OSHA’s on the move! Two proposed rules land on OMB desk

What do we know?

OMB’s website reveals these two proposals are under review:

• Updates to Respiratory Protection Standard Medical Evaluation Requirements, and
• Interpretation of the General Duty Clause: Limitation for Inherently Risky Professional Activities.

OSHA’s fiscal year 2026 budget request makes no mention of the two actions, and neither item appeared in the Fall 2024 Regulatory Agenda. The good news is OSHA is anticipated to publish its Spring 2025 Agenda in the coming days. This may shed greater light on the newest rulemakings.

In fact, it is unclear if OSHA’s latest rulemaking will be regulatory or deregulatory. What we do know is both proposals are listed as “not economically significant,” meaning they will not have an impact on the economy of $100 million or more and will not adversely affect any sector of the economy.

The new proposals could come up quickly! OMB review typically takes 90 to 120 days, which means the proposed rules could be published in the Federal Register as soon as September or October. We’ll keep you posted!