The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) withdrew a SEMA-opposed plan that could have required companies to install soundproofing materials to comply with noise standards. Employers may currently meet the standard by providing workers with ear plugs or headsets. Instead, OSHA wanted companies to undertake costly workplace changes before turning to ear plugs/headsets as a solution. The proposal had drawn widespread criticism from the business community. OSHA’s action was in part a response to an Executive Order issued by the White House, which directs federal agencies to review their regulations and eliminate rules that hinder economic growth. Manufacturers had noted that compliance with the rule would have cost billions of dollars, at the expense of job creation.
For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.