for the filing of the petition. Any interested person upon whom the decision has been served may file within ten (10) days after the expiration of the period within which the petition is required to be filed a brief in support of or in opposition to the administrative law judge's decision.
(c) The petition and the briefs filed under this section shall make specific reference to the pages of the transcript or of the exhibits which are relevant to the errors asserted with respect to findings of fact, and objections to such findings which are not so supported will not be considered.
(d) No matter properly subject to objection before the administrative law judge will be considered by the Administrative Review Board unless it shall have been raised before the administrative law judge or unless there were reasonable grounds for failure so to do; nor will any matter be considered by the Administrative Review Board unless included in the assignment or errors. In the discretion of the Administrative Review Board, review may be denied if the petition and brief in support thereof fail to show adequate cause for such review.
(e) The order denying review, or the decision of the Administrative Review Board, whichever is entered, will be made a part of the record, and a copy of such order or decision will be served upon the parties who were served with a copy of the administrative law judge's decision.
(f) If the respondent is found to have violated the Act, the Administrative Review Board shall determine whether respondent shall be relieved from the application of the ineligible list provisions of section 3 of the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act (sec. 4, 49 Stat. 2039; 41 U.S.C. 37).
§ 50-203.12   Effective date.
The amendments to subpart A shall become effective upon publication in the Federal Register May 3, 1996; Provided, however, That in any case where a hearing has begun or has been completed prior to said publication, the proceeding shall be conducted pursuant to the rules of practice in effect at the time the proceeding was initiated unless the parties stipulate in writing or orally for the record that the proceeding be conducted in accordance with §§ 50-203.1 to 50-203.12.
§ 50-203.13   Requests for exceptions and exemptions.
(a) Request for the exception or exemption of a contract or class of contracts from the inclusion or application of one or more of those stipulations required by § 50-201.1 of this chapter must be made by the head of a contracting agency or department and shall be accompanied with a finding by him setting forth reasons why such inclusion or application will seriously impair the conduct of Government business.
(b) Request for the exception or exemption of a stipulation respecting minimum rates of pay and maximum hours of labor contained in an existing contract must be made jointly by the head of a contracting agency and the contractor and shall be accompanied with a joint finding by them setting forth reasons why such exception or exemption is desired.
(c) All requests for exceptions or exemptions which relate solely to safety and health standards shall be transmitted directly to the Bureau of Labor Standards, WSA, Department of Labor. All other requests for exceptions or exemptions shall be transmitted to the Office of Government Contracts Wage Standards, WSA, of the Department of Labor.
§ 50-203.14   Decisions concerning exceptions and exemptions.
Decisions concerning exceptions and exemptions shall be in writing and approved by the Secretary of Labor or officer prescribed by him, originals being filed in the Department of Labor, and certified copies shall be transferred to the department or agency originating the request and to the Comptroller General. All such decisions shall be promulgated to all contracting agencies by the Office of Government Contracts Wage Standards, WSA of the Department of Labor.
§ 50-203.15   Initiation of proceeding.
Wage determination proceedings may be initiated by the Secretary of Labor with respect to any industry. The proceedings may be initiated by the Secretary of Labor upon his own motion or upon the request of any party showing a proper interest in the industry.
§ 50-203.16   Industry panel meetings.
The Secretary of Labor may, within his discretion, invite representatives of employers and employees in an industry to meet as an informal panel group to discuss with representatives of the Department of Labor the various questions relating to the issuance of a wage determination for the industry.
§ 50-203.17   Hearings.
(a) Hearings held for the purpose of receiving evidence with regard to prevailing minimum wages in the various industries shall be conducted by an administrative law judge.
(b) Due notice of hearing shall be published in the Federal Register.
(c) The hearing shall be stenographically reported and a transcript made which will be available to any person at prescribed rates upon request addressed to the Secretary, United States Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20210.
(d) At the discretion of the administrative law judge, the hearing may be continued from day to day or adjourned to a later date, or to a different place by announcement thereof at the hearing or by other appropriate notice.
§ 50-203.18   Evidence.
(a) Witnesses appearing at the hearing need not be sworn. The administrative law judge may, however, within his discretion, require that witnesses take an oath or affirmation as to testimony submitted.
(b) Written statements may be filed any time prior to the date of the hearing by persons who cannot appear personally.
(c) Written documents and exhibits shall be tendered in quadruplicate. When evidence is embraced in a document containing matter not intended to be put in evidence, within the discretion of the administrative law judge, such a document will not be received but the person offering the same may present to the administrative law judge the original document together with two copies of those portions of the document intended to be put in evidence.
(d) At any stage of the hearing, the administrative law judge may call for further evidence upon any matter. After the hearing has been closed, no further evidence shall be taken, except at the request of the Administrative Review Board, unless provision has been made at the hearing for the later receipt of such evidence. In the event that the Administrative Review Board shall cause the hearing to be reopened for the purpose of receiving further evidence, due and reasonable notice of the time and place fixed for such taking of testimony shall be given to all persons who have appeared at the hearing or filed a notice of intention to appear at the hearing.
(e) The rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity shall not be controlling. However, it shall be the policy to exclude irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious evidence.
§ 50-203.19   Subpoenas and witness fees.
(a) Subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses or the presentation of a document from any place in the United States at any designated place of hearing shall be issued by the administrative law judge upon request and upon a timely showing, in writing, of the general relevance and reasonable scope of the evidence sought. Any person appearing in the proceeding may apply for the issuance of a subpoena. Such application shall identify exactly the witness or document and state fully the nature of the evidence proposed to be secured.
(b) Witnesses summoned by the Secretary shall be paid the same fees and mileage as are paid witnesses in the courts of the United States. Witness fees and mileage shall be paid by the party at whose instance witnesses appear, and the Secretary before issuing a subpoena may require a deposit of an amount adequate to cover the fees and mileage involved.
§ 50-203.20   Examination of witnesses.
The administrative law judge shall, consistent with orderly procedure, permit any person appearing at the hearing to conduct such examination or cross-examination of any witness as may be required for a full and true disclosure of the facts, and to object to the admission or exclusion of evidence. Objections to the admission or exclusion of evidence shall be stated briefly with the reasons relied on. Such objections shall become a part of the record, but the record shall not include argument thereon except as ordered by the administrative law judge.
§ 50-203.21   Decisions
(a) Within 30 days after the close of the hearing, each interested person at the hearing may file with the administrative law judge an original and four copies of a statement containing proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, together with reasons for such proposals. The administrative law judge shall, immediately following the termination of the thirty-day period provided for the filing of proposed findings and conclusions, certify the complete record to the Administrative Review Board.
(b) Upon the basis, and after consideration, of the whole record, the Administrative Review Board may issue a tentative decision. The tentative decision shall become part of the record, and shall include: (1) A statement of findings and conclusions, with the reasons and bases therefor, upon all material issues of fact, law, or discretion presented on the record, and (2) any proposed wage determination. Any tentative decision shall be published in the Federal Register.
(c) Within twenty-one days following the publication of any tentative decision in the Federal Register, any interested person may file an original and four copies of a statement containing exemptions to the tentative decision, together with supporting reasons.
(d) Thereafter, the Administrative Review Board may issue a decision ruling upon each exception filed and including any appropriate wage determination. Any such decision shall be published in the Federal Register after it becomes the final action of the Department.
§ 50-203.22   Effective date of determinations.
Any minimum wage determination issued as a result of hearings held under this subpart shall take effect not less than 30 days after due notice is given of the issuance thereof by publication in the Federal Register, or at such time prior thereto as may be provided therein upon good cause found and published therewith.
§ 50-204.1   Scope and application.
(a) The Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act requires that contracts entered into by any agency of the United States for the manufacture or furnishing of materials, supplies, articles, and equipment in any amount exceeding $10,000 must contain, among other provisions, a stipulation that “no part of such contract will be performed nor will any of the materials, supplies, articles, or equipment to be manufactured or furnished under said contract be manufactured or fabricated in any plants, factories, buildings, or surroundings or under working conditions which are unsanitary or hazardous or dangerous to the health and safety of employees engaged in the performance of said contract. Compliance with the safety, sanitary, and factory inspection laws of the State in which the work or part thereof is to be performed shall be prima-facie evidence of compliance with this subsection.” (sec. 1(e)), 49 Stat. 2036, 41 U.S.C. 35(e)). This part 50-204 expresses the Secretary of Labor's interpretation and application of this provision with regard to certain particular working conditions. In addition, §§ 50-204.27, 50-204.30, 50-204.31, 50-204.32, 50-204.33, and 50-204.36 contain requirements concerning the instruction of personnel, notification of incidents, reports of exposures, and maintenance and disclosure of records.
(b)(1) Every investigator conducting investigations and every officer of the Department of Labor determining whether there are or have been violations of the safety and health requirements of the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act and of any contract subject thereto; and whether a settlement of the resulting issues should be made without resort to administrative or court litigation, shall treat a failure to comply with, or violation of, any of the safety and health measures contained in this part 50-204 as resulting in working conditions which are “unsanitary or hazardous or dangerous to the health and safety of employees” within the meaning of section 1(e) of the Act and the contract stipulation it requires. Evidence of compliance with the safety, sanitary, and factory inspection laws of a State in which the work, or part thereof, is performed will be considered prima facie evidence of compliance with the safety and health requirements of the Act and of any contract subject thereto, and it shall be sufficient unless rebutted or overcome by a preponderance of evidence of a failure to comply with any applicable safety and health rules contained in this part.
(2) Every investigator shall have technical competence in safety, industrial hygiene, or both as may be appropriate, in the matters under investigation.
(c) [Reserved]
(d) The standards expressed in this part 50-204 are for application to ordinary employment situations; compliance with them shall not relieve anyone from the obligation to provide protection for the health and safety of his employees in unusual employment situations. Neither do such standards purport to describe all of the working conditions which are unsanitary or hazardous or dangerous to the health and safety of employees. Where such other working conditions may be found to be unsanitary or hazardous or dangerous to the health and safety of employees, professionally accepted safety and health practices will be used.
(e) Compliance with the standards expressed in this part 50-204 is not intended, and shall not be deemed to relieve anyone from any other obligation he may have to protect the health and safety of his employees, arising from sources other than the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act, such as State, local law or collective bargaining agreement.
§ 50-204.1a   Variances.
(a) Variances from standards in this part may be granted in the same circumstances in which variances may be granted under sections 6(b)(6)(A) or 6(d) of the Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 655). The procedures for the granting of variances and for related relief under this part are those published in part 1905 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations.
(b) Any requests for variances shall also be considered requests for variances under the Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, and any variance from a standard which is contained in this part and which is incorporated in part 1910 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, shall be deemed a variance from the standard under both the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act and the Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. In accordance with the requirements of § 1954.3(d)(1)(i) of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, variance actions taken under State provisions under a State occupational safety and health plan approved under section 18 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 with regard to State standards found to be at least as effective as the comparable Federal standards contained in this part and incorporated in part 1910 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, shall be deemed a variance action from the standard under both the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.
§ 50-204.2   General safety and health standards.
(a) Every contractor shall protect the safety and health of his employees by complying with the standards described in the subparagraphs of this paragraph whenever a standard deals with an occupational safety or health subject or issue involved in the performance of the contract.
(1) U.S. Department of Labor—Title 29 CFR—
(2) U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Mines.
(i) In Chapter I of Title 30, Code of Federal Regulations, the standards requiring safe and healthful working conditions or surroundings in:
(ii) In Chapter II of Title 30 the standards requiring safe and healthful working conditions or surroundings in:
(3) U.S. Department of Transportation: 49 CFR parts 171-179 and 14 CFR part 103 Hazardous material regulation—Transportation of compressed gases.
(4) U.S. Department of Agriculture Respiratory Devices for Protection against Certain Pesticides—ARS-33-76-2.
(b) Information concerning the applicability of the standards prescribed in paragraph (a) of this section may be obtained from the following offices:
(1) Office of the Bureau of Labor Standards, U.S. Department of Labor, Railway Labor Building, Washington, DC 20210.
(2) The regional and field offices of the Bureau of Labor Standards which are listed in the U.S. Government Organization Manual, 1970-71 edition at p. 324.
(c) In applying the safety and health standards referred to in paragraph (a) of this section the Secretary may add to, strengthen or otherwise modify any standards whenever he considers that the standards do not adequately protect the safety and health of employees as required by the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act.
§ 50-204.3   Material handling and storage.
(a) Where mechanical handling equipment is used, sufficient safe clearances shall be allowed for aisles, at loading docks, through doorways and wherever turns or passage must be made. Aisles and passageways shall be kept clear and in good repair, with no obstruction across or in aisles that could create a hazard. Permanent aisles and passageways shall be appropriately marked.
(b) Storage of material shall not create a hazard. Bags, containers, bundles, etc. stored in tiers shall be stacked, blocked, interlocked and limited in height so that they are stable and secure against sliding or collapse.
(c) Storage areas shall be kept free from accumulation of materials that constitute hazards from tripping, fire, explosion, or pest harborage. Vegetation control will be exercised when necessary.
(d) Proper drainage shall be provided.
(e) Clearance signs to warn of clearance limits shall be provided.
(f) Derail and/or bumper blocks shall be provided on spur railroad tracks where a rolling car could contact other cars being worked, enter a building, work or traffic area.
(g) Covers and/or guard rails shall be provided to protect personnel from the hazards of open pits, tanks, vats, ditches, etc.
§ 50-204.4   Tools and equipment.
Each employer shall be responsible for the safe condition of tools and equipment used by employees, including tools and equipment which may be furnished by employees.
§ 50-204.5   Machine guarding.
(a) One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, in going nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Examples of guarding methods are—Barrier guards, two hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.
(b) General requirements for machine guards. Guards shall be affixed to the machine where possible and secured elsewhere if for any reason attachment to the machine is not possible. The guard shall be such that it does not offer an accident hazard in itself.
(c) Point of Operation Guarding.
(1) Point of operation is the area on a machine where work is actually performed upon the material being processed.
(2) Where existing standards prepared by organizations listed in § 50-204.2 provide for point of operation guarding such standards shall prevail. Other types of machines for which there are no specific standards, and the operation exposes an employee to injury, the point of operation shall be guarded. The guarding device shall be so designed and constructed so as to prevent the operator from having any part of his body in the danger zone during the operating cycle.
(3) Special hand tools for placing and removing material shall be such as to permit easy handling of material without the operator placing a hand in the danger zone. Such tools shall not be in lieu of other guarding required by this section, but can only be used to supplement protection provided.
(4) The following are some of the machines which usually require point of operation guarding:
(d) Revolving drums, barrels and containers shall be guarded by an enclosure which is interlocked with the drive mechanism, so that the barrel, drum or container cannot revolve unless the guard enclosure is in place.
(e) When the periphery of the blades of a fan is less than seven (7) feet above the floor or working level, the blades shall be guarded. The guard shall have openings no larger than one half ( 1/2 ) inch.
(f) Machines designed for a fixed location shall be securely anchored to prevent walking or moving.
§ 50-204.6   Medical services and first aid.
(a) The employer shall ensure the ready availability of medical personnel for advice and consultation on matters of plant health.
(b) In the absence of an infirmary, clinic or hospital in near proximity to the work place which is used for the treatment of all injured employees, a person or persons shall be adequately trained to render first aid. First aid supplies approved by the consulting physician shall be readily available.
(c) Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use.
§ 50-204.7   Personal protective equipment.
Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact. Where employees provide their own protective equipment, the employer shall be responsible to assure its adequacy, including proper maintenance and sanitation of such equipment. All personal protective equipment shall be of safe design and construction for the work to be performed.
§ 50-204.8   Use of compressed air.
Compressed air shall not be used for cleaning purposes except where reduced to less than 30 p.s.i. and then only with effective chip guarding and personal protective equipment.
§ 50-204.10   Occupational noise exposure.
(a) Protection against the effects of noise exposure shall be provided when the sound levels exceed those shown in Table I of this section when measured on the A scale of a standard sound level meter at slow response. When noise levels are determined by octave band analysis, the equivalent A-weighted sound level may be determined as follows:
(b) When employees are subject to sound exceeding those listed in Table I of this section, feasible administrative or engineering controls shall be utilized. If such controls fail to reduce sound levels within the levels of the table, personal protective equipment shall be provided and used to reduce sound levels within the levels of the table.
(c) If the variations in noise level involve maxima at intervals of 1 second or less, it is to be considered continuous.
(d) In all cases where the sound levels exceed the values shown herein, a continuing, effective hearing conservation program shall be administered.
Table I
permissible noise exposures 1
1 When the daily noise exposure is composed of two or more periods of noise exposure of different levels, their combined effect should be considered, rather than the individual effect of each. If the sum of the following fractions: C1/T1 + C2/T2 * * * Cn/Tn exceeds unity, then, the mixed exposure should be considered to exceed the limit value. Cn indicates the total time of exposure at a specified noise level, and Tn indicates the total time of exposure permitted at that level.
§ 50-204.20   Radiation—definitions.
As used in this subpart:
(a) Radiation includes alpha rays, beta rays, gamma rays, X-rays, neutrons, high-speed electrons, high-speed protons, and other atomic particles; but such term does not include sound or radio waves, or visible light, or infrared or ultraviolet light.
(b) Radioactive material means any material which emits, by spontaneous nuclear disintegration, corpuscular or electromagnetic emanations.
(c) Restricted area means any area access to which is controlled by the employer for purposes of protection of individuals from exposure to radiation or radioactive materials.
(d) Unrestricted area means any area access to which is not controlled by the employer for purposes of protection of individuals from exposure to radiation or radioactive materials.
(e) Dose means the quantity of ionizing radiation absorbed, per unit of mass, by the body or by any portion of the body. When the provisions in this subpart specify a dose during a period of time, the dose is the total quantity of radiation absorbed, per unit of mass, by the body or by any portion of the body during such period of time. Several different units of dose are in current use. Definitions of units used in this subpart are set forth in paragraphs (f) and (g) of this section.
(f) Rad means a measure of the dose of any ionizing radiation to body tissues in terms of the energy absorbed per unit of mass of the tissue. One rad is the dose corresponding to the absorption of 100 ergs per gram of tissue (1 millirad (mrad) = 0.001 rad).
(g) Rem means a measure of the dose of any ionizing radiation to body tissue in terms of its estimated biological effect relative to a dose of 1 roentgen (r) of X-rays (1 millirem (mrem) = 0.001 rem). The relation of the rem to other dose units depends upon the biological effect under consideration and upon the conditions for irradiation. Each of the following is considered to be equivalent to a dose of 1 rem:
(1) A dose of 1 rad due to X- or gamma radiation;
(2) A dose of 1 rad due to X-, gamma, or beta radiation;
(3) A dose of 0.1 rad due to neutrons or high energy protons;
(4) A dose of 0.05 rad due to particles heavier than protons and with sufficient energy to reach the lens of the eye;
(5) If it is more convenient to measure the neutron flux, or equivalent, than to determine the neutron dose in rads, as provided in paragraph (g)(3) of this section, 1 rem of neutron radiation may, for purposes of the provisions in this subpart be assumed to be equivalent to 14 million neutrons per square centimeter incident upon the body; or, if there is sufficient information to estimate with reasonable accuracy the approximate distribution in energy of the neutrons, the incident number of neutrons per square centimeter equivalent to 1 rem may be estimated from the following table:
Neutron Flux Dose Equivalents
(h) For determining exposures to X-or gamma rays up to 3 Mev., the dose limits specified in this part may be assumed to be equivalent to the “air dose”. For the purpose of this subpart “air dose” means that the dose is measured by a properly calibrated appropriate instrument in air at or near the body surface in the region of the highest dosage rate.
§ 50-204.21   Exposure of individuals to radiation in restricted areas.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no employer shall possess, use, or transfer sources of ionizing radiation in such a manner as to cause any individual in a restricted area to receive in any period of one calendar quarter from sources in the employer's possession or control a dose in excess of the limits specified in the following table:
(b) An employer may permit an individual in a restricted area to receive doses to the whole body greater than those permitted under paragraph (a) of this section, so long as:
(1) During any calendar quarter the dose to the whole body shall not exceed 3 rems; and
(2) The dose to the whole body, when added to the accumulated occupational dose to the whole body, shall not exceed 5 (N-18) rems, where “N” equals the individual's age in years at his last birthday; and
(3) The employer maintains adequate past and current exposure records which show that the addition of such a dose will not cause the individual to exceed the amount authorized in this paragraph. As used in this paragraph “Dose to the whole body” shall be deemed to include any dose to the whole body, gonad, active bloodforming organs, head and trunk, or lens of the eye.
(c) No employer shall permit any employee who is under 18 years of age to receive in any period of one calendar quarter a dose in excess of 10 percent of the limits specified in the table in paragraph (a) of this section.
(d) Calendar quarter means any 3-month period determined as follows:
(1) The first period of any year may begin on any date in January: Provided, That the second, third, and fourth periods accordingly begin on the same date in April, July, and October, respectively, and that the fourth period extends into January of the succeeding year, if necessary to complete a 3-month quarter. During the first year of use of this method of determination, the first period for that year shall also include any additional days in January preceding the starting date for the first period; or
(2) The first period in a calendar year of 13 complete, consecutive calendar weeks; the second period in a calendar year of 13 complete, consecutive calendar weeks; the third period in a calendar year of 13 complete, consecutive calendar weeks; the fourth period in a calendar year of 13 complete, consecutive calendar weeks. If at the end of a calendar year there are any days not falling within a complete calendar week of that year, such days shall be included within the last complete calendar week of that year. If at the beginning of any calendar year there are days not falling within a complete calendar week of that year, such days shall be included within the last complete calendar week of the previous year; or
(3) The four periods in a calendar year may consist of the first 14 complete, consecutive calendar weeks; the next 12 complete, consecutive calendar weeks, the next 14 complete, consecutive calendar weeks, and the last 12 complete, consecutive calendar weeks. If at the end of a calendar year there are any days not falling within a complete calendar week of that year, such days shall be included (for purposes of this part) within the last complete calendar week of the year. If at the beginning of any calendar year there are days not falling within a complete calendar week of that year, such days shall be included (for purposes of this part) within the last complete week of the previous year.
(e) No employer shall change the method used by him to determine calendar quarters except at the beginning of a calendar year.
§ 50-204.22   Exposure to airborne radioactive material.
(a) No employer shall possess, use or transport radioactive material in such a manner as to cause any employee, within a restricted area, to be exposed to airborne radioactive material in an average concentration in excess of the limits specified in Table I of appendix B to 10 CFR part 20. The limits given in Table I are for exposure to the concentrations specified for 40 hours in any workweek of 7 consecutive days. In any such period where the number of hours of exposure is less than 40, the limits specified in the table may be increased proportionately. In any such period where the number of hours of exposure is greater than 40, the limits specified in the table shall be decreased proportionately.
(b) No employer shall possess, use, or transfer radioactive material in such a manner as to cause any individual within a restricted area, who is under 18 years of age to be exposed to airborne radioactive material in an average concentration in excess of the limits specified in Table II of Appendix B to 10 CFR part 20. For purposes of this paragraph, concentrations may be averaged over periods not greater than 1 week.
(c) Exposed as used in this section means that the individual is present in an airborne concentration. No allowance shall be made for the use of protective clothing or equipment, or particle size, except as authorized by the Director, Bureau of Labor Standards.
§ 50-204.23   Precautionary procedures and personnel monitoring.
(a) Every employer shall make such surveys as may be necessary for him to comply with the provisions in this subpart. “Survey” means an evaluation of the radiation hazards incident to the production, use, release, disposal, or presence of radioactive materials or other sources of radiation under a specific set of conditions. When appropriate, such evaluation includes a physical survey of the location of materials and equipment, and measurements of levels of radiation or concentrations of radioactive material present.
(b) Every employer shall supply appropriate personnel monitoring equipment, such as film badges, pocket chambers, pocket dosimeters, or film rings, to, and shall require the use of such equipment by:
(1) Each employee who enters a restricted area under such circumstances that he receives, or is likely to receive, a dose in any calendar quarter in excess of 25 percent of the applicable value specified in paragraph (a) of § 50-204.21; and
(2) Each employee under 18 years of age who enters a restricted area under such circumstances that he receives, or is likely to receive, a dose in any calendar quarter in excess of 5 percent of the applicable value specified in paragraph (a) of § 50-204.21; and
(3) Each employee who enters a high radiation area.
(c) As used in this subpart:
(1) “Personnel monitoring equipment” means devices designed to be worn or carried by an individual for the purpose of measuring the dose received (e.g., film badges, pocket chambers, pocket dosimeters, film rings, etc.);
(2) “Radiation area” means any area, accessible to personnel, in which there exists radiation at such levels that a major portion of the body could receive in any one hour a dose in excess of 5 millirem, or in any 5 consecutive days a dose in excess of 100 millirem; and
(3) “High radiation area” means any area, accessible to personnel, in which there exists radiation at such levels that a major portion of the body could receive in any one hour a dose in excess of 100 millirem.
§ 50-204.24   Caution signs, labels, and signals.
(a) General. (1) Symbols prescribed by this section shall use the conventional radiation caution colors (magenta or purple on yellow background). The symbol prescribed by this section is the conventional three-bladed design:
1. Cross-hatched area is to be magenta or purple.
2. Background is to be yellow.
(2) In addition to the contents of signs and labels prescribed in this section, employers may provide on or near such signs and labels any additional information which may be appropriate in aiding individuals to minimize exposure to radiation or to radioactive material.
(b) Radiation areas. Each radiation area shall be conspicuously posted with a sign or signs bearing the radiation caution symbol and the words:
2 Or “Danger”.
(c) High radiation area. (1) Each high radiation area shall be conspicuously posted with a sign or signs bearing the radiation caution symbol and the words:
(2) Each high radiation area shall be equipped with a control device which shall either cause the level of radiation to be reduced below that at which an individual might receive a dose of 100 millirems in 1 hour upon entry into the area or shall energize a conspicuous visible or audible alarm signal in such a manner that the individual entering and the employer or a supervisor of the activity are made aware of the entry. In the case of a high radiation area established for a period of 30 days or less, such control device is not required.
(d) Airborne radioactivity area. (1) As used in the provisions of this subpart, “airborne radioactivity area” means (i) any room, enclosure, or operating area in which airborne radioactive materials, composed wholly or partly of radioactive material, exist in concentrations in excess of the amounts specified in column 1 of Table 1 of appendix B to 10 CFR part 20 or (ii) any room, enclosure, or operating area in which airborne radioactive materials exist in concentrations which, averaged over the number of hours in any week during which individuals are in the area, exceed 25 percent of the amounts specified in column 1 of the described Table 1.
(2) Each airborne radioactivity area shall be conspicuously posted with a sign or signs bearing the radiation caution symbol and the words:
(e) Additional requirements. (1) Each area or room in which radioactive material is used or stored and which contains any radioactive material (other than natural uranium or thorium) in any amount exceeding 10 times the quantity of such material specified in appendix C to 10 CFR part 20 shall be conspiciously posted with a sign or signs bearing the radiation caution symbol and the words:
(2) Each area or room in which natural uranium or thorium is used or stored in an amount exceeding 100 times the quantity specified in appendix C to 10 CFR part 20 shall be conspicuously posted with a sign or signs bearing the radiation caution symbol and the words:
(f) Containers. (1) Each container in which is transported, stored, or used a quantity of any radioactive material (other than natural uranium or thorium) greater than the quantity of such material specified in appendix C to 10 CFR part 20 shall bear a durable, clearly visible label bearing the radiation caution symbol and the words:
(2) Each container in which natural uranium or thorium is transported, stored, or used in a quantity greater than 10 times the quantity specified in appendix C to 10 CFR part 20 shall bear a durable, clearly visible label bearing the radiation caution symbol and the words:
2 Or “Danger”.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (f) (1) and (2) of this section a label shall not be required:
(i) If the concentration of the material in the container does not exceed that specified in column 2 of the described Table 1, or
(ii) For laboratory containers, such as beakers, flasks, and tests tubes, used transiently in laboratory procedures, when the user is present.
(4) Where containers are used for storage, the labels required in this paragraph shall state also the quantities and kinds of radioactive materials in the containers and the date of measurement of the quantities.
§ 50-204.25   Exceptions from posting requirements.
Notwithstanding the provisions of § 50-204.24:
(a) A room or area is not required to be posted with a caution sign because of the presence of a sealed source, provided the radiation level 12 inches from the surface of the source container or housing does not exceed 5 millirem per hour.
(b) Rooms or other areas in on-site medical facilities are not required to be posted with caution signs because of the presence of patients containing radioactive material, provided that there are personnel in attendance who shall take the precautions necessary to prevent the exposure of any individual to radiation or radioactive material in excess of the limits established in the provisions of this subpart.
(c) Caution signs are not required to be posted at areas or rooms containing radioactive materials for periods of less than 8 hours: Provided, That (1) the materials are constantly attended during such periods by an individual who shall take the precautions necessary to prevent the exposure of any individual to radiation or radioactive materials in excess of the limits established in the provisions of this subpart; and (2) such area or room is subject to the employer's control.
§ 50-204.26   Exemptions for radioactive materials packaged for shipment.
Radioactive materials packaged and labeled in accordance with regulations of the Department of Transportation shall be exempt from the labeling and posting requirements during shipment, provided that the inside containers are labeled in accordance with the provisions of § 50-204.24.
§ 50-204.27   Instruction of personnel posting.
Employers regulated by the AEC shall be governed by “§ 20.206” (10 CFR part 20) standards. Employers in a State named in § 50-204.34(c) shall be governed by the requirements of the laws and regulations of that State. All other employers shall be regulated by the following:
(a) All individuals working in or frequenting any portion of a radiation area shall be informed of the occurrence of radioactive materials or of radiation in such portions of the radiation area; shall be instructed in the safety problems associated with exposure to such materials or radiation and in precautions or devices to minimize exposure; shall be instructed in the applicable provisions of this subpart for the protection of employees from exposure to radiation or radioactive materials; and shall be advised of reports of radiation exposure which employees may request pursuant to the regulations in this part.
(b) Each employer to whom this subpart applies shall post a current copy of its provisions and a copy of the operating procedures applicable to the work under contract conspicuously in such locations as to ensure that employees working in or frequenting radiation areas will observe these documents on the way to and from their place of employment, or shall keep such documents available for examination of employees upon request.
§ 50-204.28   Storage of radioactive materials.
Radioactive materials stored in a nonradiation area shall be secured against unauthorized removal from the place of storage.
§ 50-204.29   Waste disposal.
No employer shall dispose of radioactive material except by transfer to an authorized recipient, or in a manner approved by the Atomic Energy Commission or a State named in § 50-204.34(c).
§ 50-204.30   Notification of incidents.
(a) Immediate notification. Each employer shall immediately notify the Regional Director of the appropriate Wage and Labor Standards Administration, Office of Occupational Safety of the Bureau of Labor Standards of the U.S. Department of Labor, for employees not protected by AEC by means of 10 CFR part 20, § 50-204.34(b) of this part, or the requirements of the laws and regulations of States named in § 50-204.34(c), by telephone or telegraph of any incident involving radiation which may have caused or threatens to cause:
(1) Exposure of the whole body of any individual to 25 rems or more of radiation; exposure of the skin of the whole body of any individual to 150 rems or more of radiation; or exposure of the feet, ankles, hands, or forearms of any individual to 375 rems or more of radiation; or
(2) The release of radioactive material in concentrations which, if averaged over a period of 24 hours, would exceed 5,000 times the limit specified for such materials in Table II of appendix B to 10 CFR part 20.
(3) A loss of 1 working week or more of the operation of any facilities affected; or
(4) Damage to property in excess of $100,000.
(b) Twenty-four hour notification. Each employer shall within 24 hours following its occurrence notify the Regional Director of the appropriate Wage and Labor Standards Administration, Office of Occupational Safety of the Bureau of Labor Standards of the U.S. Department of Labor, for employees not protected by AEC by means of 10 CFR part 20, § 50-204.34(b) of this part, or the requirements of the laws and applicable regulations of States named in § 50-204.34(c), by telephone or telegraph of any incident involving radiation which may have caused or threatens to cause:
(1) Exposure of the whole body of any individual to 5 rems or more of radiation; exposure of the skin of the whole body of any individual to 30 rems or more of radiation; or exposure of the feet, ankles, hands, or forearms to 75 rems or more of radiation; or
(2) A loss of 1 day or more of the operation of any facilities; or
(3) Damage to property in excess of $10,000.
§ 50-204.31   Reports of overexposure and excessive levels and concentrations.
(a) In addition to any notification required by § 50-204.30 each employer shall make a report in writing within 30 days to the Regional Director of the appropriate Wage and Labor Standards Administration, Office of Occupational Safety of the Bureau of Labor Standards of the U.S. Department of Labor, for employees not protected by AEC by means of 10 CFR part 20, or under § 50-204.34(b) of this part, or the requirements of the laws and regulations of States named in § 50-204.34(c), of each exposure of an individual to radiation or concentrations of radioactive material in excess of any applicable limit in this subpart. Each report required under this paragraph shall describe the extent of exposure of persons to radiation or to radioactive material; levels of radiation and concentrations of radioactive material involved, the cause of the exposure, levels of concentrations; and corrective steps taken or planned to assure against a recurrence.
(b) In any case where an employer is required pursuant to the provisions of this section to report to the U.S. Department of Labor any exposure of an individual to radiation or to concentrations of radioactive material, the employer shall also notify such individual of the nature and extent of exposure. Such notice shall be in writing and shall contain the following statement: “You should preserve this report for future reference.”
§ 50-204.32   Records.
(a) Every employer shall maintain records of the radiation exposure of all employees for whom personnel monitoring is required under § 50-204.23 and advise each of his employees of his individual exposure on at least an annual basis.
(b) Every employer shall maintain records in the same units used in tables in § 50-204.21 and appendix B to 10 CFR part 20.
§ 50-204.33   Disclosure to former employee of individual employee's record.
(a) At the request of a former employee an employer shall furnish to the employee a report of the employee's exposure to radiation as shown in records maintained by the employer pursuant to § 50-204.32(a). Such report shall be furnished within 30 days from the time the request is made, and shall cover each calendar quarter of the individual's employment involving exposure to radiation or such lesser period as may be requested by the employee. The report shall also include the results of any calculations and analysis of radioactive material deposited in the body of the employee. The report shall be in writing and contain the following statement: “You should preserve this report for future reference.”
(b) The former employee's request should include appropriate identifying data, such as social security number and dates and locations of employment.
§ 50-204.34   AEC licensees—AEC contractors operating AEC plants and facilities—AEC agreement State licensees or registrants.
(a) Any employer who possesses or uses source material, byproduct material, or special nuclear material, as defined in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, under a license issued by the Atomic Energy Commission and in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR part 20 shall be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of this subpart with respect to such possession and use.
(b) AEC contractors operating AEC plants and facilities: Any employer who possesses or uses source material, byproduct material, special nuclear material, or other radiation sources under a contract with the Atomic Energy Commission for the operation of AEC plants and facilities and in accordance with the standards, procedures, and other requirements for radiation protection established by the Commission for such contract pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 as amended (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq. ), shall be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of this subpart with respect to such possession and use.
(c) AEC-agreement State licensees or registrants:
(1) Atomic Energy Act sources. Any employer who possesses or uses source material, byproduct material, or special nuclear material, as defined in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq. ), and has either registered such sources with, or is operating under a license issued by, a State which has an agreement in effect with the Atomic Energy Commission pursuant to section 274(b) (42 U.S.C. 2021(b)) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and in accordance with the requirements of that State's laws and regulations shall be deemed to be in compliance with the radiation requirements of this part, insofar as his possession and use of such material is concerned, unless the Secretary of Labor, after conference with the Atomic Energy Commission, shall determine that the State's program for control of these radiation sources is incompatible with the requirements of this part. Such agreements currently are in effect only in the States of Alabama, Arkansas, California, Kansas, Kentucky, Florida, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Nebraska, and Washington.
(2) Other sources. Any employer who possesses or uses radiation sources other than source material, byproduct material, or special nuclear material, as defined in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq. ), and has either registered such sources with, or is operating under a license issued by a State which has an agreement in effect with the Atomic Energy Commission pursuant to section 274(b) (42 U.S.C. 2021(b)) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and in accordance with the requirements of that State's laws and regulations shall be deemed to be in compliance with the radiation requirements of this part, insofar as his possession and use of such material is concerned, provided the State's program for control of these radiation sources is the subject of a currently effective determination by the Secretary of Labor that such program is compatible with the requirements of this part. Such determinations currently are in effect only in the States of Alabama, Arkansas, California, Kansas, Kentucky, Florida, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Nebraska, and Washington.
§ 50-204.35   Application for variations from radiation levels.
(a) In accordance with policy expressed in the Federal Radiation Council's memorandum concerning radiation protection guidance for Federal agencies (25 FR 4402), the Director, Bureau of Labor Standards may from time to time grant permission to employers to vary from the limitations contained in §§ 50-204.21 and 50-204.22 when the extent of variation is clearly specified and it is demonstrated to his satisfaction that (1) such variation is necessary to obtain a beneficial use of radiation or atomic energy, (2) such benefit is of sufficient value to warrant the variation, (3) employees will not be exposed to an undue hazard, and (4) appropriate actions will be taken to protect the health and safety of such employees.
(b) Applications for such variations should be filed with the Director, Bureau of Labor Standards, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20210.
§ 50-204.36   Radiation standards for mining.
(a) For the purpose of this section, a “working level” is defined as any combination of radon daughters in 1 liter of air which will result in the ultimate emission of 1.3 × 10 5 million electron volts of potential alpha energy. The numerical value of the “working level” is derived from the alpha energy released by the total decay of short-lived radon daughter products in equilibrium with 100 pico-curies of radon 222 per liter of air. A working level month is defined as the exposure received by a worker breathing air at one working level concentration for 4 1/3 weeks of 40 hours each.
(b)(1) Occupational exposure to radon daughters in mines shall be controlled so that no individual will receive an exposure of more than 2 working level months in any calendar quarter and no more than 4 working level months in any calendar year. Actual exposures shall be kept as far below these values as practicable.
(2) In enforcing this section, the Director of the Bureau of Labor Standards may at any stage approve variations in individual cases from the limitation set forth in paragraph (b)(1) of this section to comply with the requirements of the Act upon a showing to the satisfaction of the Director by an employer having a mine with conditions resulting in an exposure of more than 4 working level months but not more than 12 working level months in any 12 consecutive months that (i) under the particular facts and circumstances involved the working conditions of the employees so exposed are such that their health and safety are protected, and (ii) the employer has a bona fide plan to reduce the levels of exposure to those specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section as soon as practicable, but in no event later than January 1, 1971.
(3) Whenever a variation under paragraph (b)(2) of this section is sought, a request therefor should be submitted in writing to the Director of the Bureau of Labor Standards, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20210, within 90 days following the end of the calendar quarter or year, as the case may be.
(c)(1) For uranium mines, records of environmental concentrations in the occupied parts of the mine, and of the time spent in each area by each person involved in underground work shall be established and maintained. These records shall be in sufficient detail to permit calculations of the exposures, in units of working level months, of the individuals and shall be available for inspection by the Secretary of Labor or his authorized agents.
(2) For other than uranium mines and for surface workers in all mines, paragraph (c)(1) of this section will be applicable: Provided, however, That if no environmental sample shows a concentration greater than 0.33 working level in any occupied part of the mine, the maintenance of individual occupancy records and the calculation of individual exposures will not be required.
(d)(1) At the request of an employee (or former employee) a report of the employee's exposure to radiation as shown in records maintained by the employer pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section, shall be furnished to him. The report shall be in writing and contain the following statement:
This report is furnished to you under the provisions of the U.S. Department of Labor, Radiation Safety and Health Standards (41 CFR 50-204.36). You should preserve this report for future reference.
(2) The former employee's request should include appropriate identifying data, such as social security number and dates and locations of employment.
§ 50-204.50   Gases, vapors, fumes, dusts, and mists.
(a) (1) Exposures by inhalation, ingestion, skin absorption, or contact to any material or substance (i) at a concentration above those specified in the “Threshold Limit Values of Airborne Contaminants for 1968” of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, except for the ANSI Standards listed in Table I of this section and except for the values of mineral dusts listed in Table II of this section, and (ii) concentrations above those specified in Tables I and II of this section, shall be avoided, or protective equipment shall be provided and used.
(2) The requirements of this section do not apply to exposures to airborne asbestos dust. Exposures of employees to airborne asbestos dust shall be subject to the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.93a.
(b) To achieve compliance with paragraph (a) of this section, feasible administrative or engineering controls must first be determined and implemented in all cases. In cases where protective equipment in addition to other measures is used as the method of protecting the employee, such protection must be approved for each specific application by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified source.
Table II—Mineral Dusts
Note: Conversion factors—
mppcf × 35.3 = million particles per cubic meter
= particles per c.c.
e Millions of particles per cubic foot of air, based on impinger samples counted by light-field technics.
f The percentage of crystalline silica in the formula is the amount determined from air-borne samples, except in those instances in which other methods have been shown to be applicable.
j As determined by the membrane filter method at 430 × phase contrast magnification.
m Both concentration and percent quartz for the application of this limit are to be determined from the fraction passing a size-selector with the following characteristics:
The measurements under this note refer to the use of an AEC instrument. If the respirable fraction of coal dust is determined with a MRE the figure corresponding to that of 2.4 Mg/M 3 in the table for coal dust is 4.5 Mg/M 3
§ 50-204.65   Inspection of compressed gas cylinders.
Each contractor shall determine that compressed gas cylinders under his extent that this can be determined by visual inspection. Visual and other inspections shall be conducted as prescribed in the Hazardous Materials Regulations of the Department of Transportation (49 CFR parts 171-179 and 14 CFR part 103). Where those regulations are not applicable, visual and other inspections shall be conducted in accordance with Compressed Gas Association Pamphlets C-6-198 and C-8-1962.
§ 50-204.66   Acetylene.
(a) The in-plant transfer, handling, storage, and utilization of acetylene in cylinders shall be in accordance with Compressed Gas Association Pamphlet G-1-1966.
(b) The piped systems for the in-plant transfer and distribution of acetylene shall be designed, installed, maintained, and operated in accordance with Compressed Gas Association Pamphlet G-1.3-1959.
(c) Plants for the generation of acetylene and the charging (filling) of acetylene cylinders shall be designed, constructed, and tested in accordance with the standards prescribed in Compressed Gas Association Pamphlet G-1.4-1966.
§ 50-204.67   Oxygen.
The in-plant transfer, handling, storage, and utilization of oxygen as a liquid or a compressed gas shall be in accordance with Compressed Gas Association Pamphlet G-4-1962.
§ 50-204.68   Hydrogen.
The in-plant transfer, handling, storage, and utilization of hydrogen shall be in accordance with Compressed Gas Association Pamphlets G-5.1-1961 and G-5.2-1966.
§ 50-204.69   Nitrous oxide.
The piped systems for the in-plant transfer and distribution of nitrous oxide shall be designed, installed, maintained, and operated in accordance with Compressed Gas Association Pamphlet G-8.1-1964.
§ 50-204.70   Compressed gases.
The in-plant handling, storage, and utilization of all compressed gases in cylinders, portable tanks, rail tankcars, or motor vehicle cargo tanks shall be in accordance with Compressed Gas Association Pamphlet P-1-1965.
§ 50-204.71   Safety relief devices for compressed gas containers.
Compressed gas cylinders, portable tanks, and cargo tanks shall have pressure relief devices installed and maintained in accordance with Compressed Gas Association Pamphlets S-1.1-1963 and 1965 addenda and S-1.2-1963.
§ 50-204.72   Safe practices for welding and cutting on containers which have held combustibles.
Welding or cutting, or both, on containers which have held flammable or combustible solids, liquids, or gases, or have contained substances which may produce flammable vapors or gases will not be attempted until the containers have been thoroughly cleaned, purged, or inerted in strict accordance with the rules and procedures embodied in American Welding Society Pamphlet A-6.0-65, edition of 1965.
§ 50-204.75   Transportation safety.
Any requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation under 49 CFR Parts 171-179 and Parts 390-397 and 14 CFR part 103 shall be applied to transportation under contracts which are subject to the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act. See also § 50-204.2(a)(3) of this part. When such requirements are not otherwise applicable, Chapters 10, 11, 12, and 14 of the Uniform Vehicle Code of the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances, 1962 edition, shall be applied whenever pertinent.
§ 50-205.1   Purpose and scope.
The Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act authorizes and directs the Secretary of Labor to utilize, with the consent of a State, such State and local officers and employees as he may find necessary to assist in the administration of the Act. It is the purpose of this part to prescribe the rules governing the use of such State and local officers in inspections (or investigations) relating to the enforcement of the stipulation required by the Act providing that no part of a contract subject thereto will be performed nor will any materials, supplies, articles, or equipment to be manufactured or furnished under such a contract be manufactured or fabricated in any plants, factories, buildings, or surroundings or under working conditions which are unsanitary or hazardous or dangerous to the health and safety of employees engaged in the performance of the contract, and the enforcement of the safety and health standards interpreting and applying that stipulation published in part 50-204 of this chapter.
§ 50-205.2   Definitions.
(a) Act means the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act.
(b) Secretary means the Secretary of Labor.
(c) State agency means any authority of a State government which is responsible for the enforcement of State laws or regulations prescribing safety and health standards for employees.
(d) Director means the Director, Bureau of Labor Standards or his duly authorized representative.
§ 50-205.3   Agreement with a State agency.
The Secretary may enter into an agreement with the head of a State agency providing for the use of State or local officers and employees in the conduct of inspections under the safety and health provisions of the Act as interpreted or applied in part 50-204 of this chapter whenever he finds that the utilization of such State or local officers is necessary to assist in the administration of those provisions. In making such a finding, consideration may be given to the State laws or regulations administered by the State agency providing safety and health standards, the central and field organization of the State agency, and the qualifications of its investigative personnel.
§ 50-205.4   Plan of cooperation.
Each agreement under this part shall incorporate a plan of cooperation between the Department of Labor and the State agency. The plan shall include the operative details of the cooperation contemplated in the making of safety and health inspections. The plan shall include a statement of the location of the State offices designated to make inspections and those of the Department of Labor designated to cooperate with such State offices.
§ 50-205.5   Inspections by State agency.
Inspections shall be conducted by the State agency with whom an agreement has been made under this part in order to determine the extent of compliance by Government contractors subject to the Act (as determined by the Department of Labor) with the safety and health provisions interpreted or applied in part 50-204 of this chapter. Inspectors of the State agency shall be considered authorized representatives of the Secretary of Labor in making inspections including the examining of the records of the Government contractor maintained under §§ 50-201.501 and 50-201.502 of this chapter. Inspections shall be made upon request of the Department of Labor or concurrently with inspections made to ascertain the compliance by employers with State safety and health requirements.
§ 50-205.6   Complaints.
When a complaint of alleged safety and health violations by an employer apparently subject to the Act is filed with a State agency, that agency shall transmit a copy of the complaint to the cooperating office of the Department of Labor within 5 days from the receipt of the complaint. All complaints shall be considered confidential and shall not be disclosed to any employer without the consent of the complainant.
§ 50-205.7   Manual of instructions.
The Director shall provide the State agency with a manual of instructions which shall be used in the making of inspections.
§ 50-205.8   Reports of inspections.
The State agency shall furnish the Department of Labor with a report of its inspection when the following circumstances exist:
(a) The inspection was requested by the Department of Labor;
(b) The inspection discloses serious violations of the safety and health requirements of part 50-204 of this chapter by an employer apparently subject to the Act;
(c) The inspection discloses minor violations of the safety and health requirements of part 50-204 of this chapter by an employer apparently subject to the Act which are not corrected promptly when such apparent violations are brought to the attention of the employer or as to which fully reliable assurances of future compliance are not or cannot be obtained.
§ 50-205.9   Inspections by the Department of Labor.
The Director may conduct such inspections as he may find appropriate to assure compliance with the safety and health provisions of the Act or whenever he may find that a safety and health inspection should be carried out along with investigation under other provisions of the Act or the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. Whenever an inspection by the Director discloses apparent violations of State safety and health requirements, the Director shall report such disclosures to the State agency.
§ 50-205.10   Modification or termination of agreement.
Any agreement entered into this part may be modified at any time with the consent of both parties, and may be terminated by either party after notifying the other party 60 days prior thereto.
§ 50-210.0   General enforcement policy.
(a) In order to clarify at this time the practices and policies which will guide the administration and enforcement of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (52 Stat 1060, as amended, 29 U.S.C. 201-219), and the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act (49 Stat. 2036, as amended; 41 U.S.C. 35-45), as affected by the Portal-to-Portal Act of 1947 (Pub. L. 49, 80th Cong.), the following policy is announced effective June 30, 1947:
(b) The investigation, inspection and enforcement activities of all officers and agencies of the Department of Labor as they relate to the Fair Labor Standards Act (52 Stat. 1060, as amended, 29 U.S.C. 201-219) and the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act of June 30, 1936 (49 Stat. 2036, as amended; 41 U.S.C. 35-45), will be carried out on the basis that all employers in all industries whose activities are subject to the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (52 Stat. 1060, as amended; 29 U.S.C. 201-219) or the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act (49 Stat. 2036, as amended; 41 U.S.C. 35-45) are responsible for strict compliance with the provisions thereof and the regulations issued pursuant thereto.
(c) Any statements, orders, or instructions inconsistent herewith are rescinded.
The text of § 50-210.0 General enforcement policy is identical to that of § 775.0 under 29 CFR Chapter V.
§ 50-210.1   Coverage under the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act of truck drivers employed by oil dealers.
(a) The Division of Public Contracts returns to the interpretation contained in Rulings and Interpretations No. 2 1 with respect to coverage under the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act of truck drivers employed by oil dealers, by amending section 40(e)(1) of Rulings and Interpretations No. 3 1 to read as follows:
1 Not filed with the Office of the Federal Register.
(1) Where the contractor is a dealer, the act applies to employees at the central distributing plant, including warehousemen, compounders, and chemists testing the lot out of which the Government order is filled, the crews engaged in loading the materials in vessels, tank cars or tank wagons for shipment, and truck drivers engaged in the activities described in section 37(m) above. 2 However, the contractor is not required to show that the employees at the bulk stations, including truck drivers, are employed in accordance with the standards of the act. (Bulk stations as the term is used herein are intermediate points of storage between a central distributing plant and service stations.)
2 Refers to Rulings and Interpretation No. 3.