DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. ICR-98-27]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Powered Platforms for Building Maintenance (29 CFR 1910.66)

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 the information collection requirements contained in the standard on Powered Platforms for Building Maintenance (29 CFR 1910.66). The Agency is particularly interested in comments which:

• 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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 18, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket No. ICR-98-27, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 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: Theda Kenney, Directorate of Safety Standards Programs, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N- 3605, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210, telephone: (202) 219-8061. A copy of the referenced information collection request is available for inspection and copying in the Docket Office and will be mailed to persons who request copies by telephoning Theda Kenney at (202) 219-8061, extension 100, or Barbara Bielaski at (202) 219-8076, extension 142. For electronic copies of the Information Collection Request on Powered Platforms for Building Maintenance (29 CFR 1910.66), contact OSHA's WebPage on the Internet at http://www.osha.gov/

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the Act) authorizes the promulgation of such health and safety standards as are necessary or appropriate to provide safe or healthful employment and places of employment. The statute specifically authorizes information collection by employers as necessary or appropriate for the enforcement of the Act or for developing information regarding the causes and prevention of occupational injuries, illnesses, and accidents.

One of the information collection requirements if for the employer to develop written work procedures to be used to train employees (Sec. 1910.66(i)(1)(iv)). The employer would then prepare a certification record to verify that the training has been given (Sec. 1910.66(i)(1)(v)). The written work procedures would address the operation, safe use, and inspection of powered platforms.

Another information collection requirement is that employers develop a written emergency action plan for employees who work on powered platforms at different building sites (Sec. 1910.66(e)(9)). OSHA believes it is necessary for the employer to prepare for emergencies so that employees using powered platforms know what actions are required of them during emergency situations. Employers would also certify that employees had been trained in the emergency action plan.

OSHA also requires employers to conduct inspections and tests (Secs. 1910.66(g)(2)(i), (g)(2)(ii), (g)(3)(i), and (g)(5)(iii)) and to certify that these inspections and tests had been conducted (Secs. 1910.66(g)(2)(iii), (g)(3)(ii) and (g)(5)(v)). Certification records are required to show inspections: (1) Of the building supports (once a year); (2) of the equipment used on the platform--the hoist, control systems, bearings, gears, and governors, for example (as recommended by the manufacturer or supplier, but at least once a year inspection and tested as needed); (3) of the installation of the platform (every 30 days or when used less frequently, before each work cycle); (4) of the wire rope every month or before being used; and (5) to demonstrate employee training.

OSHA estimates the burden for all of the inspections, tests, and certification records at 256,500 hours based on professional staff knowledge of the time it takes to perform the inspections and tests of the building supports, platform installation and platform equipment, including wire ropes, and to prepare the required certification records. OSHA believes about half of the burden it has calculated is a usual and customary burden to employers for the following reasons: (1) Many employers rent powered platforms and the rental company supplies the documentation required by the OSHA standard as a usual and customary business practice; (2) insurance carriers require building owners to inspect the platform support system; (3) building owners, for their own liability, inspect the platform installation and equipment; (4) many states require building owners to make the same inspections that OSHA requires in its standard; and (5) there is a national consensus standard, ANSI A-120, which prescribes similar requirements which have been adopted by local and state officials and represents standard industry practice. In consideration of all of these factors, OSHA believes it would be reasonable to assume that 50 percent of the burden is usual and customary. For the purpose of this paperwork package, OSHA is reducing the burden estimate to 128,250 hours for those inspections, tests, and records. In addition, there are 144 hours of burden for the training certification records.

The Agency specifically invites the public to comment on its estimate that 50 percent of the burden discussed above is considered normal business operations.

The final group of information collection requirements in the standard pertains to a number of provisions requiring tags and labels. Section 1910.65(f)(5)(i)(C) requires a load rating plate to be affixed to each suspended unit. Section 1910.66(f)(5)(ii)(N) requires the compartment for an emergency electric operating device to be labeled with instructions for use. Sections 1910.66(f)(7)(vi), 1910.66(f)(7)(vii), and 1910.66(f)(7)(viii) require the attachment of a tag on a suspension wire rope when it is installed, renewed or resocketed.

The information collected would also be used by OSHA compliance officers to ensure that employers are complying with the requirements set forth in 29 CFR 1910.66.

II. Current Actions

This notice requests public comment on OSHA's burden hour estimates prior to OSHA seeking Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the information collection requirements contained in the Powered Platforms for Building Maintenance standard.

Type of Review: Extension of a Currently Approved collection.

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

Title: Powered Platforms for Building Maintenance (29 CFR 1910.66).

OMB Number: 1218-0121.

Agency Number: Docket Number ICR-98-27.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; State or local governments.

Number of Respondents: 51,687.

Frequency: Varies (Initially, Annually, Monthly, On Occasion).

Average Time per Response: Varies from five minutes to generate, maintain and disclose records to 8 hours to prepare plans (average of two hours).

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 129,763.

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: $0.

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

Signed at Washington, D.C., this 15th day of June 1998.

Charles N. Jeffress,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.

[FR Doc. 98-16381 Filed 6-18-98; 8:45 am]

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