Opinions gathered recently from the business community by U.S. Representative Darrell Issa (R-Cal) will likely result in oversight hearings “sometime in the next few months,” according to Aaron K. Trippler, Director of Government Affairs for the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA).

Issa, as Chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, solicited opinions from business groups, asking them to identify those issues they felt Congress should review.

“The intent of Rep.Issa was to look at those issues business felt were causing problems and inhibiting job growth,” said Trippler. “It shouldn’t come as any surprise that the business groups identified five OSHA proposals of concern: combustible dust rulemaking, OSHA noise standards, the planned injury and illness prevention program rule (I2P2), the proposed OSHA MSD 300 log column proposal and the proposed change to the on-site consultation program.

Although no dates have been set, Trippler predicts that one or all of the issues will soon come under Congressional scrutiny.

OSHA, meanwhile, is going ahead with a Combustible Dust Expert Forum on May 13 in Washington D.C. to explore regulatory options for tackling combustible dust hazards.