<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".21" citation="COMAR 09.12.20.21" title_num="09" subtitle_num="12" chapter_num="20" heading="Abatement Verification.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>In this regulation, the following terms have the meanings indicated:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>“Abatement” means action by an employer to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Comply with a cited standard or regulation; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Eliminate a recognized hazard identified by MOSH during an inspection.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>“Abatement date” means:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>For an uncontested citation item, the later of the date:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>In the citation for abatement of the violation,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Approved by MOSH or established in litigation as a result of a petition for modification of the abatement date (PMA), or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Established in a citation by an informal settlement agreement; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>For a contested citation item for which the Commissioner has issued a final order affirming the violation, the later of the date:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Identified in the final order for abatement,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Computed by adding the period allowed in the citation for abatement to the final order date, or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Established by a formal settlement agreement.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>“Affected employees” means those employees who are exposed to a hazard identified as a violation in a citation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>“Final order date” means:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>For an uncontested citation item, the 15th working day after the employer's receipt of the citation; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>For a contested citation item:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The 15th day after the date on which a proposed order of a hearing examiner has been docketed with the Commissioner, unless the Commissioner has directed review or an employee, or representative of an employee or employer whom the proposed order affects has requested review,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>When review has been directed or requested, the 15th day after the date on which the Commissioner issues the final order disposing of all or a pertinent part of a case, or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>The date on which a circuit court issues a decision affirming the violation in a case in which a final order of the Commissioner has been stayed.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>“Moveable equipment” means a hand-held or non-hand-held machine or device, powered or unpowered, that is used to do work and is moved within or between worksites.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Abatement Certification.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Except as provided in §B(2) of this regulation, within 10 calendar days after the abatement date, the employer shall certify to the Commissioner or the Commissioner's authorized representative that each cited violation has been abated.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The employer is not required to certify abatement if, during the on-site portion of the inspection, the Commissioner or the Commissioner's authorized representative:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Observes, within 24 hours after a violation is identified, that abatement has occurred; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Notes in the citation that abatement has occurred.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>In addition to the information required by §G of this regulation, the employer's certification that abatement is complete for each cited violation shall include:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The date and method of abatement; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A statement that affected employees and their representatives have been informed of the abatement.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Abatement Documentation.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The employer shall submit to the Commissioner or the Commissioner's authorized representative the following:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The information on abatement certification required by §B(3) of this regulation; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The requisite documentation:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Demonstrating that abatement is complete for each willful or repeat violation, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>For a serious violation for which the Commissioner or the Commissioner's authorized representative indicates in the citation that this abatement documentation is required.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Documents demonstrating that abatement is complete may include, but are not limited to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Photographic or video evidence of abatement; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Other written records.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Abatement Plans.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Except for an other-than serious violation, the Commissioner or the Commissioner's authorized representative may require an employer to submit an abatement plan for the cited violation when the time permitted for abatement is more than 90 calendar days.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>When an abatement plan is required:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>It shall be indicated on the citation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The employer shall submit an abatement plan for the cited violation within 25 calendar days from the final order date; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The abatement plan shall identify the violation and the steps to be taken to achieve abatement, including:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>A schedule for completing abatement, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>When necessary, how employees will be protected from exposure to the violative condition in the interim until abatement is complete.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Progress Reports.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An employer who is required to submit an abatement plan may also be required to submit periodic progress reports for the cited violation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The citation shall indicate:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>If a periodic progress report is required and the citation item for which it is required;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The date on which an initial progress report shall be submitted, which shall be at least 30 calendar days after submission of an abatement plan;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Whether additional periodic progress reports are required; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The dates on which additional progress reports shall be submitted.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>For a violation, the periodic progress report shall identify, in a single sentence if possible, the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Action taken to achieve abatement; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Date action was taken.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Employee Notification.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The employer shall inform affected employees and their representatives about abatement activities covered by this regulation by posting, near the place where the violation occurred, a copy or summary of the document submitted to the Commissioner or the Commissioner's authorized representative.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If this posting does not effectively inform employees and their representatives about abatement activities, the employer shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Post the document or a summary of the document in a location where it will be readily observable by affected employees and their representatives; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Take other steps to communicate fully to affected employees and their representatives about abatement activities.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The employer shall inform employees and their representatives of their right to examine and copy all abatement documents submitted to the Commissioner or the Commissioner's authorized representative.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>An employee or an employee representative shall submit a request to examine and copy abatement documents within 3 working days of receiving notice that the documents have been submitted.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>The employer shall comply with an employee's or employee representative's request to examine and copy abatement documents within 5 working days of receiving the request.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>The employer shall ensure that notice to employees and employee representatives is provided at the same time or before the information is provided to the Commissioner or the Commissioner's authorized representative and that abatement documents are:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Not altered, defaced, or covered by other material; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Remain posted for 3 working days after submission to the Commissioner or the Commissioner's authorized representative.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Transmitting Abatement Documents.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The employer shall include, in the submission of required abatement documents, the following:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The employer's name and address;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The inspection number to which the submission relates;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The citation and item numbers to which the submission relates;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>A statement that the information submitted is accurate; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>The signature of the employer or the employer's authorized representative.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Date of Submission. The date of submission for:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Mailed documents is the date of postmark; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Documents transmitted by means other than by mail is the date the Commissioner receives the document.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>Moveable Equipment.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>For serious, repeat, and willful violations involving movable equipment, the employer shall attach a warning tag or a copy of the citation to the operating controls or to the cited component of equipment that is moved within the worksite or between worksites.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The employer shall use a warning tag that properly warns employees about the nature of the violation involving the equipment and identifies the location of the citation issued.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>If the violation has not already been abated, the warning tag or copy of the citation shall be attached to the equipment:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>For hand-held equipment, immediately after the employer receives the citation; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>For non-hand-held equipment, before moving the equipment within or between worksites.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>For the construction industry, a tag that is designed and used in accordance with 29 CFR §§1926.20(b)(3) and 1926.200(h), is deemed to meet the requirements of this section when the information required by §H(2) of this regulation is included on the tag.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>The employer shall ensure that the tag or copy of the citation attached to movable equipment:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Is not altered, defaced, rendered illegible, or covered by other opaque material;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Is made of materials which will withstand the environmental conditions encountered in the workplace; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Remains attached until the:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Violation has been abated and all abatement certification documents required by this regulation have been submitted to the Commissioner or the Commissioner's authorized representative,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Cited equipment has been permanently removed from service or is no longer within the employer's control, or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Commissioner issues a final order vacating the citation.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>