[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 202 (Monday, October 19, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66360-66363]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23027]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. OSHA-2011-0055]


Steel Erection Standard; 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 the proposal to 
extend the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of the 
information collection requirements contained in the Steel Erection 
Standard.

DATES: Comments must be submitted (postmarked, sent, or received) by 
December 18, 2020.

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.

[[Page 66361]]

    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-2011-0055, 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of 
Labor, Room N-3653, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210. 
Please note: While OSHA's Docket Office is continuing to accept and 
process submissions by regular mail, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 
Docket Office is closed to the public and not able to received 
submissions to the docket by hand, express mail, messenger, and courier 
service.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and the 
OSHA docket number (OSHA-2011-0055) for the Information Collection 
Request (ICR). All comments, including any personal information you 
provide, such as social security numbers and dates of birth, 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 above address. 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 website. All submissions, 
including copyrighted material, are available for inspection and 
copying at the OSHA Docket Office. You may also contact Theda Kenney at 
(202) 693-2222 to obtain a copy of the ICR.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Seleda Perryman or Theda Kenney, 
Directorate of Standards and Guidance, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, 
telephone (202) 693-2222.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Department of Labor, as part of a continuing effort to reduce 
paperwork and respondent (i.e., employer) burden, conducts a 
preclearance process 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 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)). This program ensures that information is in the desired 
format, the reporting burden (time and costs) is minimal, the 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and OSHA's estimate of 
the information collection burden is accurate. The Occupational Safety 
and Health Act of 1970 (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 OSHA to obtain 
such information with a minimum burden upon employers, especially those 
operating small businesses, and to reduce to the maximum extent 
feasible unnecessary duplication of effort in obtaining said 
information (29 U.S.C. 657).

Section 1926.752(a)(1)

    Based on the results of a specified method for testing field-cured 
samples, the controlling contractor must provide the steel erector with 
written notification that the concrete in the footings, piers, and 
walls, or the mortar in the masonry piers and walls, is at 75% of the 
minimum compressive-design strength or has sufficient strength to 
support loads imposed during steel erection. Note: This is not and will 
not be enforced for mortar in piers and walls until such time as OSHA 
is able to define an appropriate substitute or until an appropriate 
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) test method is 
developed.

Sections 1926.752(a)(2) and 1926.755(b)(1)

    Under Sec.  1926.752(a)(2), the controlling contractor, before it 
authorizes commencement of steel erection, must notify the steel 
erector in writing that any repairs, replacements, and modifications to 
anchor bolts (rods) have been made in accordance with Sec.  
1926.755(b)(1) which requires the controlling contractor to obtain 
approval from the project structural engineer of record for the 
repairs, replacements, and modifications.

Section 1926.753(c)(5)

    Employers must not deactivate safety latches on hooks or make them 
inoperable except for the situation when: A qualified rigger determines 
that it is safer to hoist and place purlins and single joists by doing 
so; or except when equivalent protection is provided in the site-
specific erection plan.

Section 1926.753(e)(2)

    Employers must have the maximum capacity of the total multiple-lift 
rigging assembly, as well as each of the individual attachment points, 
certified by the manufacturer, or a qualified rigger.

Sections 1926.755(b)(1) and 1926.755(b)(2)

    Under Sec.  1926.755(b)(2), throughout steel erection the 
controlling contractor must notify the steel erector in writing of 
additional repairs, replacements, and modifications of anchor bolts 
(rods); Sec.  1926.755(b)(1) requires that these repairs, replacements, 
and modifications not be made without approval from the project 
structural engineer of record.

Section 1926.757(a)(4)

    If steel joists at or near columns span more than 60 feet, 
employers must set the joists in tandem with all bridging installed. 
However, the employer may use an alternative method of erection if a 
qualified person develops the alternative method, it provides 
equivalent stability, and the employer includes the method in the site-
specific erection plan.

Section 1926.757(a)(7)

    Employers must not modify steel joists or steel joist girders in a 
way that affects their strength without the approval of the project 
structural engineer of record.

Sections 1926.757(a)(9) and 1926.758(g)

    An employer can use a steel joist, steel joist girder, purlin, or 
girt as an anchorage point for a fall-arrest system only with the 
written approval of a qualified person.

Section 1926.757(e)(4)(i)

    An employer must install and anchor all bridging on joists and 
attach all joist bearing ends before placing a bundle of decking on the 
joists, unless: a qualified person determines that the structure or 
portion of the structure is capable of supporting the bundle, the 
employer documents this determination in the site-specific erection 
plan, and follows the additional requirements specified in Sec. Sec.  
1926.757(e)(4)(ii)-(vi).

Sections 1926.760(e) and (e)(1)

    The steel erector can leave the fall protection at the jobsite 
after completion of the erection activity only if the controlling 
contractor or the authorized representative directs the steel erector 
to do so and inspects and accepts responsibility for the fall 
protection.

[[Page 66362]]

Section 1926.752(e) and Appendix A to Subpart R, ``Guidelines for 
Establishing the Components of a Site-Specific Erection Plan: Non-
Mandatory Guidelines for Complying with 1926.752(e),'' Paragraph (a)

    Site-specific erection plan. Where employers elect, due to 
conditions specific to the site, to develop alternate means and methods 
that provide employee protection in accordance with Sec. Sec.  
1926.753(c)(5), 1926.757(a)(4), or 1926.757(e)(4), a site-specific 
erection plan shall be developed by a qualified person and be available 
at the work site. Guidelines for establishing a site-specific erection 
plan are contained in Appendix A to this subpart.
    Appendix A to Subpart R, paragraph (b). Paragraph (b) of the 
Appendix provides for the development of a site-specific erection plan. 
Preconstruction conference(s) and site inspection(s) are held between 
the erector and the controlling contractor, and others such as the 
project engineer and fabricator before the start of steel erection. The 
purpose of such conference(s) is to develop and review the site-
specific erection plan that will meet the requirements of this section.
    Appendix A to Subpart R, paragraphs (c), (c)(1)-(c)(9), (d), (d)(1) 
and (d)(2). These paragraphs of Appendix A describe the components of a 
site-specific erection plan, including: The sequence of erection 
activity developed in coordination with the controlling contractor; a 
description of the crane and derrick selection and placement 
procedures; a description of the fall protection procedures that will 
be used to comply with Sec.  1926.760; a description of the procedures 
that will be used to comply with Sec.  1926.759; a description of the 
special procedures required for hazardous non-routine tasks; a 
certification for each employee who has received training for 
performing steel erection operations as required by Sec.  1926.761; a 
list of the qualified and competent persons; a description of the 
procedures that will be utilized in the event of rescue or emergency 
response; the identification of the site and project; and signed and 
dated by the qualified person(s) responsible for the preparation and 
modification.

Paragraph (c)(4)(ii) of Appendix G to Subpart R

    This mandatory appendix duplicates the regulatory requirements of 
Sec.  1926.502 (``Fall protection systems criteria and practices''), 
notably the requirements specified in paragraph (c)(4)(ii). This 
paragraph addresses the certification of safety nets as an option 
available to employers who can demonstrate that performing a drop test 
on safety nets is unreasonable. This provision allows such employers to 
certify that their safety nets, including the installation of the nets, 
protect workers at least as well as safety nets that meet the drop-test 
criteria. The employer must complete the certification process prior to 
using the net for fall protection, and the certificate must include the 
following information: identification of the net and the type of 
installation used for the net; the date the certifying party determined 
that the net and the installation would meet the drop-test criteria; 
and the signature of the party making this determination. The most 
recent certificate must be available at the jobsite for inspection.

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 an adjustment increase of 3,337 burden hours 
from 30,819 34,156 hours. This increase is the result of an estimated 
increase in the number of covered employers. The total estimated number 
of establishments affected by the regulation increased from 16,748 to 
18,468, a total adjustment of 1,720 more establishments, based on 
updated data.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Title: Steel Erection (29 CFR 1926, Subpart R).
    OMB Control Number: 1218-0241.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profits.
    Number of Respondents: 18,468.
    Frequency: On Occasion; Quarterly; Annually; Immediately; Within 24 
hours; Within 30 days.
    Average Time per Response: Varies.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 101,624.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 34,156.
    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 (Docket No. OSHA-2011-0055) for the ICR. 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 electronic comments by 
your name, date, and the docket number so that 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 
website. All submissions, including copyrighted material, are available 
for inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket Office. Information on 
using the http://www.regulations.gov website to submit comments and 
access the docket is available at the website's ``User Tips'' link. 
Contact the OSHA Docket Office for information about materials not 
available through the website, and for assistance in using the internet 
to locate docket submissions.

V. Authority and Signature

    Loren Sweatt, Principal Deputy 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

[[Page 66363]]

U.S.C. 3506 et seq.) and Secretary of Labor's Order No. 1-2012 (77 FR 
3912).

    Signed at Washington, DC, on October 13, 2020.
Loren Sweatt,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety 
and Health.
[FR Doc. 2020-23027 Filed 10-16-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P