[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 13, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 10384]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-5974]



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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

action: Notice.

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summary: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to 
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. 
Currently the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the 
information collection request for the Hazard Communication Standard 29 
CFR 1910.1200; 1915; 1917; 1918; 1926; 1928. A copy of the proposed 
information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the 
employee listed below in the addressee section of this notice.

dates: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before May 13, 1996. The Department of 
Labor is particularly interested in comments which:
     evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used;
     enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
     minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.

addresses: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket 
No. ICR-96-2, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution 
Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20210, telephone (202) 219-7894. Written 
comments limited to 10 pages or less in length may also be transmitted 
by facsimile to (202) 219-5046.

for further information contact: Anne C. Cyr, Office of Information and 
Consumer Affairs, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor, Room N-3647, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, 
Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 219-8148. Copies of the 
referenced information collection request are available for inspection 
and copying in the Docket Office and will be mailed immediately to 
persons who request copies by telephoning Vivian Allen at (202) 219-
8076. For electronic copies of the Hazard Communication Information 
Collection Request, contact the Labor News Bulletin Board (202) 219-
4784; or OSHA's WebPage on Internet at http://www.osha.gov/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Hazard Communication Standard and its information collection 
requirements are designed to ensure that the hazards of all chemicals 
produced or imported are evaluated and that information concerning 
their hazards is transmitted to employees and downstream employers. The 
standard requires chemical manufacturers and importers to evaluate 
chemicals they produce or import to determine if they are hazardous; 
for those chemicals determined to be hazardous, material safety data 
sheets and warning labels must be developed. Employers are required to 
establish hazard communication programs, to transmit information on the 
hazards of chemicals to their employees by means of labels on 
containers, material safety data sheets and training programs. 
Implementation of these collection of information requirements will 
ensure all employees have the ``right-to-know'' the hazards and 
identities of the chemicals they work with and will reduce the 
incidence of chemically-related occupational illnesses and injuries.

II. Current Actions

    This notice requests an extension of the current OMB approval of 
the paperwork requirements in the Hazard Communication Standard. 
Extension is necessary to ensure that employees continue to receive 
information about hazards and chemicals they are exposed to when 
working, as well as what protective measures are available to prevent 
adverse effects from occurring. At OSHA's request, the National 
Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH) has 
convened a work group to consider issues related to improving hazard 
communication and workers right-to-know. This group of experts has been 
asked to consider several specific issues including the paperwork 
burden. The work group has received input from a number of 
representatives of employers and employees during its deliberation. 
OSHA will use the recommendations of NACOSH in its consideration of the 
paperwork burden.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Hazard Communication.
    OMB Number: 1218-0072.
    Agency Number: Docket Number ICR-96-2.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Federal government 
and State, Local or Tribal governments.
    Total Respondents: 5,041,918.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Responses: 74,579,540.
    Average Time per Response: Time per response ranges from 12 seconds 
to affix labels to containers containing hazardous chemicals to 5 hours 
to develop a hazard communications program.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 13,201,863.
    Estimated Capital, Operation/Maintenance Burden Cost: $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: March 7, 1996.
Adam M. Finkel,
Director, Directorate of Health Standards Programs.
[FR Doc. 96-5974 Filed 3-12-96; 8:45 am]
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