[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 133 (Friday, July 11, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37297-37298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18280]


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

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of Labor Statistics


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
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 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments 
concerning the proposed revision of the Survey of Occupational Injuries 
and Illnesses.
    A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting the individual 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 9, 1997. The Bureau of 
Labor Statistics 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: Send comments to Karin G. Kurz, BLS Clearance Officer, 
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 3255, 
2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20212. Ms. Kurz can be 
reached on 202-606-7628 (this is not a toll free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Section 24(a) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 
requires the Secretary of Labor to develop and maintain an effective 
program of collection, compilation, and analysis of statistics on 
occupational injuries and illnesses. The Commissioner of Labor 
Statistics has been delegated the responsibility for ``Furthering the 
purpose of the Occupational Safety and Health Act by developing and 
maintaining an effective program of collection, compilation, analysis 
and

[[Page 37298]]

publication of occupational safety and health statistics.'' The Bureau 
of Labor Statistics (BLS) fulfills this responsibility, in part, by 
conducting the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses in 
conjunction with participating State statistical agencies. The BLS 
Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses provides the nation's 
primary indicator of the progress towards achieving the goal of safer 
and healthier workplaces. The survey produces the overall rate of 
occurrence of work injuries and illnesses by industry which can be 
compared to prior years to produce measures of the rate of change. 
These data are used to improve safety and health programs and measure 
the change in work-related injuries and illnesses.

II. Current Actions

    OMB clearance is being sought for the upcoming Survey of 
Occupational Injuries and Illnesses which will include a reduction in 
the sample. Approximately 230,000 establishments will be surveyed 
annually. The clearance will include survey prenotification materials 
for employers who are normally exempt from recording injuries and 
illnesses.
    Type of Review: Revision of currently approved collection.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.
    OMB Number: 1220-0045.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, not-for-profit 
institutions; farms; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Frequency: Annually.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Estimated time     Estimated  
               Form                   Total respondents       Total responses      per response    total burden 
                                                                                      (hour)           hours    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BLS 9300..........................  230,000                230,000                           .83         190,625
Prenotification Package...........  150,000 out of         150,000 out of                    .11          16,666
                                     230,000                230,000                                             
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals........................  230,000                230,000                           .90         207,291
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $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 also will become a 
matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, D.C., this 7th day of July, 1997.
Rebecca S. Kraus,
Acting Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor 
Statistics.
[FR Doc. 97-18280 Filed 7-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-M