TUV SUD America, Inc.: Grant of Expansion of Recognition

AGENCY:

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In this notice, OSHA announces the final decision to expand the scope of recognition for TUV SUD America, Inc. as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL).

DATES:

The expansion of the scope of recognition becomes effective on September 12, 2024.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Notice of the Application for Expansion

OSHA hereby gives notice of the expansion of the scope of recognition of TUV SUD America, Inc. (TUVAM), as a NRTL. TUVAM's expansion covers the addition of one recognized testing site to the NRTL scope of recognition.

OSHA's recognition of a 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 an application by a NRTL for initial recognition and for an expansion or renewal of this recognition, following requirements in appendix A, 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 the 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 TUVAM, which details the NRTL's scope of recognition. These pages are available from the OSHA website at: https://www.osha.gov/nationally-recognized-testing-laboratory-program.

TUVAM submitted an application to OSHA for expansion of the NRTL scope of recognition. The application, dated August 1, 2023 (OSHA-2007-0043-0061), requested the expansion of the NRTL scope of recognition to include one additional test site located at: 5945 Cabot Parkway, Suite 100, Alpharetta, Georgia 30005. OSHA staff performed an on-site review of TUVAM's testing facilities at TUVAM Alpharetta on November 14-15, 2023, in which assessors found some nonconformances with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.7. TUVAM has addressed these issues sufficiently, and OSHA staff has preliminarily determined that OSHA should grant the expansion request to include this additional site.

OSHA published the preliminary notice announcing TUVAM's expansion application in the Federal Register on July 29, 2024 (89 FR 60926). The agency requested comments by August 13, 2024, but it received no comments in response to the notice. OSHA now is proceeding with this notice to grant expansion of TUVAM's scope of recognition.

To obtain or review copies of all public documents pertaining to the TUVAM expansion application, go to www.regulations/gov or contact the Docket Office at (202) 693-2350 (TTY (877) 889-5627. Docket No. OSHA-2007-0043 contains all materials in the record containing TUVAM's recognition.

II. Final Decision and Order

OSHA staff examined TUVAM's expansion application, conducted a detailed on-site assessment, and examined other pertinent information. Based on review of this evidence, OSHA finds that TUVAM meets the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.7 for expansion of recognition, subject to the specified limitations and conditions. OSHA, therefore, is proceeding with this final notice to grant TUVAM's expanded scope of recognition. OSHA limits the expansion of TUVAM's recognition to include the site at Alpharetta, Georgia listed above. OSHA's recognition of the site limits TUVAM to performing product testing and certifications only to the test standards for which the site has the proper capability and programs, and for test standards in TUVAM's scope of recognition. This limitation is consistent with the recognition that OSHA grants to other NRTLs that operate multiple sites.

A. Conditions

In addition to those conditions already required by 29 CFR 1910.7, TUVAM also must abide by the following conditions of the recognition:

1. TUVAM must inform OSHA as soon as possible, in writing, of any change of ownership, facilities, or key personnel, and of any major change in its operations as a NRTL, and provide details of the change(s);

2. TUVAM must meet all the terms of its recognition and comply with all OSHA policies pertaining to this recognition; and

3. TUVAM must continue to meet the requirements for recognition, including all previously published conditions on TUVAM's scope of recognition, in all areas for which it has recognition.

OSHA hereby expands the NRTL scope of recognition for TUVAM to include one additional test site in Alpharetta, Georgia.

III. Authority and Signature

James S. Frederick, 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. 8-2020 (85 FR 58393; Sept. 18, 2020), and 29 CFR 1910.7.

[FR Doc. 2024-20691 Filed 9-11-24; 8:45 am]

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