(a) In accordance with Sec. 1952.91(a) legislative amendments were introduced into the 1973 South Carolina General Assembly and were enacted effective June 12, 1973. The amendments have been supplemented by State commitments to:
(1) Take action on all employee discrimination complaints within 90 days, and
(2) Limit the duration of temporary variances to a maximum of two years, inclusive of any renewals.
(b) In accordance with Sec. 1952.91(b) the South Carolina occupational safety and health standards, identical to Federal standards (through December 3, 1974), have been promulgated and were approved by the Assistant Regional Director for Occupational Safety and Health effective April 10, 1975 (40 FR 16257).
(c) In accordance with Sec. 1952.91(d) a voluntary compliance program, to be known as the Taxpayers' Assistant Program, has been developed.
(d) In accordance with Sec. 1952.91(f) coverage of agricultural workers began on July 1, 1973, and was initiated directly by the South Carolina Department of Labor. (The State plan has been amended to delete the proposal to delegate such responsibility to the State Department of Agriculture.)
(e) In accordance with Sec. 1952.91(g) the State plan has been amended to show extensions of merit system coverage to the South Carolina Department of Labor, Division of Occupational Safety and Health. Agreement with the Department of Health and Environmental Control requires that all health personnel cooperating in the State occupational safety and health program be likewise covered by the State merit system.
(f) In accordance with the requirements of Sec. 1952.10 the South Carolina Safety and Health Poster for private and public employees was approved by the Assistant Secretary on February 19, 1976.
(g) In accordance with Sec. 1952.91(c) development of a management information system designed to provide the data required by the Assistant Secretary and information necessary for internal management of resources and evaluation of State program performance has been completed.
(h) The State plan has been amended to include the details of a public employee program. State and local government employees will be afforded protection identical to that of employees in the private sector.
(i) The South Carolina plan has been amended to include an expanded radiation health effort. The Division of Radiological Health, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, under contract to the South Carolina Department of Labor will make inspections to provide coverage of radiation hazards not subject to regulation under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954.
(j) In accordance with plan commitments, South Carolina regulations for enforcement of standards and review of contested cases, Article IV, were revised and repromulgated on June 5, 1975. Further amendment to section 4.00K (September 26, 1975) and a January 15, 1976, letter of supplemental assurances from Commissioner Edgar L. McGowan are considered integral parts of the approved South Carolina review procedures. On March 11, 1976, the State of South Carolina promulgated the necessary changes to Article IV to fulfill the commitments contained in their January 15, 1976, letter of supplemental assurances.
(k) The State plan has been amended to include an Affirmative Action Plan in which the State outlines its policy of equal employment opportunity.
(l) In accordance with Sec. 1952.91(h) the State has developed and amended a Compliance Manual which defines the procedures and guidelines to be used by the South Carolina compliance and consultation staff in carrying out the goals of the program.
(m) In accordance with Sec. 1902.34 of this chapter, the South Carolina occupational safety and health plan was certified, effective August 3, 1976, as having completed all developmental steps specified in the plan as approved on November 30, 1972, on or before December 31, 1975.