[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 142 (Tuesday, July 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38226-38227]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18626]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

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) [44 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 OSHA Data Collection Initiative. 
A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting the office 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 September 23, 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-96-6, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution 
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 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 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 reference 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 OSHA Data 
Collection Initiative 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

    Description: To meet many of OSHA's program needs, OSHA is 
proposing to continue their data initiative to collect occupational 
injury and illness data and information on number of workers employed 
and number of hours worked from establishments in portions of the 
private sector. OSHA will collect data from 80,000 employers with 50 or 
more employees in selected high hazard industries, selected employers 
who have had OSHA interventions in 1994, 1995 or 1996, and employers 
who are to be involved in the agency Cooperative Compliance Program 
(CCP). These data will allow OSHA to calculate occupational injury and 
illness rates and to focus its efforts on individual workplaces with 
ongoing serious safety and health problems. Successful implementation 
of the data collection initiative is critical to OSHA's reinvention 
efforts and the data requirements tied to the Government Performance 
and Results Act (GPRA).

II. Current Actions

    This notice requests an extension of the current OMB approval of 
the paperwork requirements for the OSHA Data Collection Initiative. 
Extension is necessary to endure that the Agency continues to obtain 
establishment data necessary to carry on with the development and 
expansion of the New OSHA. This will allow the Agency to deal with a 
larger number of employers without massive increases in resources, will 
reduce intrusive interventions in workplaces that are relatively safe, 
and will lead to improved workplace safety and health for America's 
workers. In addition, OSHA will be able to proceed with its GPRA 
requirements to monitor the results of agency activities, quantify and 
evaluate the successes and failure of its various programs based on 
program results, identify the most efficient and effective program mix, 
and promote the

[[Page 38227]]

development of programs and policies based on outcome data.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: OSHA Data Collection Initiative.
    OMB Number: 1218-0209.
    Agency Number: Docket Number ICR-96-6.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Cite/Reference/Form/etc: OSHA Form 196A and OSHA Form 196B.
    Total Respondents: 80,000.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Total Responses: 80,000.
    Average Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 35,000 hours.

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                                                                                        Average time            
         Cite/reference                Total           Frequency          Total         per response     Burden 
                                    respondents                         responses        (minutes)      (hours) 
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OSHA Form 196A..................           10,000  Annually........           10,000               30        (*)
OSHA Form 196B..................           70,000  Annually........           70,000               30     35,000
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    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup/operating/maintenance): $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this comment request 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: July 10, 1996.
Stephen A. Newell,
Director, Office of Statistics.
[FR Doc. 96-18626 Filed 7-22-96; 8:45 am]
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