OSHA's direct final rule revising the Acetylene Standard for general industry goes into effect March 5. The revised standard replaces a reference to an outdated consensus standard with an updated reference from the Compressed Gas Association Pamphlet G-1-2009, Acetylene. The agency says the update will provide employers with guidance that reflects current industry practices to better protect their workers from injury or death.

In a Dec. 5 Federal Register notice, OSHA announced the direct final rule would go into effect after three months, barring any significant adverse comments on the rule. OSHA received only one comment, which it determined was not a significant adverse comment.