Federal Registers
Curtis-Strauss LLC: Application for Expansion of Recognition and Proposed Modification to the NRTL Program's List of Appropriate Test Standards
Fed Register #:
82:23611-23612
Standard Number:
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 98 (Tuesday, May 23, 2017)]
[Docket No. OSHA-2009-0026]
Curtis-Strauss LLC: Application for Expansion of Recognition and
Proposed Modification to the NRTL Program's List of Appropriate Test
AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.
SUMMARY: In this notice, OSHA announces the application of Curtis-
Strauss LLC for expansion of its recognition as a Nationally Recognized
Testing Laboratory (NRTL) and presents the Agency's preliminary finding
to grant the application. Additionally, this notice proposes to add a
new recognized testing standard to the NRTL Program's List of
Appropriate Test Standards.
DATES: Submit comments, information, and documents in response to this
notice, or requests for an extension of time to make a submission, on
or before June 7, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments by any of the following methods:
1. Electronically: Submit comments and attachments electronically
at http://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal eRulemaking Portal.
Follow the instructions online for making electronic submissions.
2. Facsimile: If submissions, including attachments, are not longer
than 10 pages, commenters may fax them to the OSHA Docket Office at
3. Regular or express mail, hand delivery, or messenger (courier)
service: Submit comments, requests, and any attachments to the OSHA
Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2009-0026, Technical Data Center, U.S.
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-3508,
Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-2350 (TTY number: (877) 889-
5627). Note that security procedures may result in significant delays
in receiving comments and other written materials by regular mail.
Contact the OSHA Docket Office for information about security
procedures concerning delivery of materials by express mail, hand
delivery, or messenger service. The hours of operation for the OSHA
Docket Office are 10:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m., e.t.
4. Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and
the OSHA docket number (OSHA-2009-0026). OSHA places comments and other
materials, including any personal information, in the public docket
without revision, and these materials will be available online at
http://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, the Agency cautions commenters
about submitting statements they do not want made available to the
public, or submitting comments that contain personal information
(either about themselves or others) such as Social Security numbers,
birth dates, and medical data.
5. Docket: To read or download submissions or other material in the
docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov or the OSHA Docket Office at
the address above. All documents in the docket are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index; however, some information (e.g.,
copyrighted material) is not publicly available to read or download
through the Web site. All submissions, including copyrighted material,
are available for inspection at the OSHA Docket Office. Contact the
OSHA Docket Office for assistance in locating docket submissions.
6. Extension of comment period: Submit requests for an extension of
the comment period on or before June 7, 2017 to the Office of Technical
Programs and Coordination Activities, Directorate of Technical Support
and Emergency Management, Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW.,
Room N-3655, Washington, DC 20210, or by fax to (202) 693-1644.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information regarding this notice is
available from the following sources:
Press inquiries: Contact Mr. Frank Meilinger, Director, OSHA Office
of Communications, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue
NW., Room N-3647, Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-1999;
email: meilinger.francis2@dol.gov.
General and technical information: Contact Mr. Kevin Robinson,
Director, Office of Technical Programs and Coordination Activities,
Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, Occupational
Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200
Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-3655, Washington, DC 20210; phone:
(202) 693-2110 or email: robinson.kevin@dol.gov.
I. Notice of the Application for Expansion
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is providing
notice that Curtis-Strauss LLC (CSL), is applying for expansion of its
current recognition as an NRTL. CSL requests the addition of one test
standard to its NRTL scope of recognition.
OSHA recognition of an NRTL signifies that the organization meets
the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.7. Recognition is an
acknowledgment that the organization can perform independent safety
testing and certification of the specific products covered within its
scope of recognition. Each NRTL's scope of recognition includes (1) the
type of products the NRTL may test, with each type specified by its
applicable test standard; and (2) the recognized site(s) that has/have
the technical capability to perform the product-testing and product-
certification activities for test standards within the NRTL's scope.
Recognition is not a delegation or grant of government authority;
however, recognition enables employers to use products approved by the
NRTL to meet OSHA standards that require product testing and
certification.
The Agency processes applications by an NRTL for initial
recognition and for an expansion or renewal of this recognition,
following requirements in Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.7. This appendix
requires that the Agency publish two notices in the Federal Register in
processing an application. In the first notice, OSHA announces the
application and provides its preliminary finding. In the second notice,
the Agency provides its final decision on the application. These
notices set forth the NRTL's scope of recognition or modifications of
that scope. OSHA maintains an informational Web page for each NRTL,
including CSL, which details the NRTL's scope of recognition. These
pages are available from the OSHA Web site at http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/index.html.
CSL currently has one facility (site) recognized by OSHA for
product testing and certification, with its headquarters located at:
Curtis-Strauss LLC, Littleton Distribution Center, One Distribution
Center Circle, Suite #1, Littleton, MA 01460. A complete list of CSL's
scope of recognition is available at https://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/csl.html.
II. General Background on the Application
CSL submitted an application on April 7, 2016 (OSHA-2009-0026-
0072), to expand its recognition to include one
additional test standard. OSHA staff performed a detailed analysis of
the application packet and reviewed other pertinent information. OSHA
did not perform any on-site reviews in relation to this application.
Table 1 below lists the appropriate test standard found in CSL's
application for expansion for testing and certification of products
under the NRTL Program.
Table 1--Proposed List of Appropriate Test Standard for Inclusion in
CSL's NRTL Scope of Recognition
Test standard                     Test standard title
UL 61010-2-010.........................  Safety Requirements for
Electrical Equipment for
Measurement, Control and
Laboratory Use--Part 2-010:
Particular Requirements for
Laboratory Equipment for the
Heating of Materials.
III. Proposal To Add New Test Standards to the NRTL Program's List of
Appropriate Test Standards
Periodically, OSHA will propose to add new test standards to the
NRTL Program's List of Appropriate Test Standards following an
evaluation of the test standard document. To qualify as an appropriate
test standard, the Agency evaluates the document to (1) verify it
represents a product category for which OSHA requires certification by
an NRTL, (2) verify the document represents an end product and not a
component, and (3) verify the document defines safety test
specifications (not installation or operational performance
specifications). OSHA becomes aware of new test standards through
various avenues. For example, OSHA may become aware of new test
standards to consider adding to the NRTL Program's List of Appropriate
Standards by: (1) Monitoring notifications issued by certain SDOs; (2)
reviewing applications by NRTLs or applicants seeking recognition to
include a new test standard in their scopes of recognition; and (3)
obtaining notification from manufacturers, manufacturing organizations,
government agencies, or other parties. OSHA may determine to include a
new test standard in the list, for example, if the test standard is for
a particular type of product that another test standard also covers or
it covers a type of product that no standard previously covered.
In this notice, OSHA proposes to add a new test standard to the
NRTL Program's List of Appropriate Test Standards. Table 2, below,
lists the test standard new to the NRTL Program. OSHA preliminarily
determined that this test standard is an appropriate test standard and
proposes to include this test standard in the NRTL Program's List of
Appropriate Test Standards. OSHA seeks public comment on this
preliminary determination.
Table 2--Test Standard OSHA Is Proposing To Add to the NRTL Program's
List of Appropriate Test Standards
IV. Preliminary Findings on the Application
CSL submitted an acceptable application for expansion of its scope
of recognition. OSHA's review of the application file, and pertinent
documentation, indicates that CSL can meet the requirements prescribed
by 29 CFR 1910.7 for expanding its recognition to include the addition
of this one test standard for NRTL testing and certification listed
above. This preliminary finding does not constitute an interim or
temporary approval of CSL's application.
OSHA welcomes public comment as to whether CSL meets the
requirements of 29 CFR 1910.7 for expansion of its recognition as an
NRTL. Comments should consist of pertinent written documents and
exhibits. Commenters needing more time to comment must submit a request
in writing, stating the reasons for the request. Commenters must submit
the written request for an extension by the due date for comments. OSHA
will limit any extension to 10 days unless the requester justifies a
longer period. OSHA may deny a request for an extension if the request
is not adequately justified. To obtain or review copies of the exhibits
identified in this notice, as well as comments submitted to the docket,
contact the Docket Office, Room N-3508, Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, at the above address. These
materials also are available online at http://www.regulations.gov under
Docket No. OSHA-2009-0026.
OSHA staff will review all comments to the docket submitted in a
timely manner and, after addressing the issues raised by these
comments, will recommend to the Assistant Secretary for Occupational
Safety and Health whether to grant CSL's application for expansion of
its scope of recognition. The Assistant Secretary will make the final
decision on granting the application. In making this decision, the
Assistant Secretary may undertake other proceedings prescribed in
Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.7.
OSHA will publish a public notice of its final decision in the
V. Authority and Signature
Dorothy Dougherty, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Occupational Safety and Health, 200 Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20210, authorized the preparation of this notice.
Accordingly, the Agency is issuing this notice pursuant to 29 U.S.C.
657(g)(2), Secretary of Labor's Order No. 1-2012 (77 FR 3912, Jan. 25,
2012), and 29 CFR 1910.7.
Signed at Washington, DC, on April 21, 2017.
Dorothy Dougherty,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.