Indiana Administrative Code Title 620 - OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY STANDARDS COMMISSION
Here’s a refined overview of Indiana Administrative Code Title 620 – Occupational Safety Standards Commission:
📌 Overview
Title 620 IAC establishes the Indiana Occupational Safety Standards Commission (IOSSC) under the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Act (IC 22‑8‑1.1‑7). The Commission’s responsibilities include:
Promulgating, modifying, and revoking occupational safety and health standards in Indiana
Hearing and deciding applications for temporary and permanent variances from state safety standards
(in.gov)
🧱 Structure: Article 1 – Health and Safety Standards (620 IAC 1‑1 to 1‑3)
• Rule 1 (620 IAC 1‑1) – Jurisdiction & Procedures
Defines the Commission's authority and rule-making processes
Establishes hearing protocols and pathways for settlement
Includes provisions for adoption by reference of federal standards (e.g., Flammable Liquids, Lead exposure) (law.cornell.edu)
• Rule 2 (620 IAC 1‑2) – Rules of Practice
This Rule has been repealed, so no longer in force
• Rule 3 (620 IAC 1‑3) – Variances
Sets procedures for requesting temporary and permanent variances from state standards
Defines critical terms (e.g., “affected employee,” “Commission,” “secretary”) in Sec. 1‑3‑2 (law.cornell.edu)
620 IAC 1‑3‑4: The Commission “shall grant a permanent variance…when an employer…establishes that [its alternate method] will be as safe and healthful to employees as…standard” (regulations.justia.com)
🌐 Adoption of Federal Standards
620 IAC 1‑1‑6 incorporates by reference several federal OSHA standards (e.g., Subpart T, Parts 1915–1918, 1926, 1928) during rule adoption in 1977; these have been readopted in subsequent years (law.cornell.edu)
620 IAC 1‑1‑23 further integrates updates to key 29 CFR standards covering flammables and lead exposure (law.cornell.edu)
⚙️ Commission Operations
As overseen by the Indiana Department of Labor, the IOSSC:
Meets publicly (agendas available via DOL website)
Grants variances (temporary or permanent) for workplace safety standards under IC 22‑8‑1.1‑19.1 and 20.1 (in.gov)
Updates or promulgates standards via bulletins (e.g., Hazard Communication, injury reporting)
✅ Summary Table
Component
Description
Scope
Statewide occupational safety and health
Standards
Based on federal OSHA via reference
Variances
Procedures for non‑standard compliance
Rules of Practice
Repealed (Rule 1‑2)
Commission Structure
Governor–appointed; operates under DOL
Recent Activity
Bulletins in 2020–2024 (e.g., Hazard Communication, COVID-19) (inrules.elaws.us, psc.state.fl.us, regulations.justia.com, in.gov)
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