[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 25, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16963-16964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06220]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
[OMB Control No. 1219-0089]
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Safety Defects;
Examination, Correction, and Records
AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Request for public comments.
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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 collections of information
in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. 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 Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is
soliciting comments on the information collection for Safety Defects;
Examination, Correction, and Records.
DATES: All comments must be received on or before May 26, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Comments concerning the information collection requirements
of this notice may be sent by any of the methods listed below.
Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments for docket
number MSHA-2019-0050.
Regular Mail: Send comments to USDOL-MSHA, Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, Suite
4E401, Arlington, VA 22202-5452.
Hand Delivery: USDOL-Mine Safety and Health
Administration, 201 12th Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, VA
22202-5452. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 4th floor via the
East elevator.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheila McConnell, Director, Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at
[email protected] (email); (202) 693-9440 (voice);
or (202) 693-9441 (facsimile).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977
(Mine Act), 30 U.S.C. 813(h), authorizes MSHA to collect information
necessary to carry out its duty in protecting the safety and health of
miners. Further, section 101(a) of the Mine Act, 30 U.S.C. 811,
authorizes the Secretary of Labor (Secretary) to develop, promulgate,
and revise as may be appropriate, improved mandatory health or safety
standards for the protection of life and prevention of injuries in coal
and metal and nonmetal mines.
This Information Collection Request concerns recordkeeping
requirements related to: (1) Inspection of compressed-air receivers and
other unfired pressure vessels, (2) Boilers, (3) Safety defects;
examination, correction and records, and (4) Examination of working
places.
Under sections 56.13015 and 57.13015 of title 30, Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR), compressed-air receivers and other unfired pressure
vessels must be inspected by inspectors holding a valid National Board
Commission and in accordance with the applicable chapters of the
National Board Inspection Code, a Manual for Boiler and Pressure
Vessels Inspectors, 1979. Safety defects found on compressed-air
receivers and other unfired pressure vessels have caused injuries and
fatalities in the mining industry.
Records of inspections must be kept in accordance with the
requirements of the National Board Inspection Code and the records must
be made available to the Secretary or an authorized representative.
Under sections 56.13030 and 57.13030 of title 30 CFR, fired
pressure vessels (boilers) must be equipped with water level gauges,
pressure gauges, automatic pressure-relief valves, blowdown piping and
other safety devices approved by the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers to protect against hazards from overpressure, flameouts, fuel
interruptions and low water level.
Records of inspection and repairs must be retained by the mine
operator in accordance with the requirements of the ASME Boiler and
Pressure Vessel Code, 1977, and the National Board Inspection Code
(progressive records--no limit on retention time) and shall be made
available to the Secretary or an authorized representative.
Under sections 56.14100 and 57.14100, operators must inspect
equipment, machinery, and tools that are to be used during a shift for
safety defects before the equipment is placed in operation. Defects
affecting safety are required to be corrected in a timely manner. In
instances where the defect makes continued operation of the equipment
hazardous to persons, the equipment must be removed from service,
tagged to identify that it is out of use, and repaired before use is
resumed.
Safety defects on self-propelled mobile equipment account for many
injuries and fatalities in the mining industry. Inspection of this
equipment prior to use is required to ensure safe operation. The
equipment operator is required to make a visual and operational check
of the various primary operating systems that affect safety, such as
brakes, lights, horn, seatbelts, tires, steering, back-up alarm,
windshield, cab safety glass, rear and side view mirrors, and other
safety and health related items.
Any defects found are required to be either corrected immediately,
or reported to and recorded by the mine operator prior to the timely
correction. The precise format in which the record is kept is left to
the discretion of the mine operator. Reports of uncorrected defects are
required to be recorded by the mine operator and kept at the mine
office from the date the defects are recorded, until the defects are
corrected.
Under sections 56.18002 and 57.18002 of title 30 CFR, a competent
person designated by the operator shall examine each working place at
least once each shift before miners begin work in that place, for
conditions that may adversely affect safety or health. A record of each
examination must be made before the end of the shift for which the
examination was conducted. The record must contain the name of the
person conducting the examination; the date of the examination;
location of all areas examined; and description of each condition found
that may adversely affect the safety or health of miners. When a
condition that may adversely affect safety or health is corrected, the
examination record shall include, or be supplemented to include, the
date of the corrective action. The operator must maintain the
examination records for at least one year, make the records available
for inspection by authorized representatives of the Secretary and the
representatives of miners, and provide these representatives a copy on
request.
[[Page 16964]]
II. Desired Focus of Comments
MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information
collection. MSHA is particularly interested in comments that:
Evaluate whether the collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency,
including whether the information has practical utility;
Evaluate the accuracy of MSHA's estimate of the burden of
the collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
Suggest methods to 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 submission of responses.
The information collection request will be available on http://www.regulations.gov. MSHA cautions the commenter against providing any
information in the submission that should not be publicly disclosed.
Full comments, including personal information provided, will be made
available on www.regulations.gov and www.reginfo.gov.
The public may also examine publicly available documents at USDOL-
Mine Safety and Health Administration, 201 12th Street South, Suite
4E401, Arlington, VA 22202-5452. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on
the 4th floor via the East elevator.
Questions about the information collection requirements may be
directed to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section of
this notice.
III. Current Actions
This request for collection of information contains recordkeeping
provisions for 30 CFR 56/57.13015, 56/57.13030, 56/57.14100, and 56/
57.18002. MSHA has updated the data with respect to the number of
respondents, responses, burden hours, and burden costs supporting this
information collection request.
Type of Review: Extension, without change, of a currently approved
collection.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.
OMB Number: 1219-0089.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 12,280.
Frequency: On occasion.
Number of Responses: 4,101,012.
Annual Burden Hours: 881,963 hours.
Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $215,299.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and 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.
Sheila McConnell,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-06220 Filed 3-24-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P