[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 114 (Tuesday, June 14, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36001-36002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-12807]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Agency Information Collection Activities; Occupational Exposure 
to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Occupational 
Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)-sponsored information collection 
request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review 
and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that the agency 
receives on or before July 14, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
    Comments are invited on: (1) whether the collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Department, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden and 
cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicole Bouchet by telephone at 202-
693-0213, or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 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 effort in obtaining information (29 
U.S.C. 657).
    The following sections describe who uses the information collected 
under each requirement, as well as how they use it. The purpose of 
these requirements is to reduce employees' risk of death or serious 
injury by ensuring that employment has been tested and is in safe 
operating condition.
    The Standard entitled ``Occupational Exposure to Hazardous 
Chemicals in Laboratories'' (29 CFR 1910.1450; the

[[Page 36002]]

``Standard'') applies to laboratories that use hazardous chemicals in 
accord with the Standard's definitions for ``laboratory use of 
hazardous chemicals'' and ``laboratory scale.'' The Standard requires 
these laboratories to maintain worker exposures at or below the 
permissible exposure limits specified for the hazardous chemicals in 29 
CFR part 1910, subpart Z. The laboratories do so by developing a 
written Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) that describes the following: 
Standard operating procedures for using hazardous chemicals; hazard-
control techniques; equipment-reliability measures; worker information 
and training programs; conditions under which the employer must approve 
operations, procedures, and activities before implementation; and 
medical consultations and examinations. The CHP also designates 
personnel responsible for implementing the CHP and specifies the 
procedures to be used to provide additional protection to workers 
exposed to particularly hazardous chemicals.
    Other information collection requirements of the Standard include: 
Documenting exposure monitoring results; notifying workers in writing 
of these results; presenting specified information and training to 
workers; establishing a medical surveillance program for overexposed 
workers; providing required information to the physician; obtaining the 
physician's written opinion on using proper respiratory equipment; and 
establishing, maintaining, transferring, and disclosing exposure 
monitoring and medical records. These collection of information 
requirements, including the CHP, control worker overexposure to 
hazardous laboratory chemicals, thereby preventing serious illnesses 
and death among workers exposed to such chemicals. For additional 
substantive information about this ICR, see the related notice 
published in the Federal Register on March 28, 2022 (87 FR 17337).
    This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency 
generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and 
the public is generally not required to respond to an information 
collection, unless the OMB approves it and displays a currently valid 
OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions 
of law, no person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to 
comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid 
OMB Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.
    DOL seeks PRA authorization for this information collection for 
three (3) years. OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than 
three (3) years without renewal. The DOL notes that information 
collection requirements submitted to the OMB for existing ICRs receive 
a month-to-month extension while they undergo review.
    Agency: DOL-OSHA.
    Title of Collection: Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals 
in Laboratories.
    OMB Control Number: 1218-0131.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--Businesses or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 119,494.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 1,697,968.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 622,482 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $83,566,611.

(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D))

Nicole Bouchet,
Senior PRA Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2022-12807 Filed 6-13-22; 8:45 am]
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