[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 126 (Tuesday, July 1, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39153-39154]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-16515]



[[Page 39153]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. ICR-1218-1099 (2003)]


Standard on Walking-Working Surfaces; Extension of the Office of 
Management and Budget's Approval of Information-Collection (Paperwork) 
Requirements

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

ACTION: Request for comment.

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SUMMARY: OSHA requests comment concerning its proposed extension of the 
information-collection requirements specified by its Standard on 
Walking-Working Surfaces (29 CFR part 1910, subpart D). This Standard 
applies to all permanent places of employment, except where domestic, 
mining, or agricultural work only is performed.

DATES: Comments must be submitted by the following dates:
    Hard Copy: Your comments must be submitted (postmarked or received) 
by September 2, 2003.
    Facsimile and electronic transmission: Your comments must be 
received by September 2, 2003.

ADDRESSES: 

I. Submission of Comments

    Regular mail, express delivery, hand-delivery, and messenger 
service: Submit your comments and attachment to the OSHA Docket Office, 
Docket No. ICR 1218-0199 (2003), Room N-2625, U.S. Department of Labor, 
200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210. OSHA Docket Office 
and Department of Labor hours of operation are 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., 
EST.
    Facsimile: If your comments, including any attachments, are 10 
pages or fewer, you may fax them to the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 
693-1648. You must include the docket number, ICR 1218-0199 (2003), in 
your comments.
    Electronic: You may submit comments, but not attachments, through 
the Internet at http://ecomments.osha.gov/.
    You may submit comments in response to this document by (1) hard 
copy, (2) FAX transmission (facsimile), or (3) electronically through 
the OSHA webpage. Please note you cannot attach materials such as 
studies or journal articles to electronic comments. If you have 
additional materials, you must submit three copies of them to the OSHA 
Docket Office at the address above. The additional materials must 
clearly identify your electronic comments by name, date, subject and 
docket number so we can attach them to your comments. Because of 
security-related problems there may be a significant delay in the 
receipt of comments by regular mail. Please contact the OSHA Docket 
Office at (202) 693-2350 for information about security procedures 
concerning the delivery of materials by express delivery, hand delivery 
and messenger service.

II. Obtaining Copies of the Supporting Statement for the Information 
Collection Request

    The Supporting Statement for the Information Collection Request is 
available for downloading from OSHA's Web site at www.osha.gov. The 
supporting statement is available for inspection and copying in the 
OSHA Docket Office, at the address listed above. A printed copy of the 
supporting statement can be obtained by contacting Theda Kenney at 
(202) 693-2222.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Theda Kenney, Directorate of Standards 
and Guidance, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3609, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202) 693-
2222.

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 minimized, collection instruments are understandable, and OSHA's 
estimate of the information-collection burden is correct.
    The collections of information contained in the Walking-Working 
Surfaces standard are necessary to protect workers from the collapse of 
overloaded floors and the failure of defective portable metal ladders.
    Paragraph 1910.22(d)(1) requires that load limits approved by the 
building official be marked on plates supplied and securely affixed by 
the owner of the building, or his duly authorized agent, in a 
conspicuous place in each space to which they relate. The plates are 
not to be removed or defaced but, if lost, removed, or defaced, they 
shall be replaced by the owner or his agent.
    Under paragraph 1910.26(c)(2)(vii), ladders having defects are to 
be marked and taken out of service until repaired by either the 
maintenance department or the manufacturer.
    Paragraph 1910.28(e)(3) requires that outrigger scaffolds designed 
by a registered professional engineer be constructed and erected in 
accordance with table D-16 of this section. A copy of the detailed 
drawings and specifications showing the sizes and spacing of members 
shall be kept on the job.

II. Special Issues for Comment

    OSHA has a particular interest in comments on the following issues:
    [sbull] Whether the proposed information-collection requirements 
are necessary for the proper performance of the Agency's functions to 
protect workers, including whether the information is useful;
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] The quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
collected; and
    [sbull] Ways to minimize the burden on employers who must comply; 
for example, by using automated or other technological information 
collection and transmission techniques.
    In addition, the Agency specifically requests information on the 
number of portable metal ladders that become defective in one year. 
Also, the Agency is interested in knowing whether outrigger scaffolds 
are used in general industry.

III. Proposed Actions

    OSHA proposes to extend the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
approval of the collection-information requirements specified by the 
Standard on Walking-Working Surfaces (29 CFR part 1910, subpart D). 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 a currently-approved collection-
information requirement.
    Title: Walking-Working Surfaces (29 CFR part 1910, subpart D).
    OMB Number: 1218-0199.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, not-for-profit 
institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government; Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 10,000.

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    Frequency of Recordkeeping: On occasion.
    Average Time per Response: Varies from one minute (.02 hour) to 
three minutes (.05 hour).
    Total Annual Hours Requested: 13,832.

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. 5-2002 (67 FR 65008).

    Signed at Washington, DC, on June 25th, 2002.
John L. Henshaw,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 03-16515 Filed 6-30-03; 8:45 am]
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