Join the AFL-CIO America Wants to Work week of action Oct. 10-16, and take part in some of the hundreds of events around the country to demand action from Congress to promote a real jobs-creation agenda.

Click here to find an event near you. Click here to tune into a live webcast of the Oct. 12 America Wants to Work National Teach-In (7-8:30 p.m. EDT). You also can sign an America Wants to Work petition to Congress here. Follow the action on Twitter with the hashtag #want2work.

Federal OSHA reached a settlement agreement with Edison Electric Institute (EEI) which resolves their challenge to OSHA’s 1926 Subpart CC, Cranes and Derricks in Construction. In summary, OSHA has agreed that they will:

1.      Not enforce the crane standard for digger derricks operations covered by Subpart V, Power Transmission and Distribution.

2.      Initiate rulemaking to modify the scope section of the crane standard so the standard does not apply to digger derrick operations covered by Subpart V.

3.      Issue a letter of interpretation to make it clear that utilities have two working days to provide voltage information under 1926.1407(e) and that the crane standard does not require utility companies to de-energize power lines.

DOSH is currently in the middle of the rulemaking process for chapter 296-155 WAC, Part L, Cranes/Derricks, Personnel Lifting and Rigging. Public hearings will be held in early October. Comments made about the above subject should be made during the hearing process. The hearings are:

• October 5th – Spokane – DoubleTree Hotel, 322 N. Spokane Falls Court, Spokane, WA
• October 6th – Seattle – DoubleTree Hotel (SeaTac Airport), 18740 International Boulevard, Seattle, WA
• October 11th – Tumwater – L&I, 7273 Linderson Way SW, Tumwater, WA

The following link will take you to the proposed rulemaking, proposed language and the Small Business Economic Impact Statement (SBEIS).

http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Rules/WhatsNew/Proposed/default.htm?RuleID=31

Settlement Agreement (as filed).pdf