[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 10, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35998-35999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-17219]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. ICR-1218-0115(2001)]


Cranes and Derricks Standard for Construction: Notification of 
Operational Specifications and Hand Signals; Extension of the Office of 
Management and Budget's (OMB) Approval of Information-Collection 
(Paperwork) Requirements

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

ACTION: Notice of an opportunity for public comment.

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SUMMARY: OSHA solicits public comment concerning its request to 
increase the total burden-hour estimate for, and to extend OMB approval 
of, the collection-of-information requirements specified by paragraphs 
(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(4), and (a)(16) of the Cranes and Derricks Standard 
for Construction (29 CFR 1926.550). These paragraphs require employers 
to provide notification of specified operating characteristics 
pertaining to cranes and derricks using documentation, posting, or 
revised maintenance-instruction plates, tags, or decals, and to notify 
employees of hand signals used to communicate with equipment operators 
by posting an illustration of applicable signals at the worksite.

DATES: Submit written comments on or before September 10, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the Docket Office, Docket No. 
ICR-1218-0115(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 by 
facsimile to (202) 693-1648.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen M. Martinez, Directorate of 
Policy, Office of Regulatory Analysis, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, 
Room N-3609, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; 
telephone (202) 693-1953. A copy of the Agency's Information-Collection 
Request (ICR) supporting the need for the information collections 
specified by paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(4), and (a)(16) of 
Sec. 1926.550 is available for inspection and copying in the Docket 
Office, or by requesting a copy from Todd Owen at (202) 693-2444. For 
electronic copies of the ICR contact OSHA on the Internet at http://www.osha.gov/comp-links.html and select ``Information Collection 
Requests.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce 
paperwork and respondent (i.e., employer) burden, conducts a 
preclearance consultation program to provide the public 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 cost) 
is minimal, collection instruments are understandable, and OSHA's 
estimate of the information-collection burden is correct.
    Several paragraphs of the Cranes and Derricks Standard for 
Construction (Sec. 1926.550) contain notification requirements, 
including paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(4), and (a)(16). If an 
equipment manufacturer's specifications are not available, paragraph 
(a)(1) requires employers to operate a crane or derrick using 
specifications determined and recorded by a qualified engineer who is 
competent to make such determinations. Under paragraph (a)(2), 
employers must post on each crane and derrick its rated load 
capacities, and recommended operating speeds, special hazard warnings, 
or instruction. Paragraph (a)(4) requires employers to post at the 
worksite an illustration of the hand signals prescribed by the 
applicable ANSI standard for that type of crane or derrick. According 
to paragraph (a)(16), employers must revise as appropriate the 
capacity, operation, and maintenance-instruction plates, tags, or 
decals if they make alterations that involve the capacity or safe 
operation of a crane or derrick.
    In summary, these provisions require employers to provide 
notification of specified operating characteristics through 
documentation, posting, or revising maintenance-instruction plates, 
tags, or decals, and to notify employees of hand signals used to 
communicate with equipment operators by posting an illustration of 
applicable signals at the worksite. These paperwork requirements ensure 
that employers operate a crane or derrick according to the limitations 
and specifications developed for that equipment, and that hand signals 
used to communicate with equipment operators are clear and correct. 
Therefore, these requirements prevent employers from exceeding the 
operating specifications and limitations of cranes and derricks, and 
ensure that they use accurate hand signals regarding equipment 
operation. By operating the equipment safely and within specified 
parameters, and communicating effectively with equipment operators, 
employers will prevent serious injury and death to the equipment 
operators and other employees who use or work near the equipment.

II. Special Issues for Comment

    OSHA 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 OSHA's estimate of the burden (time and 
cost) 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.

III. Proposed Actions

    OSHA is requesting OMB to increase the total burden hours estimated 
for, and to extend its approval of, the collection-of-information 
requirements specified by paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(4), and 
(a)(16) of Sec. 1926.550. Specifically, the Agency is requesting to 
increase the estimated total burden hours from 4,996 to 5,644 hours, an 
increase of 648 hours. These additional burden hours resulted from an 
increase in the estimated number of cranes and derricks covered by the 
paperwork requirements.

[[Page 35999]]

    The Agency will summarize the comments submitted in response to 
this notice. OSHA will then include this summary in its request to OMB 
to increase the existing burden-hour estimates for, and to extend 
approval of, these information-collection requirements.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved information-
collection requirements.
    Title: Cranes and Derricks Standard for Construction: Notification 
of Operational Specifications and Hand Signals.
    OMB Number: 1218-0115.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; not-for-profit 
institutions; Federal government; State, local or tribal governments.
    Number of Respondents: 67,715.\1\
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    \1\ In estimating the number of establishments covered by these 
paperwork requirements, the Agency assumes a ratio of 1 crane or 
derrick per establishment. The determinations made by OSHA in the 
accompanying ICR indicate that paragraphs (a)(2), (a)(4), and 
(a)(16) cover 67,715 cranes and derricks, resulting in an equal 
number of establishments (i.e., 67,715). In addition, the Agency 
finds that engineers under contract to employers provide the 
documentation specified by paragraph (a)(1); therefore, OSHA treats 
this paperwork requirement as a capital cost under Item 13 of the 
ICR, and did not include it in calculating values for the categories 
entitled ``Number of Respondents'' and ``Estimated Total Burden 
Hours.''
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    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Average Time per Response: 5 minutes (.08 hour) to post 
specifications or hand-signal illustrations.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 5,644.
    Estimated Cost (Operation and Maintenance): $398,353.

IV. 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).

R. Davis Layne,
Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 01-17219 Filed 7-9-01; 8:45 am]
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