[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 18 (Tuesday, January 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4081-4082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2047]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Mechanical Power Press Injury Report (OMB 
No. 1218-0070).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 (PRA 95) (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 impact of collection 
requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed extension of approval for the 
paperwork requirements of 29 CFR 1910.217(g), Reports of injuries to 
employees operating mechanical power presses.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 31, 1997.
     Written comments should:
     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-97-1, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution 
Avenue, 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: Bonnie Friedman, Office of Information 
and Consumer Affairs, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 
U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3647, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, 
Washington, D.C. 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, contact OSHA's WebPage on Internet at 
http://www.osha.gov/.

[[Page 4082]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    This report is specifically concerned with mechanical power 
presses. However, because it provides information about point-of-
operation injuries, the report is of disproportionally significant 
value to OSHA. Point-of-operation injuries are the prime safety concern 
for machine tools in general, not just mechanical power presses. This 
report provides OSHA with an ongoing and current view of the causes of 
point-of-operation injuries, with an extremely low burden on the 
public.
    In addition, OSHA is conducting a national emphasis program aimed 
at reducing the number and severity of power press injuries. It will 
continue to need the information provided in the reports to monitor the 
types of injuries reported and the sorts of equipment and conditions 
associated with these injuries. Existing reports were useful in 
identifying affected industries and equipment, but as industry patterns 
evolve and new technologies arise (or old ones decline), it will be 
useful to have up-to-date information. Regardless of whether this 
information is currently needed for the revision of regulations, it is 
useful in the context of enforcement planning, compliance officer 
training, and possibly, of use in relation to the development of hazard 
alerts about particularly hazardous equipment or operations.
    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) currently 
has approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for certain 
information collection requirements contained in 29 CFR 1910.217(g). 
That approval will expire on March 31, 1997, unless OSHA applies for an 
extension of the OMB approval. This notice initiates the process for 
OSHA to request an extension of the current OMB approval. This notice 
also solicits public comment on OSHA's existing paperwork burden 
estimates from these interested parties and to seek public response to 
several questions related to the development of OSHA's estimation. 
Interested parties are requested to review OSHA's existing estimates, 
which are based upon information available during rulemaking, and to 
comment on their accuracy or appropriateness in today's workplace 
situation.

II. Current Actions

    This notice requests an extension of the current OMB approval of 
the paperwork requirements in 29 CFR 1910.217(g), Reports of injuries 
to employees operating mechanical power presses.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Agency: U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration
    Title: Reports of Injuries to Employees Operating Mechanical Power 
Presses (29 CFR 1910.217(g)).
    OMB Number: 1218-0070.
    Agency Number: Docket No. ICR-97-1.
    Frequency: As needed, upon injuries to employees operating 
mechanical power presses.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit institutions.
    Number of respondents: 191.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 0.3 hours.
    Total Estimated Cost: $1,948.
    Total Burden Hours: 57.3.
    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: January 21, 1997.
Thomas H. Seymour,
Acting Director, Directorate of Safety Standards Programs.
[FR Doc. 97-2047 Filed 1-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-M