DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. ICR-99-18]

Inspection Certification Records for Slings; Extension of the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Approval of an Information Collection (Paperwork) Requirement

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); Labor.

ACTION: Notice of an opportunity for public comment.

SUMMARY: OSHA solicits comments concerning the proposed increase, and extension of, the information collection requirements (inspection and certification records) contained in the standard on Slings, 29 CFR 1910.184(e)(3)(i), (e)(4), (f)(4)(ii), (g)(1), (g)(8)(ii), and (i)(8)(ii).

Request for Comment

The Agency seeks comments on the following issues:

  • Whether the information collection requirements are necessary for the proper performance of the Agency's functions, including whether the information is useful;

  • The accuracy of the Agency'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 electronic, mechanical, and other technological information and transmission collection techniques.

DATES: Submit written comments on or before November 16, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the Docket Office, Docket No. ICR-99-18, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-2350. Commenters may transmit written comments of 10 pages or less in length by facsimile to (202) 693-1648.

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) 693-2222. A copy of the Agency's Information Collection Request (ICR) supporting the need for the information collection requirements (inspection certification records) contained in the standard on Slings (29 CFR 1910.184) is available for inspection and copying in the Docket Office, or mailed on request by telephoning Theda Kenney at (202) 693-2222 or Barbara Bielaski at (202) 693-2444. For electronic copies of the ICR, contact OSHA on the Internet at http://www.osha.gov/law-regs.html, and click on "Information Collection Requests."

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

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 continuing information collection requirements in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA-95) (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, collection instruments are clearly understood, and OSHA's estimate of the information collection burden is correct.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the Act) authorizes information collection by employers as necessary or appropriate for enforcement of the Act or for developing information regarding the causes and prevention of occupational injuries, illnesses, and accidents. (29 U.S.C. 657.) The information collection requirements (the inspection and certification records) in the standard on Slings (29 CFR 1910.184) require employers to: Generate and maintain records regarding the inspection of alloy steel chain slings, obtain and retain certificates showing that the equipment manufacturer (or equivalent entity) proof tested new, repaired, or reconditioned alloy steel chain slings, wire rope slings that have welded end attachments, and repaired synthetic web slings. These requirements also specify that employers affix a durable marking to metal mesh slings stating the rated capacity for the vertical basket hitch and choker hitch loadings, repaired metal mesh slings must indicate the date and type of repair, as well as the person or organization performing the repair, using permanent marking or tagging, or by maintaining a written record.

II. Proposed Actions

OSHA proposes to increase its earlier estimate of 1,071 burden hours to 21,435 burden hours for the provisions requiring inspection and certification records in the standard on Slings (29 CFR 1910.184).

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 contained in the above standard.

Type of Review: Extension of currently approved information collection requirement.

Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Title: Inspection and Certification Records for Slings (29 CFR 1910.184).

OMB Number: 1218-0223.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; not-for-profit institutions; Federal government; state, local or tribal government.

Number of Respondents: 155,675.

Frequency: Annually.

Average Time Per Response: Varies from three minutes (0.05 hour) to 15 minutes (0.25 hour).

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 21,435.

III. Authority and Signature

Charles N. Jeffress, 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), Secretary of Labor's Order No. 6-96 (62 FR 111).

Signed at Washington, DC, this 13th day of September 1999.

Charles N. Jeffress,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.

[FR Doc. 99-24266 Filed 9-16-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-26-M