29 C.F.R. Subpart C—South Carolina
Title 29 - Labor
Source: 51 FR 8820, Mar. 14, 1986, unless otherwise noted.
(a) The plan identifies the South Carolina Department of Labor as the State agency designated to administer the plan. It adopts the definition of occupational safety and health issues expressed in §1902.2(c)(1) of this chapter. The plan states that the Department of Labor has been promulgating safety and health standards. The South Carolina Commissioner of Labor is promulgating all standards and amendments thereto which have been promulgated by the Secretary of Labor, except those found in §§1910.13; 1910.14; 1910.15; and 1910.16 of this chapter (ship repairing, shipbuilding, shipbreaking, and longshoring). The plan describes procedures for the development and promulgation of additional standards, enforcement of such standards, and the prompt restraint or elimination of imminent danger situations. The South Carolina Legislature passed enabling legislation in 1971, a copy of which was submitted with the original plan. Section 40–261 through 40–274 South Carolina Code of Laws, 1962. The amendments to the plan include proposed amendments to this legislation to more fully bring the plan into conformity with the requirements of part 1902. Under the amended legislation, the South Carolina Department of Labor will have full authority to administer and enforce all laws, rules, and orders protecting employee safety and health in all places of employment in the State. (b) The plan includes a statement of the Governor's support for the legislative amendments and a legal opinion that the amended act will meet the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and is consistent with the constitution and laws of South Carolina. The plan sets out goals and provides a timetable for bringing it into full conformity with part 1902 upon enactment of the proposed legislative amendments. The South Carolina plan is developmental. The following is the schedule of the developmental steps provided by the plan: (a) Introduction of the above-mentioned legislative amendments in the legislative session following approval of the plan. (b) Public hearings and adoption of Federal standards to be completed by December 1972. (c) A management information system to be completed by no later than June 30, 1974. (d) A voluntary compliance program to be completed by no later than June 30, 1974. (e) An occupational safety and health program for public employees to be completed by no later than June 30, 1974. (f) A program for the coverage of agriculture workers to be completed no later than June 30, 1973. (g) An approved merit system covering employees implementing the plan to be effective 90 days following approval of the plan. (h) A revised compliance manual to be completed within 6 months following approval of the plan. (a) In accordance with §1952.91(a) legislative amendments were introduced into the 1973 South Carolina General Assembly and were enacted effective June 12, 1973. The amendments have been supplemented by State commitments to: (1) Take action on all employee discrimination complaints within 90 days, and (2) Limit the duration of temporary variances to a maximum of two years, inclusive of any renewals. (b) In accordance with §1952.91(b) the South Carolina occupational safety and health standards, identical to Federal standards (through December 3, 1974), have been promulgated and were approved by the Assistant Regional Director for Occupational Safety and Health effective April 10, 1975 (40 FR 16257). (c) In accordance with §1952.91(d) a voluntary compliance program, to be known as the Taxpayers' Assistant Program, has been developed. (d) In accordance with §1952.91(f) coverage of agricultural workers began on July 1, 1973, and was initiated directly by the South Carolina Department of Labor. (The State plan has been amended to delete the proposal to delegate such responsibility to the State Department of Agriculture.) (e) In accordance with §1952.91(g) the State plan has been amended to show extensions of merit system coverage to the South Carolina Department of Labor, Division of Occupational Safety and Health. Agreement with the Department of Health and Environmental Control requires that all health personnel cooperating in the State occupational safety and health program be likewise covered by the State merit system. (f) In accordance with the requirements of §1952.10 the South Carolina Safety and Health Poster for private and public employees was approved by the Assistant Secretary on February 19, 1976. (g) In accordance with §1952.91(c) development of a management information system designed to provide the data required by the Assistant Secretary and information necessary for internal management of resources and evaluation of State program performance has been completed. (h) The State plan has been amended to include the details of a public employee program. State and local government employees will be afforded protection identical to that of employees in the private sector. (i) The South Carolina plan has been amended to include an expanded radiation health effort. The Division of Radiological Health, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, under contract to the South Carolina Department of Labor will make inspections to provide coverage of radiation hazards not subject to regulation under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. (j) In accordance with plan commitments, South Carolina regulations for enforcement of standards and review of contested cases, Article IV, were revised and repromulgated on June 5, 1975. Further amendment to section 4.00K (September 26, 1975) and a January 15, 1976, letter of supplemental assurances from Commissioner Edgar L. McGowan are considered integral parts of the approved South Carolina review procedures. On March 11, 1976, the State of South Carolina promulgated the necessary changes to Article IV to fulfill the commitments contained in their January 15, 1976, letter of supplemental assurances. (k) The State plan has been amended to include an Affirmative Action Plan in which the State outlines its policy of equal employment opportunity. (l) In accordance with §1952.91(h) the State has developed and amended a Compliance Manual which defines the procedures and guidelines to be used by the South Carolina compliance and consultation staff in carrying out the goals of the program. (m) In accordance with §1902.34 of this chapter, the South Carolina occupational safety and health plan was certified, effective August 3, 1976, as having completed all developmental steps specified in the plan as approved on November 30, 1972, on or before December 31, 1975. Under the terms of the 1978 Court Order in AFL-CIO v. Marshall compliance staffing levels (benchmarks) necessary for a “fully effective” enforcement program were required to be established for each State operating an approved State plan. In September 1984 South Carolina, in conjunction with OSHA, completed a reassessment of the levels initially established in 1980 and proposed revised compliance staffing benchmarks of 17 safety and 12 health compliance officers. After opportunity for public comment and service on the AFL-CIO, the Assistant Secretary approved these revised staffing requirements on January 17, 1986. (a) In accordance with section 18(e) of the Act and procedures in 29 CFR part 1902, and after determination that the State met the “fully effective” compliance staffing benchmarks as revised in 1984 in response to a Court Order in AFL-CIO v. Marshall (CA 74–406), and was satisfactorily providing reports to OSHA through participation in the Federal-State Integrated Management Information System, the Assistant Secretary evaluated actual operations under the South Carolina State plan for a period of at least one year following certification of completion of developmental steps (41 FR 32424). Based on the 18(e) Evaluation Report for the period of December 1, 1985, through January 31, 1987, and after opportunity for public comment, the Assistant Secretary determined that in operation the State of South Carolina's occupational safety and health program is at least as effective as the Federal program in providing safe and healthful employment and places of employment and meets the criteria for final State plan approval in section 18(e) of the Act and implementing regulations at 29 CFR part 1902. Accordingly, the South Carolina plan was granted final approval and concurrent Federal enforcement authority was relinquished under section 18(e) of the Act effective December 15, 1987. (b) Except as otherwise noted, the plan which has received final approval covers all activities of employers and all places of employment in South Carolina. The plan does not cover private sector maritime employment; military bases; Federal government employers and employees; the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), including USPS employees, and contract employees and contractor-operated facilities engaged in USPS mail operations; private sector employment at Area D of the Savannah River Site (power generation and transmission facilities operated by South Carolina Electric and Gas) and at the Three Rivers Solid Waste Authority; the enforcement of the field sanitation standard, 29 CFR 1928.110, and the temporary labor camps standard, 29 CFR 1910.142, with respect to any agricultural establishment where employees are engaged in “agricultural employment” within the meaning of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, 29 U.S.C. 1802(3), regardless of the number of employees, including employees engaged in hand packing of produce into containers, whether done on the ground, on a moving machine, or in a temporary packing shed, except that South Carolina retains enforcement responsibility over agricultural temporary labor camps for employees engaged in egg, poultry, or red meat production, or the post-harvest processing of agricultural or horticultural commodities. (c) South Carolina is required to maintain a State program which is at least as effective as operations under the Federal program; to submit plan supplements in accordance with 29 CFR part 1953; to allocate sufficient safety and health enforcement staff to meet the benchmarks for State staffing established by the U.S. Department of Labor, or any revisions to those benchmarks; and, to furnish such reports in such form as the Assistant Secretary may from time to time require. [52 FR 48111, Dec. 18, 1987, as amended at 62 FR 2560, Jan. 17, 1997; 65 FR 36619, June 9, 2000] (a) As a result of the Assistant Secretary's determination granting final approval to the South Carolina plan under section 18(e) of the Act, effective December 15, 1987, occupational safety and health standards which have been promulgated under section 6 of the Act do not apply with respect to issues covered under the South Carolina plan. This determination also relinquishes concurrent Federal OSHA authority to issue citations for violations of such standards under sections 5(a)(2) and 9 of the Act; to conduct inspections and investigations under section 8 (except those necessary to conduct evaluation of the plan under section 18(f) and other inspections, investigations, or proceedings necessary to carry out Federal responsibilities not specifically preempted by section 18(e)); to conduct enforcement proceedings in contested cases under section 10; to institute proceedings to correct imminent dangers under section 13; and to propose civil penalties or initiate criminal proceedings for violations of the Federal Act under section 17. The Assistant Secretary retains jurisdiction under the above provisions in any proceeding commenced under section 9 or 10 before the effective date of the 18(e) determination. (b)(1) In accordance with section 18(e), final approval relinquishes Federal OSHA authority only with regard to occupational safety and health issues covered by the South Carolina plan. OSHA retains full authority over issues which are not subject to State enforcement under the plan. Thus, Federal OSHA retains its authority relative to safety and health in private sector maritime activities, and will continue to enforce all provisions of the Act, rules or orders, and all Federal standards, current or future, specifically directed to maritime employment (29 CFR Part 1915, shipyard employment; Part 1917, marine terminals; Part 1918, longshoring; Part 1919, gear certification), as well as provisions of general industry and construction standards (29 CFR Parts 1910 and 1926) appropriate to hazards found in these employments; employment on military bases; and private sector employment at Area D of the Savannah River Site (power generation and transmission facilities operated by South Carolina Electric and Gas) and at the Three Rivers Solid Waste Authority. Federal jurisdiction is retained and exercised by the Employment Standards Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, (Secretary's Order 5–96, dated December 27, 1996) with respect to the field sanitation standard, 29 CFR 1928.110, and the enforcement of the temporary labor camps standard, 29 CFR 1910.142, in agriculture, as described in §1952.94(b). Federal jurisdiction is also retained with respect to Federal government employers and employees; and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), including USPS employees, and contract employees and contractor-operated facilities engaged in USPS mail operations. (2) In addition, any hazard, industry, geographical area, operation or facility over which the State is unable to effectively exercise jurisdiction for reasons not related to the required performance or structure of the plan shall be deemed to be an issue not covered by plan which has received final approval, and shall be subject to Federal enforcement. Where enforcement jurisdiction is shared between Federal and State authorities for a particular area, project, or facility, in the interest of administrative practicability Federal jurisdiction may be assumed over the entire project or facility. In either of the two aforementioned circumstances, Federal enforcement may be exercised immediately upon agreement between Federal OSHA and the State designated agency. (c) Federal authority under provisions of the Act not listed in section 18(e) is unaffected by final approval of the plan. Thus, for example, the Assistant Secretary retains his authority under section 11(c) of the Act with regard to complaints alleging discrimination against employees because of the exercise of any right afforded to the employee by the Act, although such complaints may be referred to the State for investigation. The Assistant Secretary also retains his authority under section 6 of the Act to promulgate, modify or revoke occupational safety and health standards which address the working conditions of all employees, including those in States which have received an affirmative 18(e) determination, although such standards may not be federally applied. In the event that the State's 18(e) status is subsequently withdrawn and Federal authority reinstated, all Federal standards, including any standards promulgated or modified during the 18(e) period, would be federally enforceable in that State. (d) As required by section 18(f) of the Act, OSHA will continue to monitor the operations of the South Carolina State program to assure that the provisions of the State plan are substantially complied with and that the program remains at least as effective as the Federal program. Failure by the State to comply with its obligations may result in the revocation of the final determination under section 18(e), resumption of Federal enforcement, and/or proceedings for withdrawal of plan approval. [52 FR 48111, Dec. 18, 1987, as amended at 62 FR 2560, Jan. 17, 1997; 65 FR 36619, June 9, 2000] A copy of the principal documents comprising the plan may be inspected and copied during normal business hours at the following locations:
Office of State Programs, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room N3700, Washington, DC 20210; Office of the Regional Administrator, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Atlanta Federal Center, 61 Forsyth Street, SW, Room 6T50, Atlanta, Georgia 30303; and Office of the Director, South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, Koger Office Park, Kingstree Building, 110 Centerview Drive, P.O. Box 11329, Columbia, South Carolina 29210. [65 FR 36619, June 9, 2000] (a) Legislation. (1) On March 29, 1994, the Assistant Secretary approved South Carolina's revised statutory penalty levels which are the same as the revised Federal penalty levels contained in section 17 of the Act as amended on November 5, 1990. (2) [Reserved] (b) The Voluntary Protection Program. On June 24, 1994, the Assistant Secretary approved South Carolina's plan supplement, which is generally identical to the Federal STAR Voluntary Protection Program. South Carolina's “Palmetto” VPP is limited to the STAR Program in general industry, excludes the MERIT AND DEMONSTRATION Programs and excludes the construction industry. Also, injury rates must be at or below 50 percent of the State industry average rather than the National industry average. (c) Temporary labor camps/field sanitation. Effective February 3, 1997, the Assistant Secretary approved South Carolina's plan amendment, dated August 1, 1996, relinquishing coverage for the issues of field sanitation (29 CFR 1928.110) and temporary labor camps (29 CFR 1910.142) in agriculture (except for agricultural temporary labor camps associated with egg, poultry or red meat production, or the post-harvest processing of agricultural or horticultural commodities.) The Employment Standards Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, has assumed responsibility for enforcement of these Federal OSHA standards in agriculture in South Carolina pursuant to Secretary of Labor's Order 5–96, dated December 27, 1996. [59 FR 39257, Aug. 2, 1994, as amended at 62 FR 2560, Jan. 17, 1997]
Title 29: Labor
PART 1952—APPROVED STATE PLANS FOR ENFORCEMENT OF STATE STANDARDS
Subpart C—South Carolina
§ 1952.90 Description of the plan as initially approved.
§ 1952.91 Developmental schedule.
§ 1952.92 Completion of developmental steps and certification.
§ 1952.93 Compliance staffing benchmarks.
§ 1952.94 Final approval determination.
§ 1952.95 Level of Federal enforcement.
§ 1952.96 Where the plan may be inspected.
§ 1952.97 Changes to approved plan.
