DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. ICR-1218-0113(2001)]

Cranes and Derricks Standard for Construction; Extension of the Office of Management of 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 public comment concerning its request to extend OMB approval of the information-collection requirements specified the Cranes and Derricks Standard for Construction; this paragraph requires employers to establish and maintain a record of the dates and results of the annual inspection conducted on each hoisting machine and piece of equipment.

DATES: Submit written comments on or before June 29, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the Docket Office, Docket No. ICR-1218-0113(2001), OSHA, 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 by facsimile to: (202) 693-1648.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen M. Martinez, Directorate of Policy, Office of Regulatory Analysis, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3609, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-1953. A copy of the Agency's Information-Collection Request (ICR) supporting the need for the information collections specified by the Cranes and Derricks Standard is available for inspection and copying in the Docket Office, or by requesting a copy from Todd Owen at (202) 693-2444. For electronic copies of the ICR contact OSHA on the Internet at http:// www.osha.gov/law-regs.html and select "Information Collection Requests."

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent (i.e., employer) burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the public 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 are clearly understood, and OSHA's estimate of the information-collection burden is correct.

Paragraph (a)(6) of the Standard requires employers to perform annual inspections of cranes and derricks and to establish and maintain a written record of the dates and results of these inspections. The inspections identify problems such as deterioration caused by exposure to adverse weather conditions, worn components and other flaws and defects that develop during use, and accelerated wear resulting from misalignments of connecting systems and components. A competent person or a government or private agency recognized by the U.S. Department of labor must perform the inspections.

Establishing and maintaining a written record of the annual inspections alerts the equipment mechanics to servicing or repair problems. Prior to returning the equipment to service, employers can review the records to ensure that the mechanics performed the necessary repairs and maintenance. Accordingly, by using only equipment that is in safe working order, employers will prevent severe injury and death to the equipment operators and other employees who use or work near the equipment. In addition, these records provide the most efficient means for an OSHA compliance officer to determine that an employer performed the required inspections and that the equipment is safe.

II. Special Issues for Comment

OSHA has a particular interest in comments on the following issues:

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

• The accuracy of OSHA's estimate of the burden (time and cost) 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 or other technological information- collection and -transmission techniques.

III. Proposed Actions

OSHA proposes to extend OMB's previous approval of the recordkeeping (paperwork) requirement specified in paragraph (a)(6) of the Cranes and Derricks Standard for Construction (29 CFR 1926.550). The Agency will summarize the comments submitted in response to this notice, and will include this summary in its request to OMB to extend the approval of this information-collection requirement.

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

Title: Annual Inspection Record Specified in the Cranes and Derricks Standard for Construction.

OMB Number: 1218-0113.

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

Number of Respondents: 32,900.

Frequency of Response: Annually.

Total Responses: 32,900.

Average Time per Response: Either 2.75 hours or 3.5 hours depending on the capacity of the crane/derrick.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 115,167.

Estimated Cost (Operation and Maintenance): $3,271.894.

IV. Authority and Signature

R. Davis Layne, Acting 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) and Secretary of Labor's Order No. 3-2000 (65 FR 50017).

Signed at Washington, DC, on April 24, 2001.

R. Davis Layne,
Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor.

[FR Doc. 01-10637 Filed 4-27-01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-26-M