Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) director Joseph Dear issued an OSHAwide directive in December that will make it easier for builders to adapt to the agency's new fall protection regulations. Acting to forestall a Congressional move to suspend enforcement of "29 C.F.R. Part 1926 Subpart M," the fall-safety rule that took effect in February, 1995, OSHA officials negotiated with representatives of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) to produce a directive easing paperwork burdens, expanding the scope of "alternative systems," modifying the requirements for residential roofing work, and promising to reopen the rule for further modifications starting early this year. NAHB welcomed the new document, saying it would make the fall safety standard more workable without sacrificing worker safety. Contractors can get a copy of the directive
