DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Construction Fall Protection Plans and Records

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice; proposed information collection request; submitted for public comment and recommendations.

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burdens, is conducting a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and 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 is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of approval for the paperwork requirements of 29 CFR 1926.502 and 1926.503, Fall Protection in Construction.

DATES: Written Comments must be submitted on or before June 30, 1997.

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 be 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 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 ICR-97-7, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, (202) 219-7894. Written comments limited to 19 pages or less may be transmitted by facsimile to (202) 219-5046.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Laurence Davey, Directorate of Construction, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N3621, 200 Constitutional Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, (202) 219-7198. Copies of the referenced information collection requests 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 the Labor News Bulletin Board (202) 219-4784; or OSHA's Web Page on Internet at http://www.osha.gov/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

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 1926.502 and 1926.503. That approval will expire on September 30, 1977, unless OSHA applies for an extension of the OMB approvals. This notice initiates the process for OSHA to request an extension of the current OMB approval.

As part of OMB's and OSHA's continuing paperwork reduction effort, OSHA seeks to reduce the paperwork burden hours in 29 CFR 1926.502 and 1926.503 based on input from parties interested in the regulatory scope of that regulation. The purpose of this notice is to solicit public comment on OSHA's existing paperwork burden estimates from those interested parties and to seek public response to several questions related to the development of OSHA's estimates. Interested parties are requested to review OSHA's estimates which are based on information available during rulemaking and to comment on their accuracy or appropriateness in today's workplace situation. OSHA bases its existing estimates upon information made available to the agency during the initial rulemaking effort for 29 CFR 1926.500-.503 (August 9, 1994, 59 FR 40672) and is interested in learning whether they are outdated.

Current Action

This notice requests an extension of the current OMB approval of the paperwork requirements in 29 CFR 1926.502 and 1926.503 Certification of Safety Net Installation, Fall Protection Plans and Training Certification Records.

Type of Review: Extension of existing approval.

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

Title: Fall Protection in Construction.

OMB Number: 1218-0197.

Agency Number: Docket No. ICR-97-7.

Emergency: On Occasion.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 6,000 (sites of net installation certification); 100,000 (sites using Fall Protection Plan); and 4 million (workers trained).

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 5 minutes (Safety Net Certification Records); One hour and 5 minutes (Fall Protection Plan); 5 minutes (Training Certification Records).

Total Burden Hours: 767,246 Hours (500 hours for safety net certification records; 100,080 hours for the fall protection plans; and 666,666 hours for training certification records.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and included in a request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also become a matter of public record.

Signed this 18th day of April 1997.

Russell B. Swanson,
Director, Directorate of Construction.

[FR Doc. 97-11059 Filed 4-28-97; 8:45 am)