[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 11, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36299-36301]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-17400]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Submission for OMB review; comment request

June 29, 2001.
    The Department of Labor (DOL) has submitted the following public 
information collection requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). A copy of 
each individual ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be 
obtained by calling the Department of Labor. To obtain documentation 
contact Darrin King at (202) 693-4129 or E-Mail to [email protected].
    Comments should be sent to Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Attn: Stuart Shapiro, OMB Desk OSHA, Office of Management and 
Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503 ((202) 395-7316), within 30 
days from the date of this publication in the Federal Register.
    The OMB 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 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 through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
    Title: Respiratory Protection.
    OMB Number: 1218-0099.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Federal Government; 
State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Total Burden Hours: 6,468,682.
    Number of Respondents: 1,300,000.
    Annual Responses: 18,112,941.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: Time per response varies from 8 
hours for large facilities to develop a written respiratory program to 
5 minutes for employers to maintain employee medical-evaluation 
records.
    Total Annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
    Total Annualized costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $72,900,680.
    Description: The Respiratory Protection Standard's information-
collection requirements require employers to: Develop a written 
respiratory program; conduct employee medical evaluations and provide 
follow-up medical evaluations to determine the employee's ability to 
use a respirator; provide the physician or other licensed health care 
professional with information about the employee's respirator and the 
conditions under which the employee will use the respirator; and 
administer fit-tests for employees who will use negative or positive-
pressure, tight-fitting facepieces. In addition, employers must ensure 
that employees store emergency-use respirators in compartments clearly 
marked as containing emergency-use respirators. For respirators 
maintained for emergency use, employers must label or tag the 
respirator with a certificate stating the date of inspection, the name 
of the individual who made the inspection, the findings of the 
inspection, required remedial action, and the identity of the 
respirator.
    The Standard also requires employers to ensure that cylinders used 
to supply breathing air to respirators have a certificate of analysis 
from the supplier starting that the breathing air meets the 
requirements for Type 1--Grade D breathing air; such certification 
assures employers that the purchased breathing air is safe. Compressors 
used to supply breathing air to respirators must have a tag containing 
the most recent change date and the signature of the individual 
authorized by the employer to perform the change. Employers must 
maintain this tag at the compressor. These tags provide assurance that 
the compressors are functioning properly.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
    Title: Ionizing Radiation.
    OMB Number: 1218-0103.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Federal Government; 
State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Total Burden Hours: 27,642.
    Number of Respondents: 12,113.
    Annual Responses: 159,043.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: Time per response varies from 5 
minutes (.08) to maintain radiation-exposure records to 15 minutes 
(.25) for employers to prepare a written report of employee 
overexposure for submission to OSHA.
    Total Annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
    Total Annualized costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $1,719,720.
    Description: The information-collection requirements mandated by 
the Ionizing Radiation Standard (Sec. 1910.1096); protect employees 
from the adverse health effects that may result from overexposure to 
ionizing radiation. These requirements specify that employers must 
telephone OSHA if they expose employees to radiation above the level 
defined by the Standard, send written reports of radiation overexposure 
to OSHA, maintain employee exposure records, and furnish these records 
to employees on request.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
    Title: Construction Crane or Derrick Annual Inspection.
    OMB Number: 1218-0113.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Total Burden Hours: 1 hour.
    Number of Respondents: 132,737.
    Annual Responses: 132,737.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 0.
    Total Annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
    Total Annualized costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $0.

[[Page 36300]]

    Description: Paragraph (a)(6) of the Standard requires employers to 
perform annual inspections of cranes and derricks and to establish and 
maintain a written record of the dates and results of these 
inspections. The inspections identify problems such as deterioration 
caused by exposure to adverse weather conditions, worn components and 
other flaws and defects that develop during use, and accelerated wear 
resulting from misalignments of connecting systems and components.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
    Title: Powered Platforms for Building Maintenance (29 CFR 1910.66).
    OMB Number: 1218-0121.
    Frequency: Annually; monthly; on occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit 
institutions; Federal Government; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Total Burden Hours: 119,645.
    Number of Respondents: 990.
    Annual Responses: 167,569.
    Estimate Time per Respondent: Varies from 1 minute (0.02 hour) (to 
maintain a training record) to 10 hours (to inspect/test building-
support structures and the components of a power platform.
    Total Annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
    Total Annualized (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $0.
    Description: Paragraph 1910.66(e)(9) requires that employers 
develop and implement a written emergency action plan for each kind of 
working platform operation. The plan must explain the emergency 
procedures which are to be followed in the event of a power failure, 
equipment failure or other emergencies which may be encountered. 
Employees are expected to inform themselves about the building 
emergency escape routes, procedures and alarm systems before operating 
a platform. Before initial assignment and whenever the plan is changed, 
the employer shall review with each employee those parts of the plan 
which the employee must know to protect himself or herself in the event 
of an emergency.
    Paragraphs (g)(2)(i) and (g)(2)(ii) require that building 
supporting structures and all parts of the equipment undergo periodic 
inspection and tests by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 
12 months. Paragraph (g)(2)(iii) requires the building owner to 
maintain and disclose, upon request, a certification record of each 
inspection and test. Paragraph (g)(3)(i) requires a competent person to 
perform a maintenance inspection and, where necessary, a test of each 
platform installation every 30 days. If the work cycle is less than 30 
days, the inspection and/or test shall be made prior to each work 
cycle.
    Paragraph (g)(3)(ii) requires the building owner to maintain a 
certification record of each inspection and test, and to disclose the 
record upon request. Paragraph (g)(5)(iii) requires a thorough 
inspection of suspension wire ropes in service once a month. Paragraph 
(g)(5)(v) requires the building owner to maintain a certification 
record of each monthly inspection and to disclose the record upon 
request.
    Paragraph 1910.66(i)(1)(iv) requires the employer to develop 
written work procedures to be used to train employees. The written work 
procedures shall address the operation, safe use, and inspection of 
powered platforms. The employer would then prepare a certification 
record (under 1910.66(i)(1)(v)) to verify that the training has been 
administered. The final group of information collection requirements in 
the standard pertains to a number of provisions requiring tags and 
labels. It has been general industry practice for the manufacturer or 
installer of powered platforms to provide these tags and labels. 
However, it is estimated that the manufacturers and installers will not 
provide these tags and labels 10 percent of the time. Paragraph 
1910.66(f)(5)(i)(C) requires a load rating plate to be affixed to each 
suspended unit.
    Paragraph 1910.66(f)(5)(ii)(N) requires the compartment for an 
emergency electric operating device to be labeled with instructions for 
use. Paragraphs 1910.66(f)(7)(vi), 1910.66(f)(7)(vii), and 
1910.66(f)(7)(viii) require the attachment of a tag on a suspension 
wire rope when it is installed, renewed or resocketed.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
    Title: Specifications for Accident Prevention Signs and Tags (29 
CFR 1910.145).
    OMB Number: 1218-0132.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; not-for-profit 
institutions; Federal Government; State, Local or and Tribal 
Government.
    Total Burden Hours: 5,600.
    Number of Respondents: 112,000.
    Annual Responses: 112,000.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 3 minutes (0.05 hours).
    Total Annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
    Total Annualized costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $0.
    Description: A number of OSHA general industry (i.e., 29 CFR part 
1910) standards require employers to post signs and tags notifying 
employees of workplace safety and health hazards. To meet these 
requirements, paragraph (a)(2) of 29 CFR 1910.145 mandates that 
employers use signs and tags that conform to specific design and 
wording requirements. In addition, employers must be select signs and 
tags that are appropriate to the dangers and hazards identified in the 
workplace; paragraphs (c)(1)(i), (c)(2)(i), (c)(3), (e)(4), (f)(3), 
(f)(5) through (f)(7), and (f)(8)(i) of the Standard specify the signs 
and tags that employers must select for these dangers and hazards. In 
addition, paragraphs (d)(1) through (d)(10), (e)(2), (f)(4)(i) through 
(f)(4)(iv), (f)(7), and (f)(8)(ii) provide the design and wording 
requirements for these signs and tags.
    In summary, employers must ensure that the signs and tags selected 
are appropriate for the identified dangers and hazards and meet the 
design and wording requirements 29 CFR 1910.145. These paperwork 
requirements properly alert employees to workplace dangers and hazards, 
thereby preventing workplace-related injury and death.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
    Title: Logging Operations (29 CFR 1910.266).
    OMB Number: 1218-0198.
    Frequency: Annually; On occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; not-for-profit 
institutions; Federal Government; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Total Burden Hours: 6,350.
    Number of Respondents: 14,000.
    Annual Responses: 110,880.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: Varies from 2 minutes (0.03 hour) to 
5 minutes (0.08 hour).
    Total Annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
    Total Annualized cost (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $0
    Description: Paragraph (i)(1) of 29 CFR 1910.266 requires employers 
to provide training for each employee, including supervisors.To meet 
this requirement, employers must conduct the training at the 
frequencies specified by paragraph (i)(2).
    Paragraph (i)(3) specifies that an employee's training must consist 
of the following elements: Safe work practices;

[[Page 36301]]

including the use, operation, and maintenance of tools, machines, and 
vehicles the employee uses or operates, as well as procedures, 
practices, and requirements of the employer's worksite; recognition and 
control of health and safety hazards associated with the employee's 
specific work tasks and logging operations in general; and the 
requirements of the standard. Under paragraph (i)(7), employers must 
assure that every employee, including supervisors, receive first-aid 
and CPR training, this training must, at a minimum, conform to the 
requirements listed Appendix B of the standard.
    Paragraph (i)(10)(i) specifies that employers must certify the 
training provided to employees.This certification must be in writing 
and provide the following information: The name/identifier of the 
employee; the date(s) of the training; and either the signature of the 
employer or the individual who conducted the training. Paragraph 
(i)(10)(ii) requires employers to maintain the most recent 
certification for training completed by an employee.
    Training employees and supervisors in safe work practices and to 
recognize and control the safety and health hazards associated with 
their work tasks and overall logging operations enables them to prevent 
serious accidents by using specific procedures and equipment in a safe 
manner to avid or to control dangerous exposures to these hazards. In 
addition, the requirement to train every employee and supervisor in 
first-aid and CPR optimizes their availability to administer emergency 
treatment to employees injured during logging operations; universal 
training is critical because logging operations occur at isolated 
locations with employees and supervisors distributed over large work 
areas. This training requirement prevents serious injuries that occur 
in this highly-hazardous industry from becoming even more serious or 
fatal.
    Establishing and maintaining written certification of the training 
provided to each employee assures the employer that every employee 
receives the training specified by the standard, and at the required 
frequencies. In addition, these records provide the most efficient 
means for an OSHA compliance officer to determine whether or not an 
employer performed the required training at the necessary and 
appropriate frequencies.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
    Title: Storage and Handling of Anhydrous Ammonia (29 CFR 1910.111).
    OMB Number: 1218-0208.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; not-for-profit 
institutions; Farms; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Total Burden Hours: 56.
    Number of Respondents: 330.
    Annual Responses: 330.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 10 minutes (0.17 hour).
    Total Annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
    Total Annualized costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $0.
    Description: Paragraph (b)(3) of 29 CFR 1910.111 specifies that 
systems have nameplates if required, and that these nameplates ``be 
permanently attached to the system so as to be readily accessible for 
inspection * * *.'' In addition, this paragraph requires that markings 
on containers and systems covered by paragraphs (c) (``Systems 
utilizing stationary, nonrefrigerated storage containers''), (f) 
(``Tank motor vehicles for the transportation of ammonia''), (g) 
(``Systems mounted on farm vehicles other than for the application of 
ammonia''), and (h) (``Systems mounted on farm vehicles for the 
application of ammonia'') provide information regarding nine specific 
characteristics of the containers and systems. Similarly, paragraph 
(b)(4) states that information regarding eight specific characteristics 
of each container ``shall be on the container itself or on a nameplate 
permanently attached to it.''
    The required markings ensure that employers use only properly 
designed and tested containers and systems to store anhydrous ammonia, 
thereby preventing accidental release of, and exposure of employees to, 
this highly toxic and corrosive substance. In addition, these 
requirements provide the most efficient means for an OSHA compliance 
officer to ensure that the containers and systems are safe.

Ira L. Mills,
Department Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-17400 Filed 7-10-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-M