[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 173 (Friday, September 6, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57035-57036]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-22694]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

August 29, 2002.
    The Department of Labor (DOL) has submitted the following public 
information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). A copy of 
this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by 
calling the Department of Labor. To obtain documentation contact Darrin 
King on 202-693-4129 or e-mail: [email protected].
    Comments should be sent to Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for 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.

    Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Title: Permit-Required Confined Spaces.
    OMB Number: 1218-0203.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit 
institutions; State, Local, or Tribal Government; and Federal 
Government.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Type of Response: Recordkeeping and Third-party disclosure.
    Number of Respondents: 4,844,849.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Average       Total
                                      Annual     responses      annual
           Requirement              responses       time        burden
                                                  (hours)       hours
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Preparation of ``Danger-Permit           9,690         0.08          775
 Required Confined Space'' Sign..
Preparation of ``a written permit       11,943        16.00      191,088
 space entry'' program...........
Documentation of determination       2,700,000         0.25      675,000
 and supporting data required for
 entries using alternative
 procedures......................
Written certification for            2,700,000         0.08      216,000
 alternative procedures..........
Written certification that all         200,000         0.08       16,000
 hazards have been eliminated
 (reclassification of a permit
 space)..........................
Written entry permits............    1,900,000         0.25      475,000
Certification of training--          1,600,000         0.05       80,000
 existing employees..............
Certification of training--new/        160,000         0.08       12,800
 retrained employees.............
                                  --------------
    Totals.......................    9,281,633  ...........    1,666,663
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 57036]]

    Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: $0.
    Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $0.
    Description: The Standard on Permit-Required Confined Spaces (29 
CFR 1910.146) specifies a number of collection of information 
requirements. The collections of information are used by employers and 
employees whenever entry is made into permit-required confined spaces. 
The following sections describe who uses the information collected 
under each requirement, as well as how they use it. The purpose of the 
information is to insure that employers systematically evaluate the 
dangers in permit spaces before entry is attempted and to insure that 
adequate measures are taken to make the spaces safe for entry. In 
addition, the information is needed to determine, during an OSHA 
inspection by a compliance safety and health officer, if employers are 
in compliance with the standard.
    Section 1910.146(c)(2) requires the employer to post danger signs 
to inform exposed employees of the existence and location of and the 
danger posed by permit spaces.
    Section 1910.146(c)(4) requires the employer to develop and 
implement a written permit space program if the employer decides that 
its employees will enter permit spaces. The written program is to be 
made available for inspection by employees and their authorized 
representatives. Section 1910.146(d) provides the employer with the 
requirements of a permit-required confined space program (permit space 
program) required under this paragraph.
    Section 1910.146(c)(5)(i)(E) requires that the determinations and 
supporting data required by paragraphs (c)(5)(i)(A), (c)(5)(i)(B), and 
(c)(5)(i)(C) of this section are documented by the employer and are 
made available to each employee who enters a permit space or to that 
employee's authorized representative.
    Under paragraph (c)(5)(ii)(H) of 1910.146, the employer is required 
to verify that the space is safe for entry and that the pre-entry 
measures required by paragraph (c)(5)(ii) of this section have been 
taken, through a written certification that contains the date, the 
location of the space, and the signature of the person providing the 
certification. The certification is to be made before entry and is 
required to be made available to each employee entering the space or to 
that employee's authorized representative.
    Section 1910.146(c)(7)(iii) requires the employer to document the 
basis for determining that all hazards in a permit space have been 
eliminated, through a certification that contains the date, the 
location of the space, and the signature of the person making the 
determination. The certification is to be made available to each 
employee entering the space or to that employee's authorized 
representative.
    Section 1910.146(e) requires the employer to document the 
completion of measures required by paragraph (d)(3) by preparing an 
entry permit before employee entry is authorized. Paragraph (e)(3) 
requires that the employer make the completed permit available at the 
time of entry to all authorized entrants by posting the permit at the 
entry portal or by any other equally effective means, so that the 
entrants can confirm that the pre-entry preparations have been 
completed. Paragraph (e)(6) requires the employer to retain each 
canceled entry permit for at least one year.
    Section 1910.146(g)(4) requires that the employer certify that the 
training required by paragraphs (g)(1) through (g)(3) has been 
accomplished by preparing a written certification record.

Ira L. Mills,
Department Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-22694 Filed 9-5-02; 8:45 am]
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