[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 97 (Monday, May 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23312-23314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10398]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. OSHA-2010-0048]


Standard on Powered Platforms for Building Maintenance; 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 
specified in its Standard on Powered Platforms for Building 
Maintenance.

DATES: Comments must be submitted (postmarked, sent, or received) by 
July 21, 2017.

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, OSHA Docket No. OSHA-2010-0048, 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of 
Labor, Room N-3653, 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, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., e.t.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and OSHA 
docket number for the Information Collection Request (ICR) (OSHA-2010-
0048). 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).
    Paragraph (e)(9) of the Standard requires that employers develop 
and implement a written emergency action plan for each type of powered 
platform operation. The plan must explain the emergency procedures that 
workers are to follow if they encounter a disruption of the power 
supply, equipment failure, or other emergency. Prior to operating a 
powered platform, employers must train workers on the importance of 
alarm systems and emergency escape routes, and emergency procedures 
that pertain to the building on which they will be working. Employers 
should review with each worker those parts of the emergency action plan 
that the worker must know to ensure their protection during an 
emergency; these reviews must occur when the worker receives an initial 
assignment involving a powered platform operation and after the 
employer revises the emergency action plan.
    According to paragraph (f)(5)(i)(C), employers must affix a load 
rating plate in a prominent location on each suspended unit. The load 
rating plate should state the unit's weight and its rated load 
capacity. Paragraph (f)(5)(ii)(N) requires employers to mount each 
emergency electric operating device in a secured compartment and label 
the device with instructions for its use. After installing a suspension 
wire rope, paragraphs (f)(7)(vi) and (f)(7)(vii) mandate that employers 
attach a corrosion-resistant tag with specified information to one of 
the wire rope fastenings if the rope is to remain at one location. In 
addition, paragraph (f)(7)(viii) requires employers who resocket a wire 
rope to either stamp specified information on the original tag or put 
that information on a supplemental tag and attach it to the fastening.
    Paragraphs (g)(2)(i) and (g)(2)(ii) require that building owners 
have a competent person annually: Inspect the supporting structures of 
their buildings; inspect and, if necessary, test the components of the 
powered platforms, including control systems; inspect/test

[[Page 23313]]

components subject to wear (e.g., wire ropes, bearings, gears, and 
governors); and certify these inspections and tests. Under paragraph 
(g)(2)(iii), building owners must maintain and, on request, provide to 
OSHA a written certification record of these inspections/tests. This 
record must include the date of the inspection/test, the signature of 
the competent person who performed it, and the number/identifier of the 
building support structure and equipment inspected/tested.
    Paragraph (g)(3)(i) mandates that building owners use a competent 
person to inspect and, if necessary, test each powered platform 
facility according to the manufacturer's recommendations every 30 days, 
or prior to use if the work cycle is less than 30 days. Under paragraph 
(g)(3)(ii), building owners must maintain and, on request, provide to 
the Agency a written certification record of these inspections/tests. 
This record must include the date of the inspection/test, the signature 
of the competent person who performed it, and the number/identifier of 
the powered platform facility inspected/tested.
    According to paragraph (g)(5)(iii), building owners must use a 
competent person to thoroughly inspect suspension wire ropes for a 
number of specified conditions once a month. Additionally, wire ropes 
that have been inactive for 30 days or longer, must be inspected before 
placing them into service. Paragraph (g)(5)(v) requires building owners 
to maintain and, on request, provide to OSHA a written certification 
record of these monthly inspections. This record must consist of the 
date of the inspection, the signature of the competent person who 
performed it, and the number/identifier of the wire rope inspected.
    Upon completion of this training, paragraph (i)(1)(v) specifies 
that employers must prepare a written certification that includes the 
identity of the worker trained, the signature of the employer or the 
trainer, and the date the worker completed the training. In addition, 
the employer must maintain each worker's training certificate for the 
duration of their employment and, on request, make it available to 
OSHA.
    Emergency action plans allow employers and workers to anticipate, 
and effectively respond to, emergencies that may arise during powered 
platform operations. Affixing load rating plates to suspended units, 
instructions to emergency electric operating devices, and tags to wire 
rope fasteners can prevent workplace incidents by providing information 
to employers and workers regarding the conditions under which they can 
safely operate these systems. Requiring building owners to establish 
and maintain written certification of inspections and testing provides 
employers and workers with assurance that the building structure and 
equipment are in good condition.
    The training requirements allow workers to develop the skills and 
knowledge necessary to effectively operate, use, and inspect powered 
platforms, recognize and prevent safety hazards associated with 
platform operation, respond appropriately under emergency conditions, 
and maintain and use their fall protection arrest system. In addition, 
the paperwork requirements specified by the Standard provide the most 
efficient means for an OSHA compliance officer to determine whether or 
not employers and building owners are providing the required 
notification and certification.

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 Powered Platforms 
for Building Maintenance (29 CFR 1910.66). The Agency is requesting a 
decrease in its current burden hours from 130,764 hours to 130,763 
hours, a difference of one hour. 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: Standard on Powered Platforms for Building Maintenance (29 
CFR 1910.66).
    OMB Control Number: 1218-0121.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profits.
    Number of Respondents: 900.
    Frequency: On occasion; Initially, Monthly, Annually.
    Average Time per Response: Various.
    Total Burden Hours Requested: 130,763.
    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-2010-0048). You 
may supplement submissions by uploading document 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 from 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 from the Web site, and for assistance in using the Internet 
to locate docket submissions.

V. Authority and Signature

    Dorothy Dougherty, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
Occupational Safety and Health, directed the preparation of this 
notice. The authority

[[Page 23314]]

for this notice is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506 
et seq.) and Secretary of Labor's Order No. 1-2012 (77 FR 3912).

    Signed at Washington, DC, on May 8, 2017.
Dorothy Dougherty,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2017-10398 Filed 5-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-26-P