[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 96 (Tuesday, May 19, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27595-27596]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13255]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. ICR-98-24]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Fire Brigades (Organizational Statement) (29 CFR 
1910.156)

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 (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 the information 
collection requirements contained in the standard on Fire Brigades (29 
CFR 1910.156). The Agency 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;

[[Page 27596]]

     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 comments must be submitted on or before July 20, 1998.

ADDRESSEE: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket 
No. ICR-98-24, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 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:
Theda Kenney, Directorate of Safety Standards Programs, Occupational 
Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-
3605, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210, telephone: 
(202) 219-8061. A copy of the referenced information collection request 
is available for inspection and copying in the Docket Office and will 
be mailed to persons who request copies by telephoning Theda Kenney at 
(202) 219-8061, extension 100, or Barbara Bielaski at (202) 219-8076, 
extension 142. For electronic copies of the Information Collection 
Request on Fire Brigades (29 CFR 1910.156), contact OSHA's WebPage on 
the Internet at http://www.osha.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the Act) authorizes 
the promulgation of such health and safety standards as are necessary 
or appropriate to provide safe or healthful employment and places of 
employment. The statute specifically authorizes information collection 
by employers as necessary or appropriate for the enforcement of the Act 
or for developing information regarding the causes and prevention of 
occupational injuries, illnesses, and accidents.
    Fighting fires as a member of a fire brigade presents a significant 
risk of harm to an employee. In fact, fire fighting continues to be one 
of the Nation's most hazardous occupations. To mitigate the risks of 
employees fighting fires, OSHA developed a standard for fire brigades 
in 1980. The Fire Brigade standard does not require the employer to 
organize a fire brigade. However, if the employer does decide to 
organize a fire brigade, the provisions of the standard must be met.
    There are various types of fire brigades. Some fire brigades merely 
monitor and assist in evacuation, others perform incipient fire 
fighting, while others perform Interior structural fire fighting. The 
tasks, responsibility, training, and personal protective equipment 
needs differ according to the type of fire brigade organized at the 
workplace. Therefore, 29 CFR 1910.156, requires employers who have fire 
brigades to develop and maintain an organizational statement which 
defines the type of fire brigade being organized and describes the 
functions that the employer expects the fire brigade to perform.

II. Current Actions

    This notice requests Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval 
of the information collection requirements contained in the Fire 
Brigade standard.
    Type of Review: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection.
    Agency: U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration.
    Title: Fire Brigades (Organizational Statement) (29 CFR 1910.156).
    OMB Number: 1218-0075.
    Agency Number: Docket Number ICR-98-24.
    Affected Public: State or local governments; Business or other for-
profit.
    Number of Respondents: 1,670.
    Frequency: Initially, On Occasion.
    Average Time per Response: 5 minutes (0.8 hr.).
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 172.
    Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: $0.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 12th day of May 1998.
Charles N. Jeffress,
Assistant Secretary, Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-13255 Filed 5-18-98; 8:45 am]
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