[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 135 (Tuesday, July 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37935-37936]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18549]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket Number ICR-97-9]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Formaldehyde Standard
AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),
Department of Labor.
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 resource) 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 proposing extension of the information collection
request for the Formaldehyde Standard 29 CFR 1910.1048. 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.
DATES: Written comment must be submitted by September 15, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket
No. ICR-97-9, 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 fewer may also be transmitted by
facsimile to (202) 219-5046.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Todd Owen, Directorate of Health
Standard Programs, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Labor, Room N-3647, 200 Constitution Ave., NW,
Washington, D.C. 20210. Telephone: (202) 219-7075. Copies of the
referenced information collection request are available for inspection
and copying in the Docket Office and will be mailed to persons who
request copies by telephoning Todd Owen at (202) 219-7075 or Barbara
Bielaski at (202) 219-8076. For electronic copies of the Information
Collection Request on formaldehyde contact OSHA's Webpage on Internet
at http://www.osha.gov/ and click on standards.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Formaldehyde Standard and its information collection is
designed to provide protection for employees from the adverse health
effects associated with occupational exposure to formaldehyde.
The Standard requires employers to monitor employee exposure to
formaldehyde and provide notification to employees of their exposure to
formaldehyde. Employers are required to make available medical exams to
employees who are or may be exposed to formaldehyde at or above the
action level (0.5 parts per million calculated as an eight hour time-
weighted average), or exceeding the short term exposure limit (two
parts formaldehyde per million parts of air). Exposure monitoring and
medical records are to be retained for prescribed amounts of time, and
under certain circumstances such records may be transferred to the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Employers are
also required to communicate the hazards associated with exposure to
formaldehyde through signed, labels, material safety data sheets, and
training.
II. Current Actions
This action requests an extension of the current Office of
Management and Budget approval of the paperwork requirements in the
Formaldehyde Standard. Extension is necessary to continue protection to
employees from
[[Page 37936]]
the health effects associated with occupational exposure to
formaldehyde.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Title: Formaldehyde Standard 29 CFR 1910.1048.
OMB Number: 1218-0145.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Federal government
and State, Local or Tribal governments.
Total Respondents: 112,066.
Frequency: On occasion.
Total Responses: 1,487,946.
Average Time per Response: Time per response ranges from 5 minutes
to maintain records to 1 hour for medical exams.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 521,110.
Total Annualized capital/startup costs: 0.
Total initial annual costs: (operating/maintaining systems or
purchasing services): $54,209,103.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget
approval of the information collection request. The comments will
become a matter of public record.
Dated: July 8, 1997.
Adam M. Finkel,
Director, Directorate of Health Standards Programs.
[FR Doc. 97-18549 Filed 7-14-97; 8:45 am]
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