[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 226 (Tuesday, November 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64972-64973]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31403]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. ICR-98-35]
Construction Roofing Industry Partnership Pilot Program
AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Notice; information collection requirements; opportunity for
public comment.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and information collection burdens, is conducting a
preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and
Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on both current and
proposed collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program helps to
ensure that reporting burden (time and financial resources) is
minimized, collection materials are clearly understood, impact of
collection requirements on respondents can be accurately assessed, and
requested data can be provided in the desired format. Currently, the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is soliciting
comments concerning the collection of information (paperwork
requirements) associated with the Agency's Construction Roofing
Industry Partnership Pilot Program.
The Agency is particularly interested in comments that:
Evaluate whether the collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of OSHA's responsibilities,
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 the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology (for example, permitting
electronic submissions of responses)
DATES: Written Comments must be submitted on or before January 25,
1999.
ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket
ICR-98-35, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, (202) 219-7894. Written comments
limited to 10 pages or less may be transmitted by facsimile to (202)
219-5046.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Laurence Davey, Directorate of
Construction, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Labor, Room N3621, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20210, (202) 693-2073. Copies of the information
collection requests are available for inspection and copying in the
Docket Office and will be mailed to persons who request copies by
telephoning Mr. Davey at (202) 693-2073 or Barbara Bielaski at (202)
693-1954. For electronic copies of the information collection request,
contact OSHA's Web Page on the Internet at http://www.osha-slc.gov
(click on Information Collection Requests).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
OSHA requires that most construction workers be protected from
falls of 6 feet (1.8 m) or more through the use of various fall
protection systems. The U.S. roofing industry has a relatively high
rate of employee fatalities and injuries, notably involving falls.
About 80 percent of roofing contractors perform only residential work,
which often involves smaller jobs of short duration, making it
difficult for OSHA and state agencies to inspect many of the jobs.
Thus, it is important to foster compliance with the fall protection
standards through outreach efforts, and reward voluntary compliance.
The pilot program began in 1996 in OSHA's Region V as a partnership
with the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), set up for
roofing contractors with exemplary safety and health programs
performing work in Ohio, Illinois, or Wisconsin (the states in that
region under Federal OSHA jurisdiction). This program is an outreach
effort, administered by NRCA, intended to foster protection for
construction workers from hazards such as falls from roofs and burns
from hot asphalt through increased awareness and prevention of hazards.
The program provides incentives for roofing contractors recognized by
the program, and helps them build on their collective experience.
The program has two information collection burdens:
(1) To be accepted in the program, contractors must submit an
application to a program steering committee, which reviews the
submission and evaluates the contractor through an office and jobsite
visit. Participating contractors receive penalty reductions and focused
inspections.
(2) The program's Stakeholder Steering Committee is required to
write an annual report to OSHA evaluating the program.
Action
This notice requests public comment on OSHA's burden hour estimates
prior to OSHA seeking Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of
the information collection requirements involved in the pilot program.
Type of Review: New.
Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Labor.
Title: Construction Roofing Industry Partnership Pilot Program.
Agency Number: Docket No. ICR-98-35.
Frequency: Once for applications process and then annually for
Committee report.
Affected Public: Business or other For-profit.
Number of Respondents: 26 contractor; 2 committee members.
Estimated Time Per Respondent: contractor; 2 committee members.
[[Page 64973]]
Estimated Time Per Respondent: contractors: 24 hours to prepare and
submit applications, including 8 hours for office and job-site visits;
committee members: 8 hours for 2 members.
Total Burden Hours: 404 hours.
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; they will also become a
matter of public record.
Signed this 17th day of November, 1998.
Charles N. Jeffress,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 98-31403 Filed 11-23-98; 8:45 am]
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