[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 239 (Wednesday, December 12, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64273-64274]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30729]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. ICR-1218-0011(2002)]


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: Request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: OSHA solicits comments concerning its proposal to decrease the 
existing burden-hour estimates for, and to extend OMB approval of, the 
information-collection requirements of subparts A and B of 29 CFR part 
1915.\1\ The paperwork requirements specified by subparts A and B 
ensures that confined and enclosed spaces and other dangerous 
atmospheres in shipyards are safe for employee entry, and protect 
shipyard employees from explosive, combustible, and toxic hazards 
contained in these spaces.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Based on its assessment of the paperwork requirements 
contained in these subparts, the Agency estimates that the total 
burden hours decreased compared to its previous burden-hour 
estimate. Under this notice, OSHA is not proposing to revise these 
paperwork requirements in any substantive manner, only to decrease 
the burden hours imposed by the existing paperwork requirements.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DATES: Submit written comments on or before February 11, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the Docket Office, Docket No. 
ICR-1218-0011(2002), 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: Theda Kenney, Directorate of Safety 
Standards Programs, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3609, 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 collections specified by 
subparts A and B of 29 CFR part 1915 is available for inspection and 
copying in the Docket Office, or by requesting a copy from Theda Kenney 
at (202) 693-2222, or Todd Owen at (202) 693-2444. For electronic 
copies of the 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 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 costs) 
is minimal, collection instruments are understandable, and OSHA's 
estimate of the information-collection burden is correct.
    In subpart A, paragraph (b) of Sec. 1915.7 (``Competent Person'') 
specifies that employers must maintain a roster of designated competent 
persons (for inspecting and testing spaces covered by subpart B), or a 
statement that a marine chemist will perform these inspections and 
tests. Under paragraph (d) of this standard, employers must: Ensure 
that competent persons, marine chemists, and certified industrial 
hygienists make a record of each inspection and test they perform; post 
the record near the covered space while work is in progress; and file 
the record for a specified period. In addition, employers must make the 
roster or statement, and the inspection and test records, available to 
designated parties on request. Maintaining the required roster or 
statement as specified by paragraph (b) assures employees and OSHA that 
qualified competent persons are performing the inspections and tests. 
The recordkeeping requirement under paragraph (d) provides important 
information regarding the inspection and test results; this information 
allows employers to implement atmospheric controls and other safety 
procedures to furnish employees with a safe and healthful workplace, 
and permits employees and OSHA to determine the appropriateness of 
these controls and procedures.
    Subpart B consists of several standards governing employee entry 
into confined and enclosed spaces and other dangerous atmospheres. 
These standards require employers to: Warn

[[Page 64274]]

employees not to enter hazardous spaces and other dangerous 
atmospheres; exchange information regarding hazards, safety rules, and 
emergency procedures concerning these spaces and atmospheres with other 
employers whose employees may enter these spaces and atmospheres; post 
signs prohibiting ignition sources within or near a space that contains 
bulk quantities of flammable or combustible liquids or gases; ensure 
that a marine chemist or a U.S. Coast Guard authorized person tests and 
certifies confined and enclosed spaces and other dangerous atmospheres 
before performing hot work in these spaces and atmospheres; post this 
certificate in the immediate vicinity of the hot-work operation while 
the operation is in progress; and retain the certificate on file for at 
least three months after completing the operation. These paperwork 
requirements regulate employee entry into confined and enclosed spaces 
and other dangerous atmospheres located in shipyards, thereby 
preventing death or serious injury and illness that may result from 
employee exposure to the explosive, combustible, and toxic hazards 
contained in these spaces.

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 
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.

III. Proposed Actions

    OSHA is proposing to decrease the existing burden-hour estimate, 
and to extend OMB approval of, the collection-of-information 
requirements specified by subparts A and B. The Agency is proposing to 
decrease the current burden-hour estimate from 134,993 hours to 134,819 
hours, a total decrease of 174 hours.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently-approved information-
collection requirement.
    Title: Subpart A (``General Provisions'') and Subpart B (``Confined 
and Enclosed Spaces and Other Dangerous Atmospheres in Shipyard 
Employment'') of 29 CFR part 1915.
    OMB Number: 1218-0011.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Federal government; 
State, local, or tribal governments.
    Number of Respondents: 300.
    Frequency of Recordkeeping: On occasion; other (daily).
    Average Time per Response: Varies from two minutes (.03 hour) to 10 
minutes (.17 hour).
    Total Annual Hours Requested: 134,819.
    Total Annual Costs (O&M): $0.

IV. Authority and Signature

    John L. Henshaw, 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 (62 FR 50017).

    Signed at Washington, DC, on December 6th, 2001.
John L. Henshaw,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 01-30729 Filed 12-11-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-M