[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 156 (Thursday, August 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43423-43424]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21784]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. ICR-98-34]


Presence Sensing Device Initiation (PSDI) (29 CFR 1910.217(h); 
Information Collection Requirements

ACTION: Notice; Opportunity for Public Comment.

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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 Presence Sensing 
Device Initiation (29 CFR 1910.217(h)). 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 use;
     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 October 13, 
1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket 
No. ICR-98-34, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., 
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, N.W., 
Washington, D.C. 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 Presence 
Sensing Device Initiation (29 CFR 1910.217(h)), contact OSHA's WebPage 
on the Internet at http://www.osha.gov and click on ``Regulations and 
Compliance.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Background

    The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the Act) authorizes 
the promulgation of such health and safety stndards 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.
    The collections of information contained in PSDI are considered 
essential for ensuring the safety of employees using presence sensing 
devices. The requirement for affixing test rod instructions label to 
the presence sensing device--1910.217(h)(10)(i)--enhances the proper 
and essential device testing. Because operator safety depends on the 
PSDI safety system, conforming with the equipment testing and checking 
requirements is absolutely essential for worker safety.
    The requirements for certification/validation--1910.217(h)(11)(i) 
through (vi), (13), and Appendices A and C--ensure that the design, 
installation, and ongoing maintenance of the safety system is 
objectively evaluated for conformance with all applicable requirements 
of the section. The section further requires notification of unplanned 
incidents such as component failures and accidents which could impair 
the continuing safety of the system. For employees, employers, OSHA 
compliance and consultation personnel, insurance authorities, and 
others involved to be able to recognize easily that the system meets 
OSHA standards, the press must be labeled to affirm validation/
certification. Submitting copies of accident reports to the validation 
organization is necessary to assure that the validation organization 
will have knowledge of field experience in this mode of press operation 
and will be able to incorporate any lessons learned from the accidents 
into the certification/validation program provisions.
    Because this rule permits a mode of operation which previously was 
prohibited, OSHA believes it is especially essential to verify that 
this method does not compromise worker safety. The certification/
validation program provides a method to ensure that the press and 
related equipment are properly arranged and that the installation does 
not become degraded over time. It should be noted that although OSHA 
uses the term ``certification'' for this process, it should not be 
confused with the use of the word as addressed in the OMB implementing 
regulations for the Paperwork Reduction Act, to reflect a minimal 
information collection method. The word ``certification'' in this 
rulemaking is based on the American National Standard ANSI Z3l.1. 1-
1987, and is nationally recognized as describing a broad, 
comprehensive, well-defined program for ensuring product or material 
conformance with established standards.

II. Current Actions

    This notice requests public comment on OSHA's burden hour estimates 
before OSHA seeks Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the 
information collection requirements contained in the Presence Sensing 
Device Initiation (PSDI) standard.
    OSHA has calculated the burden for this collection of information 
at 30,615 burden hours. OSHA believes this amount may be even lower 
because many employers do not use PSDI. In

[[Page 43424]]

fact, many employers have not incurred any paperwork burden to comply 
with the standard because they have not elected to use PSDI features on 
their power presses. OSHA is requesting the appropriate approval from 
OMB in the event an employer may wish to use a PSDI, which will trigger 
the collection of information requirements.
    Type of Review: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection.
    Agency: U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration.
    Title: Presence Sensing Device Initiation (29 CFR 1910.217(h)).
    OMB Number: 1218-0143.
    Agency Number: Docket Number ICR-98-34.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Not for profit 
institutions; Federal Government; State, local or tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 2,238.
    Frequency: Varies (Initially, Yearly, On Occasion).
    Average Time per Response: Varies from two minutes (.02 hr.) to 4 
hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 30,615.
    Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
approval of the information collection request. The comments will 
become a matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 5th day of August 1998.
[FR Doc. 98-21784 Filed 8-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-M