[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 29, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29177-29178]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-13382]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. ICR-1218-0239 (2001)]


Voluntary Protection Program Application Information; Extension 
of the Office of Management of Budget's (OMB) Approval of Information-
Collection (Paperwork) Requirements

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

ACTION: Notice of an opportunity public comment.

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SUMMARY: OSHA solicits public comment concerning its request for an 
extension of the information-collection requirements of the Voluntary 
Protection Program.

REQUEST FOR COMMENT: The Agency has a particular interest in comments 
on the following issues:
     Whether the proposed 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 or other technological information-
collection and -transmission techniques.

DATES: Submit written comments on or before July 30, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the Docket Office, Docket No. 
ICR-1218-0239 (2001), OSHA, 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: Cathy Oliver, Division of Voluntary 
Programs, Office of Cooperative Programs, Directorate of Federal-State 
Operations, OSHA, Room N-3700, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20210, telephone: (202) 693-2213. A copy of the Agency's 
Information-Collection Request (ICR) supporting the need for the 
information-collection requirements for the Voluntary Protection 
Program is available for inspection and copying in the Docket Office, 
or you may request a mailed copy by telephoning Rogelio Carrasco at 
(202) 693-2213. For electronic copies of this ICR, contact OSHA on the 
Internet at http://www.osha.gov and select ``Information Collection 
Requests.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:   

I. Background

    The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effect 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 continuing information-
collections 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 information burden is correct. The Occupational Safety and 
Health Act of 1970 (the ``Act'') authorizes the establishment and 
supervision of programs for the education and training of employers and 
employees in the recognition, avoidance, and prevention of unsafe and 
unhealthful working conditions in employment covered by the Act.
    The Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) (47 FR 29025), adopted by 
OSHA established the efficacy of cooperative action among government, 
industry, and labor to address worker safety and health issues and to 
expand worker protection. To quality, employers must meet OSHA's 
rigorous safety and health management criteria, which focus on 
comprehensive management systems and active employee involvement to 
prevent or control worksite safety and health hazards. Employers who 
qualify generally view OSHA standards as a minimum level of safety and 
health performance, and set their own more stringent standards, 
wherever necessary, to improve employee protection.
    Prospective VPP worksites must submit an application that includes:
     General site information (i.e., site, corporate, and 
collective bargaining contact information ).
     Injury and illness rate performance information (i.e., 
number of employees and/or applicable contractors on site, type of work 
performed and products produced, Standard Industrial Code, and 
Recordable Injury and Illness Case Incidence Rate information).
     Safety and health program information (i.e., a copy of the 
site's safety and health program and/or a description of the program; 
and a description of how the program successfully addresses management 
leadership and employee involvement, worksite analysis, hazard 
prevention and control, and safety and health training).
    OSHA uses this information to determine whether a worksite is ready 
for a VPP onsite evaluation and as a verification tool during VPP 
onsite evaluations. Without this information, OSHA would be unable to 
determine which sites are ready for VPP status.
    Each current VPP worksite is also required to submit an annual 
evaluation, in narrative format, that addresses how that site is 
continuing its adherence to programmatic requirements. OSHA needs this 
information to ensure that the worksite remains qualified to 
participate in the VPP in the three to five years between onsite 
evaluations. Without this information, OSHA would be unable to 
determine whether sites are maintaining excellent safety and health 
management systems during this interim period.
    VPP worksite employees may apply to participate in the VPP 
Volunteers Program. The VPP Volunteers Program was established as a 
means to leverage OSHA's limited resources. Through this program, 
safety and health professionals employed at VPP sites are trained to 
participate as team members during VPP

[[Page 29178]]

onsite evaluations. In that capacity, VPP Volunteers may review company 
documents, assist with worksite walkthroughs, interview employees, and 
assist in preparing VPP onsite evaluation reports. Potential VPP 
Volunteers must submit a VPP Volunteers Application that includes:
     General contact information (i.e. applicant's name, 
professional credentials, site/corporate contact information, etc.).
     A resume or the Optional Application for Federal 
Employment (OF-612) form.
     Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450).
     Waiver of Claims Against the Government.
     Department of Labor Request for Name Check (DL-68).
    OSHA uses the contact information to arrange for VPP Volunteer 
participation at VPP onsite evaluations, send congratulatory letters, 
and inform them of their status in the program. The resume or OF-612 
and the DL-68 are used to determine whether an applicant is qualified 
to participate in the VPP Volunteers Program. The OGE Form 450 is used 
to ensure that VPP Volunteers do not participate in evaluations at 
sites where there may be a conflict of interest. The Waiver of Claims 
Against the Government protects OSHA against liability.

II. Proposed Actions

    OSHA proposes to extend the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
approval of the collection-of-information (paperwork) requirements 
necessitated by the Voluntary Protection Program. The Agency will 
summarize the comments submitted in response to this notice, and will 
include this summary in its request to OMB to extend the approval of 
these information-collection requirements.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved information-
collection requirements.
    Title: Voluntary Protection Program Application Information.
    OMB Number: 1218-0239
    Affected Public: Business or other for profits; and individuals or 
households.
    Number of Respondents: 171 applications from potential VPP 
worksites + 711 annual evaluations from current VPP worksites (3-year 
average) + 75 applications from potential VPP Volunteers per year (3-
year average) = 957 total respondents.
    Frequency: VPP applications are submitted once, VPP annual 
evaluations are submitted once per year, and VPP Volunteer Applications 
are submitted once every three years.
    Average Time Per Response: 200 hours for worksites submitting VPP 
applications: 20 hours for worksites submitting a VPP annual 
evaluation, and 1 hour and 20 minutes for individuals submitting VPP 
Volunteer Applications.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 34,200 annual hours for worksites 
submitting VPP applications (3-year average) + 14,220 annual hours for 
worksites submitting a VPP annual evaluation (3-year average) + 102 
annual hours for individuals submitting VPP Volunteer Applications (3-
year average) = 48,522 total burden hours per year (3-year average).
    Estimated Cost (Operation and Maintenance): $0.

III. Authority and Signature

    R. Davis Layne, Acting 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) and Secretary of Labor's Order No. 3-2000 (65 FR 
50017).

    Signed at Washington, DC, on May 22, 2001.
R. Davis Layne,
Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 01-13382 Filed 5-25-01; 8:45 am]
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