OSHA can begin standards-setting procedures on
its own initiative or in response to petitions from
other parties, including:
• The Secretary of Health and Human Services
(HHS);
• The National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH);
• State and local governments;
• Nationally recognized standards-producing
organizations and employer or labor representatives;
and
• Any other interested parties.
Each spring and fall, the Department of Labor
publishes in the Federal Register a list of all regulations
that have work underway. The Regulatory
Agenda provides a schedule for the development
of standards and regulations so that employers,
employees, and other interested parties can know
when they are expected.

OSHA publishes its intention to propose, amend,
or revoke a standard in the Federal Register, either
as:
• A Request for Information or an Advance
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking or announcement
of a meeting to solicit information to be
used in drafting a proposal; or
• A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which sets
out the proposed new rule’s requirements and
provides a specific time for the public to
respond.
These actions are posted online at www.regulations.
gov. Interested parties may submit written
information, comments and evidence. In addition,
OSHA may also schedule a public hearing to consider
various points of view.
After reviewing public comments, evidence and
testimony, OSHA publishes:
• The full text of any standard amended or
adopted and the date it becomes effective,
along with an explanation of the standard and
the reasons for implementing it; or
• A determination that no standard or amendment
is necessary.
Input from other government agencies
Other government agencies can recommend standards
to OSHA. The OSH Act established the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health in the Department of HHS as the research
agency for occupational safety and health. NIOSH
conducts research on various safety and health
problems, provides technical assistance to OSHA,
and recommends standards for OSHA’s consideration.
(For more information, call (800) 35-NIOSH or
visit the agency’s website at www.cdc.gov/ niosh).