OSHA notified us recently that, "Pursuant to the request from the Coalition for Workplace Safety (CWS), OSHA will process a formal notice to extend the comment period for the OSHA walkaround rule notice of proposed rulemaking for 14 days. We will process the formal notice as soon as practicable.”
OSHA’s original comment period was 60 days and would have closed on October 30.
While we appreciate OSHA extending the time by some, we believe that agency should have extended the period 60 days.
Recently, the House Education and the Workforce Committee’s Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing on OSHA’s policies and priorities with Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, Douglas Parker, as the sole witness.
Republicans on the subcommittee emphasized that OSHA is pursuing a political agenda at the expense of regulatory activity that could actually help workers and criticized OSHA for continuing to pursue its COVID-19 in healthcare settings rulemaking. Subcommittee Democrats, on the other hand, pointed to the effects of a potential shutdown on OSHA operations and focused on heat illness.
On the agency’s worker walkaround rulemaking, Parker said the individuals participating in the walkaround must be able to contribute to the inspection and that the rule’s only intention is to improve health and safety, not to aid in union organizing. He emphasized that if the individual is disruptive, wouldn’t contribute, or would compromise trade secrets, they will not be part of the inspection.
The text of the proposed rule, however, does not contain any such limitations. Consequently, we remained very concerned with the proposal.
If you are attending the GTE show this year, be sure to come to put the TIA Right to Repair/Electric Vehicle (EV) Forum on your schedule of events. The forum will take place on Monday, Oct. 30, the day before the opening of the Global Tire Expo/SEMA Show this fall in Las Vegas.
TIA is inviting key industry stakeholders, including tire dealers, manufacturers, suppliers and activists to participate in an engaging, open discussion of these important topics. The Forum will take place from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. in Melrose 4 at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Resort & Casino.
These are two of the hottest issues on the minds of tire industry business owners today. In fact, some tire dealers believe passage of right to repair legislation is crucial to the very survival of the independent tire and automotive service aftermarket.
Speakers from TIA and the Specialty Equipment Market Association will lead the right to repair discussion, while members of TIA’s Electric Vehicle Advisory Council will conduct the forum on EVs.
TIA also will provide lunch prior to the Forum for those who are interested.
For more information and/or to sign up for the Forum send an email to me at: rlittlefield2@tireindustry.org