[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 134 (Wednesday, July 14, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42215-42216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15921]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. ICR 1218-0176 2004]


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; 29 CFR Part 1904, Recording and Reporting 
Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (1218-0176)

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 (PRA 95) (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 impact of collection 
requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The Occupational 
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is soliciting comments 
concerning the proposed extension of approval for the current paperwork 
requirements of 29 CFR 1904, Recording and Reporting Occupational 
Injuries and Illnesses. A copy of the proposed information collection 
request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the 
address section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 13, 
2004.
    Written comments should:
     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 submissions of responses.

ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket 
No. ICR 1218-0176 2004 U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, telephone: (202) 693-
2350. Written comments limited to 10 pages or less in length may also 
be transmitted by facsimile to (202) 693-1648.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacqueline Gilmore, Office of 
Statistical Analysis, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 
U.S. Department of Labor, Room N3507, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20210, telephone: (202) 693-1889. 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 Jacqueline Gilmore at (202) 693-1889 or 
Todd Owen at (202) 693-3222. For electronic copies, contact OSHA's Web 
page on the Internet at http://www.osha.gov/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    I. Background: The OSHA Act and 29 CFR part 1904 prescribe that 
certain employers maintain records of job related injuries and 
illnesses. The injury and illness records are intended to have multiple 
purposes. One purpose is to provide data needed by OSHA to carry out 
enforcement and intervention activities to provide workers a safe and 
healthy work environment. The data are also needed by the Bureau of 
Labor Statistics to report on the number and rate of occupational 
injuries and illnesses in the country.
    The data also provides information to employers and employees of 
the kinds of injuries and illnesses occurring in the workplace and 
their related hazards. Increased employer awareness should result in 
the identification and voluntary correction of hazardous workplace 
conditions. Likewise, employees who are provided information on 
injuries and illnesses will be more likely to follow safe work 
practices and report workplace hazards. This would generally raise the 
overall level of safety and health in the workplace.
    OSHA currently has approval from the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for information collection requirements contained in 29 
CFR 1904. That approval will expire on October 31, 2004, unless OSHA 
applies for an extension of the OMB approval. This notice initiates the 
process for OSHA to request an extension of the current OMB approval. 
This notice also solicits public comment on OSHA's existing paperwork 
burden estimates from those interested parties and to seek public 
response to several questions related to the development of OSHA's 
estimation. Interested parties are requested to review OSHA's 
estimates, which are based upon the most current data available, and to 
comment on their accuracy or appropriateness in today's workplace 
situation.
    II. Current Actions: This notice requests public comment on an 
extension of the current OMB approval of the paperwork requirements in 
29 CFR 1904, Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and 
Illnesses.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Agency: U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration.
    Title: Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.
    OMB Number: 1218-0176.
    Agency Number: ICR-1218-0176 2004.
    Frequency: Recordkeeping.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; farms; not-for-
profit institutions; State and local government.
    Cite/Reference/Form/etc: 29 CFR part 1904; OSHA Form 300; OSHA Form 
300A, OSHA Form 301.
    Number of Respondents: 1,484,000.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 2.0 hours.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,991,796 hours.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or

[[Page 42216]]

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: July 7, 2004.
John L. Henshaw,
Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 04-15921 Filed 7-13-04; 8:45 am]
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