
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 12, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3497-3499]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-01940]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. OSHA-2010-0046]


QPS Evaluation Services, Inc.: Applications for Expansion of 
Recognition

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 3498]]

SUMMARY: In this notice, OSHA announces the applications of QPS 
Evaluation Services, Inc., for expansion of its scope of recognition as 
a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) and presents the 
agency's preliminary finding to grant the applications.

DATES: Submit comments, information, and documents in response to this 
notice, or requests for an extension of time to make a submission, on 
or before February 27, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments by any of the following methods:
    Electronically: You may submit comments and attachments 
electronically at: https://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for submitting 
comments.
    Facsimile: If your comments, including attachments, are not longer 
than 10 pages, you may fax them to the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-
1648.
    Regular or express mail, hand delivery, or messenger (courier) 
service: Submit comments, requests, and any attachments to the OSHA 
Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2010-0046, Technical Data Center, U.S. 
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room N-3653, 
Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-2350 (TTY number: (877) 889-
5627). Note that security procedures may result in significant delays 
in receiving comments and other written materials by regular mail. 
Contact the OSHA Docket Office for information about security 
procedures concerning delivery of materials by express mail, hand 
delivery, or messenger service. The hours of operation for the OSHA 
Docket Office are 10:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m., ET.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and OSHA 
docket number (OSHA-2010-0046). OSHA places comments and other 
materials, including any personal information, in the public docket 
without revision, and these materials will be available online at 
http://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, the agency cautions commenters 
about submitting statements they do not want made available to the 
public, or submitting comments that contain personal information 
(either about themselves or others) such as Social Security numbers, 
birth dates, and medical data.
    Docket: To read or download comments or other material in the 
docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov or the OSHA Docket Office at 
the above address. All documents in the docket (including this Federal 
Register notice) are listed in the https://www.regulations.gov index; 
however, some information (e.g., copyrighted material) is not publicly 
available to read or download through the website. All submissions, 
including copyrighted material, are available for inspection at the 
OSHA Docket Office. Contact the OSHA Docket Office for assistance in 
locating docket submissions.
    Extension of comment period: Submit requests for an extension of 
the comment period on or before February 27, 2019 to the Office of 
Technical Programs and Coordination Activities, Directorate of 
Technical Support and Emergency Management, Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 
Avenue NW, Room N-3653, Washington, DC 20210, or by fax to (202) 693-
1644.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information regarding this notice is 
available from the following sources:
    Press inquiries: Contact Mr. Frank Meilinger, Director, OSHA Office 
of Communications, U.S. Department of Labor, telephone: (202) 693-1999; 
email: meilinger.francis2@dol.gov.
    General and technical information: Contact Mr. Kevin Robinson, 
Director, Office of Technical Programs and Coordination Activities, 
Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, Occupational 
Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, phone: 
(202) 693-2110 or email: robinson.kevin@dol.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Notice of the Application for Expansion

    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is providing 
notice that QPS Evaluation Services, Inc., (QPS) is applying for 
expansion of its current recognition as a NRTL. QPS requests the 
addition of two test standards to its NRTL scope of recognition.
    OSHA recognition of a NRTL signifies that the organization meets 
the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.7. Recognition is an 
acknowledgment that the organization can perform independent safety 
testing and certification of the specific products covered within its 
scope of recognition. Each NRTL's scope of recognition includes (1) the 
type of products the NRTL may test, with each type specified by its 
applicable test standard; and (2) the recognized site(s) that has/have 
the technical capability to perform the product-testing and product-
certification activities for test standards within the NRTL's scope. 
Recognition is not a delegation or grant of government authority; 
however, recognition enables employers to use products approved by the 
NRTL to meet OSHA standards that require product testing and 
certification.
    The agency processes an application by a NRTL for initial 
recognition and for an expansion or renewal of this recognition, 
following requirements in Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.7. This appendix 
requires that the agency publish two notices in the Federal Register in 
processing an application. In the first notice, OSHA announces the 
application and provides its preliminary finding. In the second notice, 
the agency provides its final decision on the application. These 
notices set forth the NRTL's scope of recognition or modifications of 
that scope. OSHA maintains an informational web page for each NRTL, 
including QPS, which details the NRTL's scope of recognition. These 
pages are available from the OSHA website at: https://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/qps.html.
    QPS currently has one facility (site) recognized by OSHA for 
product testing and certification, with its headquarters located at: 
QPS Evaluation Services, Inc. 81 Kelfield Street, Unit 8 Toronto, 
Ontario M9W 5A3 Canada. A complete list of QPS sites recognized by OSHA 
is available at https://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/qps.html.

II. General Background on the Application

    QPS submitted two applications, one dated January 16, 2017 (OSHA-
2010-0046-0010), and another date June 23, 2017 (OSHA-2010-0046-0011), 
to expand its recognition to include two additional test standards. 
OSHA staff performed detailed analyses of the application packets and 
other pertinent information. OSHA did not perform any on-site reviews 
in relation to these applications.
    Table 1, below, lists the appropriate test standards found in QPS's 
application for expansion for testing and certification of products 
under the NRTL Program.

[[Page 3499]]



  Table 1--Proposed List of Appropriate Test Standards for Inclusion in
                     QPS's NRTL Scope of Recognition
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Test standard                     Test standard title
------------------------------------------------------------------------
UL 471............................  Standard for Commercial
                                     Refrigerators and Freezers.
UL 62368-1........................  Standard for Audio/Video Information
                                     and Communication Technology
                                     Equipment--Part 1 Safety
                                     Requirements.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Preliminary Findings on the Application

    QPS submitted acceptable applications for expansion of its scope of 
recognition. OSHA's review of the application files and related 
material indicate that QPS can meet the requirements prescribed by 29 
CFR 1910.7 for expanding its recognition to include the addition of 
these two test standards for NRTL testing and certification listed 
above. This preliminary finding does not constitute an interim or 
temporary approval of QPS's applications.
    OSHA welcomes public comment as to whether QPS meets the 
requirements of 29 CFR 1910.7 for expansion of its recognition as a 
NRTL. Comments should consist of pertinent written documents and 
exhibits. Commenters needing more time to comment must submit a request 
in writing, stating the reasons for the request by the due date for 
comments. OSHA will limit any extension to 10 days unless the requester 
justifies a longer time period. OSHA may deny a request for an 
extension if it is not adequately justified. To obtain or review copies 
of the exhibits identified in this notice, as well as comments 
submitted to the docket, contact the Docket Office, Occupational Safety 
and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, listed in 
``ADDRESSES.'' These materials also are available online at https://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. OSHA-2010-0046.
    OSHA staff will review all comments to the docket submitted in a 
timely manner and, after addressing the issues raised by these 
comments, make a recommendation to the Assistant Secretary for 
Occupational Safety and Health on whether to grant QPS's applications 
for expansion of its scope of recognition. The Assistant Secretary will 
make the final decision on granting the applications. In making this 
decision, the Assistant Secretary may undertake other proceedings 
prescribed in Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.7.
    OSHA will publish a public notice of this final decision in the 
Federal Register.

Authority and Signature

    Loren Sweatt, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational 
Safety and Health, authorized the preparation of this notice. 
Accordingly, the agency is issuing this notice pursuant to 29 U.S.C. 
657(g)(2), Secretary of Labor's Order No. 1-2012 (77 FR 3912, Jan. 25, 
2012), and 29 CFR 1910.7.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on February 5, 2019.
Loren Sweatt,
Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2019-01940 Filed 2-11-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-26-P


