29 C.F.R. § 1960.2

Current through September 30, 2024

Section 1960.2 - Definitions

(a) The term Act means the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (84 Stat. 1590 et seq.,29 U.S.C. 651 et seq.).

(b) The term agency for the purposes of this part means an Executive Department, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 101 , or any employing unit of authority of the Executive Branch of the Government. For the purposes of this part to the extent it implements section 19 of the Act, the term agency does not include the United States Postal Service. By agreement between the Secretary of Labor and the head of an agency of the Legislative or Judicial Branches of the Government, these regulations may be applicable to such agencies.

(c) The term agency liaison means an agency person appointed with full authority and reponsibility to represent the occupant agency management with the official in charge of a facility or installation such as a GSA Building Manager.

(d) The term building manager means the person who manages one or several buildings under the authority of a Federal agency. For example, a building manager may be the GSA person who manages building(s) for GSA.

(e) As used in Executive Order 12196, the term consultation with representatives of the employees thereof shall include such consultation, conference, or negotiation with representatives of agency employees as is consistent with the Federal Service Labor Management Relations Statute (5 U.S.C. 71 ), or collective bargaining or other labor-management arrangements. As used in this part, the term representative of employees shall be interpreted with due regard for any obligation imposed by the aforementioned statute and any other labor-management arrangement that may cover the employees involved.

(f) The term Designated Agency Safety and Health Official means the individual who is responsible for the management of the safety and health program within an agency, and is so designated or appointed by the head of the agency pursuant to § 1960.6 and the provisions of Executive Order 12196.

(g) The term employee as used in this part means any person, other than members of the Armed Forces, employed or otherwise suffered, permitted, or required to work by an agency as the latter term is defined in paragraph (b) of this section.

(h) The term establishment means a single physical location where business is conducted or where services or operations are performed. Where distinctly separate activities are performed at a single physical location, each activity shall be treated as a separate establishment. Typically, an establishment as used in this part refers to a field activity, regional office, area office, installation, or facility.

(i) The term uniquely military equipment, systems, and operations excludes from the scope of the order the design of Department of Defense equipment and systems that are unique to the national defense mission, such as military aircraft, ships, submarines, missiles, and missile sites, early warning systems, military space systems, artillery, tanks, and tactical vehicles; and excludes operations that are uniquely military such as field maneuvers, naval operations, military flight operations, associated research test and development activities, and actions required under emergency conditions. The term includes within the scope of the Order Department of Defense workplaces and operations comparable to those of industry in the private sector such as: Vessel, aircraft, and vehicle repair, overhaul, and modification (except for equipment trials); construction; supply services; civil engineering or public works; medical services; and office work.

(j) The term incidence rates means the number of injuries and illnesses, or lost workdays, per 100 full-time workers. Rates are calculated as

N * 200,000 ÷ EH

N = number of injuries and illnesses, or number of lost workdays.

EH = total hours worked by all employees during a month, a quarter, or fiscal year.

200,000 = base for 100 full-time equivalent workers (working 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year).

(k) The term inspection means a comprehensive survey of all or part of a workplace in order to detect safety and health hazards. Inspections are normally performed during the regular work hours of the agency, except as special circumstances may require. Inspections do not include routine, day-to-day visits by agency occupational safety and health personnel, or routine workplace surveillance of occupational health conditions.

(l)Injury or illness. An injury or illness is an abnormal condition or disorder. Injuries include cases such as, but not limited to, a cut, fracture, sprain, or amputation. Illness includes both acute and chronic illnesses, such as, but not limited to, a skin disease, respiratory disorder, or poisoning.

(m) The term representative of management means a supervisor or management official as defined in the applicable labor-management relations program covering the affected employees.

(n)-(p) [Reserved]

(q) The term Safety and Health Inspector means a safety and/or occupational health specialist or other person authorized pursuant to Executive Order 12196, section 1-201(g), to carry out inspections for the purpose of subpart D of this part, a person having equipment and competence to recognize safety and/or health hazards in the workplace.

(r) The term Safety and Health Official means an individual who manages the occupational safety and/or occupational health program at organizational levels below the Designated Agency Safety and Health Official.

(s) The term Safety and Health Specialist means a person or persons meeting the Office of Personnel Management standards for such occupations, which include but are not limited to:

Safety and Occupational Health Manager/Specialist GS-018

Safety Engineer GS-803

Fire Prevention Engineer GS-804

Industrial Hygienist GS-690

Fire Protection and Prevention Specialist/Marshal GS-081

Health Physicist GS-1306

Occupational Medicine Physician GS-602

Occupational Health Nurse GS-610

Safety Technician GS-019

Physical Science Technician GS-1311

Environmental Health Technician GS-699

Air Safety Investigation Officer GS-1815

Aviation Safety Specialist GS-1825

Chemist GS-1320

Health Technician GS-645

Highway Safety Manager GS-2125

or equally qualified military, agency, or nongovernment personnel. The agency head shall be responsible for determination and certification of equally qualified personnel.

(t) The term workplace means a physical location where the agency's work or operations are performed.

(u) The term imminent danger means any conditions or practices in any workplace which are such that a danger exists which could reasonably be expected to cause death or serious physical harm immediately or before the imminence of such danger can be eliminated through normal procedures.

(v) The word serious as used in serious hazard, serious violation or serious condition means a hazard, violation or condition such that there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result.

(w) The term certified safety and health committee means an agency safety and health committee that meets the provisions of section 1-3 of Executive Order 12196 and of this part, as listed and attested to by the head of each agency in writing to the Secretary.

(x) The term reprisal as used in this part means any act of restraint, interference, coercion or discrimination against an employee for exercising his or her rights under Executive Order 12196 and this part, or for participating in the agency's safety and health program.

29 C.F.R. §1960.2

45 FR 69798, Oct. 21, 1980, as amended at 49 FR 3078, Jan. 25, 1984; 50 FR 40269, Oct. 2, 1985; 51 FR 28378, Aug. 7, 1986; 69 FR 68804, Nov. 26, 2004; 78 FR 47190, Aug. 5, 2013