OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION

Notice of Request for Comments

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

SUMMARY: The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), Pub. L. 103-62, codified in part at 31 U.S.C. 1115-1119, instructs federal agencies to develop performance goals and objectives in order that an agency's actual performance may be measured and compared against those goals and objectives, thus enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of an agency's work. In developing its goals and objectives under GPRA, the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission solicits the views of those who practice before it and those who are affected by its case dispositions.

DATES: Comments should be received by September 15, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to William J. Gainer, Executive Director, Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, 1120 20th Street, N.W., 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20036-3419, telephone: 202-606- 5380. This is not a toll-free number.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William J. Gainer, Executive Director, Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, 1120 20th Street, N.W., 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20036-3419, telephone: 202-606-5380. This is not a toll-free number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: GPRA charges federal agencies with formulating strategic plans, preparing annual plans setting performance goals, and reporting annually the actual agency performance compared to those goals. In formulating its broad goals, the Commission has sought to identify objectives and develop measures that are concrete and allow the evaluation of its performance in carrying out its statutory mission under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, (OSH Act), 29 U.S.C. 651 et seq. The agency views its mission as providing fair and timely adjudication of workplace safety and health disputes between the Department of Labor, employers, and employees and their representatives. The Commission contemplates issuing a plan which includes both agency mission performance goals, and internal operational goals which will help the Commission perform its mission and improve performance. The tentative mission performance goals are:

-- Assure the ready availability of fair, user friendly, and timely adjudication of all disputes brought before the Commission and its judges and achieve a high level of readability and quality in Commission legal decisions.

-- Significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of communications between the Commission and the public, its customers and other stakeholders.

Its tentative operational goals are to:

-- Capitalize on recent investments in modern computer hardware and software to increase organizational effectiveness, operate more efficiently and better serve internal and external customers.

-- Build a highly motivated diverse workforce by developing a first class human resource management system, including highly effective affirmative action, recruitment, training, award and performance management processes.

-- Maintain a highly effective integrated planning process to support budget, mission and operational decision making.

-- Develop and institutionalize a process for continuous quality improvement.

The Commission wishes to get the views of those who practice before it and those who are impacted by its decisions to help the agency in refining its goals, setting specific objectives and formulating agency performance measures.

In submitting comments, the Commission requests that commentors consider the following questions:

(a) Are there quantifiable or qualitative objectives that the Commission should pursue to meet its goals and accomplish its mission.

(b) How should the Commission measure the effectiveness of its service to litigants and to the public?

(c) What objectives should the Commission pursue to better communicate with its customers and the public?

(d) How can the quality and timeliness of Commission and Administrative Law Judge decisions be improved and the improvement measured?

(e) What information should the Commission routinely make available to the public and litigants and how should this information be made available?

The Commission requests that responses to this solicitation for comments be submitted by September 15, 1997.

Dated: August 27, 1997.

Stuart E. Weisberg,
Chairman.

[FR Doc. 97-23240 Filed 8-29-97; 8:45 am)