[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 128 (Thursday, July 3, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39985-39986]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-16849]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. ICR 1218-0209 2003]


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; OSHA Data Initiative (1218-0209)

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A). This program helps to 
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. 
Currently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the 
information collection request for the OSHA Data Initiative. A copy of 
the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by 
contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this 
notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before September 2, 2003. The Department 
of Labor is particularly interested in comments that:
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    [sbull] 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 submissions of responses.

ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket 
No. ICR 1218-1209 2003, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20210, telephone (202) 693-2350. 
Written comments limited to 10 pages or fewer may be transmitted by 
facsimile to (202) 693-1648.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Schmidt, Office of Statistical 
Analysis, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor, Room N3644, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20210, telephone (202) 693-1886. Copies of the 
referenced information collection request are available for inspection 
and copying in the Docket Office and will be mailed to persons who 
request copies by telephoning Dave Schmidt at (202) 693-1886 or Todd 
Owen at (202) 693-3222. For electronic copies of the OSHA Data 
Initiative information collection request, contact OSHA's Web Page on 
the Internet at http://www.osha-slc.gov/OCIS/Info coll.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    To meet many of OSHA's program needs, OSHA is proposing to continue 
its data initiative to collect occupational injury and illness data and 
information on the number of workers employed and the number of hours 
worked from establishments in portions of the private sector and from 
some state and local government agencies. OSHA will collect calendar 
year 2002 data from up to 109,000 employers already required to create 
and maintain records pursuant to 29 CFR part 1904. These data will 
allow OSHA to calculate occupational injury and illness rates and to 
focus its efforts on individual workplaces with ongoing serious safety 
and health problems. Successful implementation of the data collection 
initiative is critical to OSHA's outreach and enforcement efforts and 
the data requirements tied to the Government Performance and Results 
Act (GPRA).

II. Current Actions

    This notice requests public comment on an extension of the current 
OMB approval of the paperwork requirements for the OSHA Data Initiative 
system.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: OSHA Data Initiative.
    OMB Number: 1218-0209.
    Agency Number: ICR 1218-0209-2003.

[[Page 39986]]

    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Farms, and State, 
Local or Tribal Government.
    Cite/Reference/Form/etc; OSHA Form 196A and OSHA Form 196B.
    Total Respondents: 109,000.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Average Time per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 17,440 hours.
    Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be 
summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and 
Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also 
become a matter of public record.

    Dated: June 25, 2003.
John L. Henshaw,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-16849 Filed 7-2-03; 8:45 am]
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