The nation enters the month of December facing a new challenge from the ongoing pandemic as the “Omicron” variant has now entered the lexicon.  Let’s all keep doing what we need to do to keep ourselves, our families, and our fellow employees as safe as possible as we all hope to see an eventual end to the struggle.  At present, the OSHA COVID-19 vaccine mandate for large employers remains on hold pending court action.  Stay tuned for further developments.  Meanwhile, here’s the other regulatory news:

FMCSA

The agency has requested approval to revise and renew an ICR titled, ‘‘Commercial Driver Licensing and Test Standards,’’ due to an increase in the number of commercial driver’s license records. This ICR is intended to ensure that drivers, motor carriers and the States are complying with notification and recordkeeping requirements for information related to testing, licensing, violations, convictions, and disqualifications and that the information is accurate, complete, transmitted, and recorded within certain time periods as required by the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 (CMVSA), as amended. Comments on this notice must be received on or before January 5, 2022. See the full details here.

OSHA

The agency is extending the period for submitting public comments to allow stakeholders interested in the COVID–19 vaccination and testing emergency temporary standard (ETS) additional time to review the ETS and collect information and data necessary for comment. The comment period for the interim final rule on the ETS, which was published November 5, 2021 at 86 FR 6140, and effective on November 5, 2021, is extended. Comments on any aspect of the ETS and whether the ETS should be adopted as a permanent standard must be submitted by January 19, 2022. Note that the emergency temporary standard remains suspended in accord with a federal appeals court order and will remain suspended until such time as the court actions are fully resolved. See the details of the comment extension here.

OSHA is also extending the period for submitting comments by 30 days to allow stakeholders interested in the ANPRM on Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings additional time to review the ANPRM and collect information and data necessary for comment. The comment period for the ANPRM that was published at 86 FR 59309 on October 27, 2021, is extended. Comments on any aspect of the ANPRM must be submitted by January 26, 2022. See the details here.

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