DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations; Mechanical Power Press Injury Report (OMB No. 1218-0070).

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). 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 impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of approval for the paperwork requirements of 29 CFR 1910.217(g), Reports of injuries to employees operating mechanical power presses.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 31, 1997.

Written comments should:

Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

• Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;



• 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 submissions of responses.

ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket No. ICR-97-1, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20210, telephone: (202) 219-7894. Written comments limited to 10 pages or less in length may also be transmitted by facsimile to (202) 219-5046.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bonnie Friedman, Office of Information and Consumer Affairs, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3647, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20210, telephone (202) 219-8148. Copies of the referenced information collection request are available for inspection and copying in the Docket Office and will be mailed immediately to persons who request copies by telephoning Vivian Allen at (202) 219-8076. For electronic copies, contact OSHA's WebPage on Internet at http://www.osha.gov/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

This report is specifically concerned with mechanical power presses. However, because it provides information about point-of-operation injuries, the report is of disproportionally significant value to OSHA. Point-of-operation injuries are the prime safety concern for machine tools in general, not just mechanical power presses. This report provides OSHA with an ongoing and current view of the causes of point-of-operation injuries, with an extremely low burden on the public.

In addition, OSHA is conducting a national emphasis program aimed at reducing the number and severity of power press injuries. It will continue to need the information provided in the reports to monitor the types of injuries reported and the sorts of equipment and conditions associated with these injuries. Existing reports were useful in identifying affected industries and equipment, but as industry patterns evolve and new technologies arise (or old ones decline), it will be useful to have up-to-date information. Regardless of whether this information is currently needed for the revision of regulations, it is useful in the context of enforcement planning, compliance officer training, and possibly, of use in relation to the development of hazard alerts about particularly hazardous equipment or operations.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) currently has approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for certain information collection requirements contained in 29 CFR 1910.217(g). That approval will expire on March 31, 1997, unless OSHA applies for an extension of the OMB approval. This notice initiates the process for OSHA to request an extension of the current OMB approval. This notice also solicits public comment on OSHA's existing paperwork burden estimates from these interested parties and to seek public response to several questions related to the development of OSHA's estimation. Interested parties are requested to review OSHA's existing estimates, which are based upon information available during rulemaking, and to comment on their accuracy or appropriateness in today's workplace situation.

II. Current Actions

This notice requests an extension of the current OMB approval of the paperwork requirements in 29 CFR 1910.217(g), Reports of injuries to employees operating mechanical power presses.

Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.

Agency: U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Title: Reports of Injuries to Employees Operating Mechanical Power Presses (29 CFR 1910.217(g)).

OMB Number: 1218-0070.

Agency Number: Docket No. ICR-97-1.

Frequency: As needed, upon injuries to employees operating mechanical power presses.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit institutions.

Number of respondents: 191.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 0.3 hours. Total

Estimated Cost: $1,948.

Total Burden Hours: 57.3. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or 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.

Dated: January 21, 1997.

Thomas H. Seymour,
Acting Director, Directorate of Safety Standards Programs.

[FR Doc. 97-2047 Filed 1-27-97; 8:45 am)