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Text from the OSHA Logging Standard Amendment issued September 8, 1995 in the Federal Register Text from the OSHA Logging Standard Amendment issued September 8, 1995 in the Federal Register

Paragraph (f)(3)(ii) -- ROPS Specifications

The final rule requires that logging machines be equipped with rollover protective structures (ROPS) that are tested, installed and maintained in accordance with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1040, April 1988, performance criteria for ROPS. OSHA stayed this requirement for six months and is now amending the ROPS requirement to state that only machines manufactured after August 1, 1996 must have ROPS which meet the 1988 SAE standard.

OSHA is making this change because, while many machines currently manufactured do meet the 1988 SAE ROPS standard, other machines currently manufactured or in use do not. These machines do have ROPS for the most part. However, the ROPS on these machines meet the 1979 SAE standard instead. While machines that meet the 1988 standard have additional protection (e.g., protection for longitudinal rollover), machines meeting the 1979 standard do provide protection for the most frequently occurring hazard: horizontal rollover. As such, OSHA believes that permitting an exception for machines already in service should not reduce significantly the level of protection provided to machine operators. Therefore, OSHA is revising the compliance directive to indicate that machines manufactured on or before August 1, 1996, which comply with the 1979 SAE ROPS standard are appropriate for use, provided the ROPS is maintained at its designed level of effectiveness (See paragraph (f)(1)(i) -- machine general maintenance requirement).(4)

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Footnote(4) The final rule also provides that ROPS and FOPS required on logging machines placed into initial service after the effective date must also meet the requirements of SAE J397, April 1988, "Deflection Limiting Volume -- ROPS/FOPS Laboratory Evaluation." The 1988 standard updated a 1979 SAE standard on deflection limiting volume. OSHA notes that there is no functional difference between the criteria of the 1988 and 1979 SAE standards. Therefore, ROPS and FOPS certified to meet the requirements of either the 1988 or 1979 SAE standards shall be deemed to be in compliance with the final logging standard. OSHA is revising the compliance directive to reflect this.

In addition, EMI has agreed to use its best efforts to provide OSHA with a list of the model numbers of the last logging machines manufactured on August 1, 1996. OSHA will use this list to update its logging compliance directive as to which logging machines must meet the 1988 SAE ROPS standard.

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