. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/USA/272 
24 May 2007 
 (07-2138) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6. 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   UNITED STATES
 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):         
2. Agency responsible:   Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Department 
of Labor (DOL) (280) 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site 
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be  indicated if different from above:         
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  X ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:         
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in  addition, where applicable):   Personal Protective 
Equipment  (ICS:  13.340) 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Updating OSHA 
Standards Based on National Consensus Standards; Personal Protective Equipment  
(12 pages, in English). 
6. Description of content:   :  OSHA is proposing to revise the personal protective equipment 
(PPE) sections of its general industry, ship yard employment, long shoring, and marine 
terminals standards regarding the use of eye and face protective devices, head protection, 
and foot protection.  OSHA is proposing to replace the existing references to specific 
consensus standards with performance langua ge requiring PPE to be constructed in 
accordance with good design standards.  The proposed revision includes guidance for 
determining what is a good design standard.  In addition, OSHA is proposing to add non-
mandatory appendices that list standards that c onstitute good design standards as used in the 
requirement. 
 OSHA is also proposing to delete a paragraph in  its ventilation standard that requires safety 
shoes to comply with a specific American Na tional Standards Institute (ANSI) standard, and 
another paragraph in its weldi ng, cutting and brazing standard that requires filter lenses and 
plates in eye protective equipment to meet a test for transmission of radiant energy 
prescribed in another specific ANSI standard . In proposing to delete these paragraphs, 
OSHA intends for this safety equipment to comply with the applicable PPE design 
provisions in Subpart I of the general industry standards. 
These proposed revisions are a continuation of OSHA's effort to update or remove 
references to specific consensus and industry standards located throughout the Agency's 
standards. G/TBT/N/USA/272 
Page 2  
 
  7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:  
For the protection of human health. 
8. Relevant documents:   72 Federal Register (FR) 27771 17 May 2007; Title 29 Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) Part s 1910, 1915, 1917, and 1918.  Will appear in the Federal 
Register when adopted. 
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:   }To be determined 
10. Final date for comments:   16 July 2007 
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:   
Internet URLs: 
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/24 22/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-
9315.htm 
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/24 22/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/
E7-9315.pdf