OSHA Responds on AIHA Noise request
AIHA received a letter from Acting Assistant Secretary for OSHA Jordan Barab in response to our request to lower the PEL for occupational exposure to noise. While Mr. Barab "shares our concerns" about this issue, he essentially told AIHA we must wait for a permanent Assistant Secretary to be put in place before any decisions on standards are made. Let's hope this is not a delaying tactic and that when a new Assistant Secretary is in place this is one of the issues he/she addresses. AIHA first contacted OSHA two years ago requesitng the same thing. Hard to tell how this delay has impacted workers. Problem is, if OSHA does address the issue, it is likely there will be opposition and the delay will continue.