Effective date delayed again for OSHA beryllium rule

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has delayed the effective date of its beryllium rule for a second time to May 20.

The delay will give the agency time to further review questions of law and policy associated with the rule, the Department of Labor said in a statement Tuesday.

OSHA first delayed the effective date for the rule in February to March 21 after President Donald Trump issued a directive to freeze federal regulations pending review during the transition to the new administration. The extended review is also in line with the White House regulatory freeze, the DOL said.

The extended effective date will not affect compliance dates, the agency said.

The rule, published in the Federal Register Jan. 9, will require general industry, construction and shipyard employers to take additional steps to protect workers from exposure to beryllium, which has been linked to lung diseases.