[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 112 (Wednesday, June 11, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31848-31849]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-15262]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration


OSHA Data Collection System

[Docket ICR 97-17]
AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice; proposed collection request; submitted for public 
comment and recommendations.

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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 (OSHA) is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the 
information collection request for the OSHA Data Collection System. 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 August 11, 1997. 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 97-17, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20210, (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:
Dr. Joseph DuBois, Office of Statistics, Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3647, 200 Constitution 
Ave., NW., Washington DC 20210, (202) 219-6463. 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 Barbara Bielaski at (202) 219-7177. For 
electronic copies of the information collection request on the OSHA 
Data Collection System, contact the Labor News Bulletin Board (202) 
219-4784; or OSHA's WebPage on Internet at http://www.osha.gov/ (click 
on Standards).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    To meet many of OSHA's program needs, OSHA is proposing to continue 
its data system 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 required in 1997 to create and 
maintain records pursuant to CFR Part 1904. 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 system is 
critical to OSHA's reinvention efforts. The data collected 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. The data collection 
system is also critical to the Agency's Government Performance and 
Results Act (GPRA) requirements. The data will enable OSHA 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 
development of programs and policies based on outcome data.

Current Action

    This notice requests OMB approval of the paperwork requirements for 
the OSHA Data Collection System.
    Type of Review: Extension of existing approval.
    Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor.
    Title OSHA Data Collection System.
    OMB Number: 1218-0209.
    Agency Number: ICR-97-17.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit and State, Local or 
Tribal Government.

[[Page 31849]]

    Form: OSHA Form 196A and OSHA Form 196B.
    Number of Respondents: 80,000.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 30 minutes
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 35,000 hours

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                                  Total                          Total       Average time                       
        Cite/reference         respondents      Frequency      responses     per response          Burden       
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OSHA Form 196A...............       10,000  Annually........       10,000  30 minutes.....  (*)                 
OSHA Form 196B...............       70,000  Annually........       70,000  30 minutes.....  35,000 hours.       
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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 be 
also become a matter of public record.

    Signed this 3 day of June 1997.
Stephen A. Newell,
Director, Office of Statistics.
[FR Doc. 97-15262 Filed 6-11-97; 8:45 am]
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