[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 199 (Monday, October 15, 2012)][Rules and Regulations][Page 62433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-24595]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

29 CFR Parts 1910, 1915, and 1926

[Docket No. OSHA-H022K-2006-0062]
RIN 1218-AC20


Hazard Communication Standard; Approval of Information Collection
Requirements

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

ACTION: Final rule; notice of the Office of Management and Budget's
(OMB) approval of information collection requirements.

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SUMMARY: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is
announcing that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the
revised information collection requirements contained in the Hazard
Communication Standard (HCS) (29 CFR parts 1910, 1915, and 1926) under
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA-95). The OMB control number is
1218-0072.

DATES: The collections of information contained in the final rule
published March 26, 2012 (77 FR 17573) are effective October 15, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Theda Kenney or Todd Owen, Directorate
of Standards and Guidance, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3609,
200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202) 693-
2222.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 26, 2012, OSHA published a final
rule that aligned the existing HCS with the United Nations Globally
Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals that
benefits workers by reducing confusion about chemical hazards in the
workplace, facilitating safety training and improving the understanding
of hazards, especially for low literacy workers. The final rule revised
existing collection of information (paperwork) requirements that were
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under PRA-95, 44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq., and OMB's regulations at 5 CFR part 1320.
    Hazard communication is currently addressed by many different
international, national, and State authorities. These existing
requirements are not always consistent and often contain different
definitions of hazards and varying provisions for what information is
required on labels and safety data sheets (SDSs). The final standard
harmonizes the U.S. system with international norms and as a result
would enhance worker safety and facilitate international trade. The
final rule's modifications to the Hazard Communication Standard's
collection of information requirements include: (1) Revised criteria
for classification of chemical hazards; (2) revised labeling provisions
that include requirements for use of standardized signal words,
pictograms, hazard statements, and precautionary statements; (3) a
specified format for SDSs; and (4) related revisions to definitions of
terms used in the Standard and to requirements for employee training on
labels and SDSs.
    As required by PRA-95, the Federal Register notice for the Hazard
Communication final rule stated that the Department of Labor would
publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing the results of
OMB's reviews. On March 26, 2012, OSHA submitted a revised Hazard
Communication ICR for the final rule to OMB for approval in accordance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). On June
11, 2012, OMB approved the revised collections of information contained
in the final rule. This approval expires on June 30, 2015.
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
3501-3520), OMB approved the collections of information contained in
the HCS, and assigned these collections of information OMB control
number 1218-0072. This approval expires on June 30, 2015. In accordance
with 5 CFR 1320.5(b), an Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a
person need not respond to, a collection of information unless the
collection displays a valid OMB control number. Also, notwithstanding
any other provision of law, no employer shall be subject to penalty for
failing to comply with a collection of information if the collection of
information does not display a currently valid OMB control number.

Authority and Signature

    David Michaels, Ph.D., MPH, 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 et seq.) and Secretary of Labor's Order No. 1-2012
(77 FR 3912).

    Signed at Washington, DC on October 2, 2012.
David Michaels,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2012-24595 Filed 10-12-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P