[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 180 (Friday, September 17, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50544-50545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24266]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. ICR-99-18]


Inspection Certification Records for Slings; Extension of the 
Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Approval of an Information 
Collection (Paperwork) Requirement

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); Labor.

ACTION: Notice of an opportunity for public comment.

SUMMARY: OSHA solicits comments concerning the proposed increase, and 
extension of, the information collection requirements (inspection and 
certification records) contained in the standard on Slings, 29 CFR 
1910.184(e)(3)(i), (e)(4), (f)(4)(ii), (g)(1), (g)(8)(ii), and 
(i)(8)(ii).

Request for Comment

    The Agency seeks comments on the following issues:
     Whether the information collection requirements are 
necessary for the proper performance of the Agency's functions, 
including whether the information is useful;
     The accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden (time 
and costs) of the information collection requirements, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used.
     The quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
collected; and
     Ways to minimize the burden on employers who must comply; 
for example, by using automated electronic, mechanical, and other 
technological information and transmission collection techniques.
DATES: Submit written comments on or before November 16, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the Docket Office, Docket No. 
ICR-99-18, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-2350. Commenters may 
transmit written comments of 10 pages or less in length by facsimile to 
(202) 693-1648.

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) 693-2222. A copy of the Agency's 
Information Collection Request (ICR) supporting the need for the 
information collection requirements (inspection certification records) 
contained in the standard on Slings (29 CFR 1910.184) is available for 
inspection and copying in the Docket Office, or mailed on request by 
telephoning Theda Kenney at (202) 693-2222 or Barbara Bielaski at (202) 
693-2444. For electronic copies of the ICR, contact OSHA on the 
Internet at http://www.osha.gov/comp-links.html, and click on 
``Information Collection Requests.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    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

[[Page 50545]]

agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing 
information collection requirements in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA-95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program 
ensures that information is in the desired format, reporting burden 
(time and costs) is minimal, collection instruments are clearly 
understood, and OSHA's estimate of the information collection burden is 
correct.
    The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the Act) authorizes 
information collection by employers as necessary or appropriate for 
enforcement of the Act or for developing information regarding the 
causes and prevention of occupational injuries, illnesses, and 
accidents. (29 U.S.C. 657.) The information collection requirements 
(the inspection and certification records) in the standard on Slings 
(29 CFR 1910.184) require employers to: Generate and maintain records 
regarding the inspection of alloy steel chain slings, obtain and retain 
certificates showing that the equipment manufacturer (or equivalent 
entity) proof tested new, repaired, or reconditioned alloy steel chain 
slings, wire rope slings that have welded end attachments, and repaired 
synthetic web slings. These requirements also specify that employers 
affix a durable marking to metal mesh slings stating the rated capacity 
for the vertical basket hitch and choker hitch loadings, repaired metal 
mesh slings must indicate the date and type of repair, as well as the 
person or organization performing the repair, using permanent marking 
or tagging, or by maintaining a written record.

II. Proposed Actions

    OSHA proposes to increase its earlier estimate of 1,071 burden 
hours to 21,435 burden hours for the provisions requiring inspection 
and certification records in the standard on Slings (29 CFR 1910.184).
    OSHA will summarize the comments submitted in response to this 
notice, and will include this summary in the request to OMB to extend 
the approval of the information collection requirements contained in 
the above standard.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved information 
collection requirement.
    Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Inspection and Certification Records for Slings (29 CFR 
1910.184).
    OMB Number: 1218-0223.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; not-for-profit 
institutions; Federal government; state, local or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 155,675.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Average Time per Response: Varies from three minutes (0.05 hour) to 
15 minutes (0.25 hour).
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 21,435.

III. Authority and Signature

    Charles N. Jeffress, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational 
Safety and Health, directed the preparation of this notice. The 
authority for this notice is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3506), Secretary of Labor's Order No. 6-96 (62 FR 111).

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 13th day of September 1999.
Charles N. Jeffress,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 99-24266 Filed 9-16-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-M