OSHA Extends Comment Period for 20 Proposed Rules to November 1, 2025

On August 20, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) extended the public comment deadline for 20 proposed workplace safety rules from September 2, 2025, to November 1, 2025, providing additional time for industry input.

The proposed rules, which are primarily deregulatory actions, represent the most significant potential reduction in construction safety compliance burdens in years. AGC plans to submit comments by the November 1 deadline. If you have questions about these regulations or would like to highlight a substance-specific proposal that deserves more attention, please reach out to Kevin Cannon.

COMPLETE LIST OF PROPOSED WORKPLACE SAFETY RULES

1. 1,2-Dibromo-3-Chloropropane, revises some substance-specific respirator requirements to allow different types of respirators to be used under OSHA’s 1,2-Dibromo-3-Chloropropane standard and better aligns this standard with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard.
2. 1,3-Butadiene, revises some substance-specific respirator requirements to allow different types of respirators to be used under OSHA’s 1,3-Butadiene standard and better aligns this standard with OSHA’s respiratory protection standard.
3. 13 Carcinogens (4-Nitrobiphenyl, etc.), revises some substance-specific respirator requirements to allow different types of respirators to be used under OSHA’s 13 Carcinogens standard and better aligns this standard with OSHA’s respiratory protection standard.
4. Acrylonitrile, revises some provisions of OSHA’s Acrylonitrile standard to better align it with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard.
5. Amending the Medical Evaluation Requirements in the Respiratory Protection Standard for Certain Types of Respirators, remove some medical evaluation requirements in the Respiratory Protection Rule for certain types of respirators. This proposed change would only impact filtering facepiece respirators and loose-fitting powered air-purifying respirators.
6. Asbestos, revises some substance-specific respirator requirements to allow different types of respirators to be used under OSHA’s Asbestos standards and better aligns these standards with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard.
7. Benzene, revise some substance-specific respirator requirements to allow different types of respirators to be used under OSHA’s Benzene standard and would better align this standard with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard.
8. Cadmium, revises some substance-specific respirator requirements to allow different types of respirators to be used under OSHA’s Cadmium standards and better aligns these standards with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard.
9. Coke Oven Emissions, revises some substance-specific respirator requirements to allow different types of respirators to be used under OSHA’s Coke Oven Emissions standard and better align this standard with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard.
10. Construction Illumination, proposal to rescind the construction illumination requirements, codified in 29 CFR 1926.26 and 1926.56.
11. Cotton Dust, revises some substance-specific respirator requirements to allow different types of respirators to be used under OSHA’s Cotton Dust standard and better aligns this standard with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard.
12. Ethylene Oxide, revises some substance-specific respirator requirements to allow different types of respirators to be used under OSHA’s Ethylene Oxide standard and better aligns this standard with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard.
13. Formaldehyde, revises OSHA’s Formaldehyde standard to eliminate duplicative respiratory protection requirements and better align this standard with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard.
14. Inorganic Arsenic, revises some substance-specific respirator requirements to allow different types of respirators to be used under OSHA’s Inorganic Arsenic standard and better aligns this standard with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard.
15. Lead, revises some substance-specific respirator requirements to allow different types of respirators to be used under OSHA’s Lead standards and better aligns the standards with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard.
16. Methylene Chloride, revises some substance-specific respirator requirements to allow different types of respirators to be used under OSHA’s Methylene Chloride standard and better aligns this standard with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard. It also includes two technical corrections.
17. Methylenedianiline, revises some substance-specific respirator requirements to allow different types of respirators to be used under OSHA’s Methylenedianiline standards and better aligns these standards with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard.
18. Occupational Exposure to COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings, proposal to remove OSHA’s COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard and its associated recordkeeping and reporting provisions from the Code of Federal Regulations.
19. Occupational Safety and Health Standards; Interpretation of General Duty Clause: Limitation for Inherently Risky Professional Activities, proposal to clarify its interpretation of the General Duty Clause, 29 U.S.C. 654(a)(1), to exclude from enforcement known hazards that are inherent and inseparable from the core nature of a professional activity or performance.
20. Vinyl chloride, removes language in OSHA’s Vinyl Chloride standard that is duplicative with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard.