DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. ICR1218-0233(2000)]

Rigging Equipment -- Proof Testing of Welded End Wire Rope Attachment; Extension of the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Approval of Information Collection (Paperwork) Requirements

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

ACTION: Notice of an opportunity for public comment.

SUMMARY: OSHA solicits comments concerning the extension of the information collection requirements contained in the standard on Rigging Equipment -- Proof-testing of Welded End Wire Rope Attachment (29 CFR 251(c)(15)(ii)).

The Agency is particularly interested in comments on the following:

• 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 May 19, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to the Docket Office, Docket No. ICR1218- 0233 (2000), Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20210, telephone: (202) 693-2350. You may transmit written comments 10 pages or less in length by facsimile to (202) 693- 1648.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Martinez, Directorate of Policy, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3605, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-2444. A copy of the Agency's Information Collection Request (ICR) supporting the need for the information collection requirements on Rigging Equipment -- Proof-testing of Welded End Wire Rope attachments is available for inspection and copying in the Docket Office, or you may request a mailed copy by telephoning Kathleen Martinez at (202) 693-2444 or Todd Owen at (202) 693-2444. For electronic copies of the ICR on Rigging Equipment -- Proof- testing of Welded End Wire Rope Attachment (29 CFR 251(c)(15)(ii), contact OSHA on the Internet at http://www.osha.gov.

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 cost) is minimal, collection instruments clearly understood, and the impact of information collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. 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).

II. Proposed Actions

Paragraph (c)(15)(ii) of 29 CFR 1926.251 requires employers to retain a certificate of proof-test from the manufacturer. The retention of manufacturer certifies is necessary to assure proof-testing of the welded end wire rope attachment and also to assure testing of all welded end attachments at twice their rated capacity.

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 Rigging Equipment -- Proof testing of Welded End Wire Rope Attachment (29 CFR 251(c)(15)(ii)).

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

Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Title: Rigging Equipment -- Proof testing of Welded End Wire Rope Attachment (29 CFR 251(c)(15)(ii)).

OMB Number: 1218-0233.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Federal government; state, local or tribal government.

Number of Respondents: 18,940.

Frequency: On occasion.

Average Time per Response: 5 minutes.

Estimated Total Burden House: 1,515 hours.

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), and 29 CFR part 11.

Signed at Washington, D.C., this 14 day of March 2000.

Charles N. Jeffress,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.

[FR Doc. 00-6724 Filed 3-17-00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-26-M