July31,2007OSHADocketOfficeDocketNo.OSHA-2007-0003U.S.DepartmentofLaborRoomN-2625200ConstitutionAve.,NW.Washington,DC20210Re:CommentsonOSHADocketNo.OSHA-2007-0003,RIN1218-AC22DearSir:TheForgingIndustryAssociation,(FIA),anOSHAAllianceAgreementPartner,isthetradeassociationfortheNorthAmericanForgingIndustry.FIAisacorporatemembershipassociationcomprisedofapproximately110NorthAmericanforgingproducersoperatingover150plants.Membershipalsoincludesmorethan80supplierstotheforgingindustryincludingcompaniesengagedinthemanufacturing,processingordistributionofsteelorotherforgingstock,diestock,machinetools,equipmentorprovidingconsultingandengineeringservicesandsuppliescommonlyusedintheindustry.FIAmembercompaniesaccountforapproximately75%ofallcustomforgingvolumethatisproducedintheU.S.andCanada.OverviewofFIACommentsandAnalysisAsyouknow,forgingpressesandhammershavebeenexcludedfromcoverageunderthemechanicalpowerpressesstandardeversincethepromulgationofthestandard.29C.F.R.1910.217(a)(5);39Fed.Reg.23502,23724(June27,1974).And,ofcourse,forgepresses,hammersandotherforgingmachines1havebeensubjecttoregulationunder29C.F.R.1910.218sincethattime.DuringthemorethanthirtythreeyearsofOSHAcompliancehistory,theindustryhasdevelopedequipment,methodsofoperation,employeetraining,safetyprogramsandextensiveexperienceincomplyingwiththetermsofthestandard.Forthereasonsstatedbelow,itisthepositionofFIA,onbehalfofitsmembers,thatforgingmachinesshouldcontinuetobesubjecttoregulationunder29C.F.R.1910.218andexcludedfromcoverageunderanyamendedorrevised29C.F.R.1910.217.TheAdvanceNoticeofProposedRulemakingspecificallyquestionstheproprietyofthiscontinuedapproachinSectionIIA:1.ShouldOSHAregulateallpowerpressesunderonestandardormultiplestandards?...Aretheregeneralrequirementsthatshouldapplybroadlytoalltypesofpowerpresses?1Inadditiontoforgepressesandhammers,29C.F.R.1910.218regulateshottrimmingpresses,(g)(1),coldtrimmingpresses,(g)(2),upsetters,(h),boltheading,(i)(1)andrivetmaking,(i)(2).25W.ProspectAvenue,Suite300Cleveland,Ohio44115-1040Phone:(216)781-6260Fax:(216)781-0102e-mail:info@forging.orgWeb:www.forging.orgFORGINGINDUSTRYASSOCIATION3.IfOSHAupdatesthestandard[1910.217]tobeconsistentwiththeprovisionsofofANSIB11.1-2001oritsequivalent,shouldOSHAexcludeallofthemachinesthatareexcludedinANSIB11.1-2001?Why?SingleStandardvs.MultipleStandardsItisFIA’spositionthattheoriginalwritersofbothOSHA1910.217andANSIB11.1carefullyconsideredthisissueanddeterminedthatthefunctionalityofforginghammers/presses,andtheenvironmenttheyoperatein,makesauniversalstandardimpractical.OSHArecognizedthesedifferencesin1971,whenitexcluded“hotmetalpresses,forgingpressesandhammers”,from1910.217,andcreated1910.218,forforgingpresses,whichFIAfullysupportsandendorses.HotForgingPressOperationalDifferences•TheprimarysafetyfocusofOSHA1910.217/ANSIB11.1istopreventanoperator’sbodypart(typicallyahandorarm)frombeingbetweentheram/dieandtheanvilwhenthepressiscycled.Thesestandardssuggestavarietyofguardingmethodsandpresencesensingdevicestoaccomplishthatobjective.Thesesafeguardsareneededduetothematerialtypicallybeingmanipulatedbytheoperator’shandincloseproximitytothepointofoperation.Unlikegeneralindustrypressoperators,forgepress/hammeroperatorsareforminghotmetalat2300°Ftherebynecessitatingamechanicalmeansofmanipulatingthemetalontheanvil.Thisisaccomplishedbytongs,longrea...
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