Washington – OSHA has withdrawn (.pdf file) a direct final rule on a change to its Cranes and Derricks in Construction Standard, opting instead to pursue a notice of proposed rulemaking.

The rule change would broaden the exemption for digger-derrick operations in the standard. Because of a “significantly adverse” comment the agency received, OSHA announced Feb. 7 it would withdraw the final rule in favor of the NPRM, both of which were published Nov. 9.