OSHA has published a notice confirming the effective date of the direct final rule for OSHA's head protection standards. This final rule updates the incorporation by reference of national consensus standards to include the latest edition of the consensus standard. It updates references in OSHA's standards to recognize the 2009 edition of the American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection, and deletes the 1986 edition of that national consensus standard because it is out of date.

The final rule applies to the personal protective equipment provisions of its general industry, shipyard employment, longshoring, marine terminals, and construction standards that detail requirements for head protection. OSHA included the construction industry in this rulemaking to ensure consistency among the agency's standards.

OSHA also issued a second notice withdrawing the notice of proposed rulemaking that accompanied this direct final rule. The notices will be published in the Federal Register on Friday, Nov. 16, 2012 at www.regulations.gov, the Federal eRulemaking Portal.