[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77850-77852]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-32050]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. OSHA-2011-0858]


Permit-Required Confined Spaces; 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 public comments.

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SUMMARY: OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to 
extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements 
contained in the Standard on Permit-Required Confined Spaces (29 CFR 
1910.146). The purpose of the information is to ensure that employers 
systematically evaluate the dangers in permit spaces before entry is 
attempted, and to ensure that adequate measures are taken to make the 
spaces safe for entry.

DATES: Comments must be submitted (postmarked, sent, or received) by 
February 13, 2012.

[[Page 77851]]


ADDRESSES:
    Electronically: You may submit comments and attachments 
electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for submitting 
comments.
    Facsimile: If your comments, including attachments, are not longer 
than 10 pages you may fax them to the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-
1648.
    Mail, hand delivery, express mail, messenger, or courier service: 
When using this method, you must submit a copy of your comments and 
attachments to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2011-0858, 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of 
Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210. 
Deliveries (hand, express mail, messenger, and courier service) are 
accepted during the Department of Labor's and Docket Office's normal 
business hours, 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., e.t.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and OSHA 
docket number (OSHA-2011-0858) for the Information Collection Request 
(ICR). All comments, including any personal information you provide, 
are placed in the public docket without change, and may be made 
available online at http://www.regulations.gov. For further information 
on submitting comments see the ``Public Participation'' heading in the 
section of this notice titled SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    Docket: To read or download comments or other material in the 
docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov or the OSHA Docket Office at 
the address above. All documents in the docket (including this Federal 
Register notice) are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index; 
however, some information (e.g., copyrighted material) is not publicly 
available to read or download through the Web site. All submissions, 
including copyrighted material, are available for inspection and 
copying at the OSHA Docket Office. You may also contact Theda Kenney at 
the address below to obtain a copy of the ICR.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Theda Kenney or Todd Owen, 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 (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 clearly understood, and OSHA's 
estimate of the information collection burden is accurate. The 
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the OSH Act) (29 U.S.C. 651 
et seq.) authorizes information collection by employers as necessary or 
appropriate for enforcement of the OSH Act or for developing 
information regarding the causes and prevention of occupational 
injuries, illnesses, and accidents (29 U.S.C. 657). The OSH Act also 
requires that OSHA obtain such information with minimum burden upon 
employers, especially those operating small businesses, and to reduce 
to the maximum extent feasible unnecessary duplication of efforts in 
obtaining information (29 U.S.C. 657).
    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'' when 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 specified 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 Sec.  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, using 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 using 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(c)(8)(i) requires that when a host employer 
arranges for employees of another employer (contractor) to perform work 
that involves permit-space entry the host employer must inform the 
contractor that the workplace contains permit spaces and that permit 
space entry is allowed only following compliance with a permit-space 
program meeting the requirements of this section.
    Section 1910.146(c)(8)(ii) requires that the employer inform the 
contractor of the elements, including the hazards identified and the 
host employer's experience with the space, that make the space in 
question a permit space. Section 1910.146(c)(8)(iii) requires that the 
employer inform the contractor of any precautions or procedures that 
the host employer has implemented to protect employees in or near 
permit spaces where contractor personnel will be working. Section 
1910.146(c)(8)(v) requires the employer to debrief the contractor at 
the conclusion of the entry operations regarding the permit-space 
program followed and regarding any hazards confronted or created in 
permit spaces during entry operations.
    Section 1910.146(c)(9)(iii) requires that the contractor inform the 
host employer of the permit-space program that the contractor will 
follow and of any hazards confronted or created in permit spaces; the 
contractor will inform the host employer either through a debriefing or 
during the entry operation.
    Section 1910.146(d)(5)(vi) requires the employer to immediately 
provide each authorized entrant or that employee's authorized 
representative with the results of any testing conducted in accordance 
with paragraph (d) of this section.
    Section 1910.146(e)(1) 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 (f) of 
Sec.  1910.146 specifies the

[[Page 77852]]

information to be included on the entry permit. 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 know that 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.
    Section 1910.146(k)(1)(iv) requires that the employer inform each 
rescue team or service of the hazards they may confront when called on 
to perform a rescue at the site. Section 1910.146(k)(2)(ii) requires 
that the employer train affected employees to perform assigned rescue 
duties. The employer must ensure that such employees successfully 
complete the training required to establish proficiency as an 
authorized entrant, as provided by paragraphs (g) and (h) of this 
section. Section 1910.146(k)(2)(iii) requires that the employer train 
affected employees in basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation 
(CPR). The employer shall ensure that at least one member of the rescue 
team or service who holds a current certification in first aid and CPR 
is available.
    Section 1910.146(k)(4) requires that if an injured entrant is 
exposed to a substance for which a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or 
other similar written information is required to be kept at the 
worksite, that the employer make the MSDS or written information 
available to the medical facility treating the exposed entrant.
    Section 1910.146(l)(2) requires that employers make all information 
required to be developed by this section available to affected 
employees and their authorized representatives.

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 requesting that OMB extend its approval of the information 
collection requirements contained in the Standard on Permit-Required 
Confined Spaces (29 CFR 1910.146). OSHA is proposing to decrease the 
existing burden hour estimate for the collection of information 
requirements specified by the Standard from 1,475,091 hours to 
1,433,443 hours, for a total decrease of 41,648 hours. This adjustment 
was due to updated data that indicated a slight decline in the number 
of establishments with permit spaces, permit-space programs, and 
permit-space entrants. The Agency will summarize the comments submitted 
in response to this notice and will include this summary in the request 
to OMB.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Title: Permit-Required Confined Spaces (29 CFR 1910.146).
    OMB Number: 1218-0203.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profits; Not-for-profit 
organizations; Federal Government; State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 209,045.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Average Time per Response: Varies from one minute (.02 hour) to 
maintain a certificate to 16 hours to develop a written permit-space 
entry program.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,433,443.
    Estimated Cost (Operation and Maintenance): $0.

IV. Public Participation--Submission of Comments on This Notice and 
Internet Access to Comments and Submissions

    You may submit comments in response to this document as follows: 
(1) Electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal; (2) by facsimile (fax); or (3) by hard copy. All 
comments, attachments, and other material must identify the Agency name 
and the OSHA docket number for the ICR (Docket No. OSHA-2011-0858). You 
may supplement electronic submissions by uploading document files 
electronically. If you wish to mail additional materials in reference 
to an electronic or facsimile submission, you must submit them to the 
OSHA Docket Office (see the section of this notice titled ADDRESSES). 
The additional materials must clearly identify your electronic comments 
by your name, date, and the docket number so the Agency can attach them 
to your comments.
    Because of security procedures, the use of regular mail may cause a 
significant delay in the receipt of comments. For information about 
security procedures concerning the delivery of materials by hand, 
express delivery, messenger, or courier service, please contact the 
OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-2350, (TTY (877) 889-5627).
    Comments and submissions are posted without change at http://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, OSHA cautions commenters about 
submitting personal information, such as social security numbers and 
dates of birth. Although all submissions are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index, some information (e.g., copyrighted 
material) is not publicly available to read or download through this 
Web site. All submissions, including copyrighted material, are 
available for inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket Office. 
Information on using the http://www.regulations.gov Web site to submit 
comments and access the docket is available at the Web site's ``User 
Tips'' link. Contact the OSHA Docket Office for information about 
materials not available through the Web site, and for assistance in 
using the Internet to locate docket submissions.

V. Authority and Signature

    David Michaels, Ph.D., MPH, 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 et seq.) and Secretary of Labor's Order No. 5-2010 
(72 FR 55355).

    Signed at Washington, DC, on December 9, 2011.
David Michaels,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2011-32050 Filed 12-13-11; 8:45 am]
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