---
kind: "section"
citation: "29 U.S.C. § 656"
title: "29"
title_heading: "Labor"
number: "656"
heading: "Administration"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/29/656"
units:
  - "Chapter 15 — Occupational Safety and Health"
---

# §656. Administration

- (a) **National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health; establishment; membership; appointment; Chairman; functions; meetings; compensation; secretarial and clerical personnel—**
  - (1) There is hereby established a National Advisory [Committee](/usc/29/652.md?p=11) on Occupational Safety and Health consisting of twelve members appointed by the [Secretary](/usc/29/652.md?p=1), four of whom are to be designated by the [Secretary](/usc/29/652.md?p=1) of Health and Human Services, without regard to the provisions of [title 5](/usc/5.md) governing appointments in the competitive service, and composed of representatives of management, labor, occupational safety and occupational health professions, and of the public. The [Secretary](/usc/29/652.md?p=1) shall designate one of the public members as Chairman. The members shall be selected upon the basis of their experience and competence in the field of occupational safety and health.
  - (2) The [Committee](/usc/29/652.md?p=11) shall advise, consult with, and make recommendations to the [Secretary](/usc/29/652.md?p=1) and the [Secretary](/usc/29/652.md?p=1) of Health and Human Services on matters relating to the administration of this chapter. The [Committee](/usc/29/652.md?p=11) shall hold no fewer than two meetings during each calendar year. All meetings of the [Committee](/usc/29/652.md?p=11) shall be open to the public and a transcript shall be kept and made available for public inspection.
  - (3) The members of the [Committee](/usc/29/652.md?p=11) shall be compensated in accordance with the provisions of [section 3109 of title 5](/usc/5/3109.md).
  - (4) The [Secretary](/usc/29/652.md?p=1) shall furnish to the [Committee](/usc/29/652.md?p=11) an executive [secretary](/usc/29/652.md?p=1) and such secretarial, clerical, and other services as are deemed necessary to the conduct of its business.
- (b) **Advisory committees; appointment; duties; membership; compensation; reimbursement to member’s employer; meetings; availability of records; conflict of interest—** An advisory [committee](/usc/29/652.md?p=11) may be appointed by the [Secretary](/usc/29/652.md?p=1) to assist him in his standard-setting functions under [section 655 of this title](/usc/29/655.md). Each such [committee](/usc/29/652.md?p=11) shall consist of not more than fifteen members and shall include as a member one or more designees of the [Secretary](/usc/29/652.md?p=1) of Health and Human Services, and shall include among its members an equal number of [persons](/usc/29/652.md?p=4) qualified by experience and affiliation to present the viewpoint of the [employers](/usc/29/652.md?p=5) involved, and of [persons](/usc/29/652.md?p=4) similarly qualified to present the viewpoint of the workers involved, as well as one or more representatives of health and safety agencies of the [States](/usc/29/652.md?p=7). An advisory [committee](/usc/29/652.md?p=11) may also include such other [persons](/usc/29/652.md?p=4) as the [Secretary](/usc/29/652.md?p=1) may appoint who are qualified by knowledge and experience to make a useful contribution to the work of such [committee](/usc/29/652.md?p=11), including one or more representatives of professional organizations of technicians or professionals specializing in occupational safety or health, and one or more representatives of nationally recognized standards-producing organizations, but the number of [persons](/usc/29/652.md?p=4) so appointed to any such advisory [committee](/usc/29/652.md?p=11) shall not exceed the number appointed to such [committee](/usc/29/652.md?p=11) as representatives of Federal and [State](/usc/29/652.md?p=7) agencies. [Persons](/usc/29/652.md?p=4) appointed to advisory [committees](/usc/29/652.md?p=11) from private life shall be compensated in the same manner as consultants or experts under [section 3109 of title 5](/usc/5/3109.md). The [Secretary](/usc/29/652.md?p=1) shall pay to any [State](/usc/29/652.md?p=7) which is the [employer](/usc/29/652.md?p=5) of a member of such a [committee](/usc/29/652.md?p=11) who is a representative of the health or safety agency of that [State](/usc/29/652.md?p=7), reimbursement sufficient to cover the actual cost to the [State](/usc/29/652.md?p=7) resulting from such representative’s membership on such [committee](/usc/29/652.md?p=11). Any meeting of such [committee](/usc/29/652.md?p=11) shall be open to the public and an accurate record shall be kept and made available to the public. No member of such [committee](/usc/29/652.md?p=11) (other than representatives of [employers](/usc/29/652.md?p=5) and [employees](/usc/29/652.md?p=6)) shall have an economic interest in any proposed rule.
- (c) **Use of services, facilities, and personnel of Federal, State, and local agencies; reimbursement; employment of experts and consultants or organizations; renewal of contracts; compensation; travel expenses—** In carrying out his responsibilities under this chapter, the [Secretary](/usc/29/652.md?p=1) is authorized to—
  - (1) use, with the consent of any Federal agency, the services, facilities, and personnel of such agency, with or without reimbursement, and with the consent of any [State](/usc/29/652.md?p=7) or political subdivision thereof, accept and use the services, facilities, and personnel of any agency of such [State](/usc/29/652.md?p=7) or subdivision with reimbursement; and
  - (2) employ experts and consultants or organizations thereof as authorized by [section 3109 of title 5](/usc/5/3109.md), except that contracts for such employment may be renewed annually; compensate individuals so employed at rates not in excess of the rate specified at the time of service for grade GS–18 under [section 5332 of title 5](/usc/5/5332.md), including traveltime, and allow them while away from their homes or regular places of business, travel expenses (including per diem in lieu of subsistence) as authorized by [section 5703 of title 5](/usc/5/5703.md) for [persons](/usc/29/652.md?p=4) in the Government service employed intermittently, while so employed.
- (d) **Maritime Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Committee—** There is established a Maritime Occupational Safety and Health Advisory [Committee](/usc/29/652.md?p=11), which shall be a continuing body and shall provide advice to the [Secretary](/usc/29/652.md?p=1) in formulating maritime industry standards and regarding matters pertaining to the administration of this chapter related to the maritime industry. The composition of such advisory [committee](/usc/29/652.md?p=11) shall be consistent with the advisory [committees](/usc/29/652.md?p=11) established under [subsection (b)](#b). A member of the advisory [committee](/usc/29/652.md?p=11) who is otherwise qualified may continue to serve until a successor is appointed. The [Secretary](/usc/29/652.md?p=1) may promulgate or amend regulations as necessary to implement this subsection.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 91–596, § 7, Dec. 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 1597; Pub. L. 96–88, title V, § 509(b), Oct. 17, 1979, 93 Stat. 695; Pub. L. 116–92, div. C, title XXXV, § 3510, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1977.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (d), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 91–596, Dec. 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 1590. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 651 of this title and Tables.

### Amendments

2019—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 116–92 added subsec. (d).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” in subsecs. (a)(1), (2) and (b) pursuant to section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88 which is classified to section 3508(b) of Title 20, Education.

### Termination of Advisory Committees

Advisory committees in existence on January 5, 1973, to terminate not later than the expiration of the 2-year period following January 5, 1973, unless, in the case of a committee established by the President or an officer of the Federal Government, such committee is renewed by appropriate action prior to the expiration of such 2-year period, or in the case of a committee established by the Congress, its duration is otherwise provided by law. See section 1013 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

### References in Other Laws to GS–16, 17, or 18 Pay Rates

References in laws to the rates of pay for GS–16, 17, or 18, or to maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I, § 101(c)(1)] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out in a note under section 5376 of Title 5.