[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 22, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45017-45019]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-11171]


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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 specified in the Steel Erection 
Standard.

DATES: Comments must be submitted (postmarked, sent, or received) by 
July 22, 2024.

ADDRESSES: 
    Electronically: You may submit comments and attachments 
electronically at https://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for submitting 
comments.
    Docket: To read or download comments or other material in the 
docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov. Documents in the docket are 
listed in the https://www.regulations.gov index; however, some 
information (e.g., copyrighted material) is not publicly available to 
read or download through the websites. All submissions, including 
copyrighted material, are available for inspection through the OSHA 
Docket Office. Contact the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-2350 (TTY 
(877) 889-5627) for assistance in locating docket submissions.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and OSHA 
docket number (OSHA-2011-0055) for the Information Collection Request 
(ICR). OSHA will place all comments, including any personal 
information, in the public docket, which may be made available online. 
Therefore, OSHA cautions interested parties about submitting personal 
information such as social security numbers and birthdates.
    For further information on submitting comments, see the ``Public 
Participation'' heading in the section of this notice titled 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Seleda Perryman, 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 the 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 (PRA) (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, 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 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 provisions are a description of the collection of 
information requirements contained in the Steel Erection Standard. The 
purpose of these requirements is to reduce employees' risk of death or 
serious injury while working under hazardous conditions.

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 percent 
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 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.

[[Page 45018]]

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, 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.

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 to 
protect workers, 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, and 
transmission techniques.

III. Proposed Actions

    OSHA is requesting that OMB extend the approval of the information 
collection requirements contained in the Steel Erection Standard. The 
agency is requesting an adjustment decrease in burden hours from 34,157 
hours to 28,454 hours, a difference of 5,703 hours. This decrease is 
due to the decrease in the number of covered project sites from 18,468 
to 15,383 project sites.
    OSHA will summarize the comments submitted in response to this 
notice and will include this summary in the request to OMB to extend 
the approval of the information collection requirements.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Title: Steel Erection Standard.
    OMB Control Number: 1218-0241.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profits.
    Number of Respondents: 15,383.
    Number of Responses: 84,650.
    Frequency of Responses: On occasion.
    Average Time per Response: Varies.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 28,454.
    Estimated Cost (Operation and Maintenance): $0.

[[Page 45019]]

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 https://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal; or (2) by facsimile (fax), if your comments, 
including attachments, are not longer than 10 pages you may fax them to 
the OSHA Docket Office at 202-693-1648. All comments, attachments, and 
other material must identify the agency name and the OSHA docket number 
for the ICR (Docket No. OSHA-2011-0055). You may supplement electronic 
submission by uploading document files electronically.
    Comments and submissions are posted without change at https://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 https://www.regulations.gov index, some information (e.g., copyrighted 
material) is not publicly available to read or download from this 
website. All submission, including copyrighted material, are available 
for inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket Office. Information on 
using the https://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 at (202) 693-2350, (TTY (877) 889-5627) 
for information about materials not available from the website, and for 
assistance in using the internet to locate docket submissions.

V. Authority and Signature

    James S. Frederick, 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 U.S.C. 3506 et seq.) and Secretary of Labor's Order No. 8-2020 
(85 FR 58393).

    Signed at Washington, DC, on May 15, 2024.
James S. Frederick,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2024-11171 Filed 5-21-24; 8:45 am]
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