[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 97 (Monday, May 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23312-23314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10398]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. OSHA-2010-0048]
Standard on Powered Platforms for Building Maintenance; 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: Request for public comments.
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SUMMARY: OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to
extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements
specified in its Standard on Powered Platforms for Building
Maintenance.
DATES: Comments must be submitted (postmarked, sent, or received) by
July 21, 2017.
ADDRESSES:
Electronically: You may submit comments and attachments
electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal
eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for submitting
comments.
Facsimile: If your comments, including attachments, are not longer
than 10 pages, you may fax them to the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-
1648.
Mail, hand delivery, express mail, messenger, or courier service:
When using this method, you must submit a copy of your comments and
attachments to the OSHA Docket Office, OSHA Docket No. OSHA-2010-0048,
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Labor, Room N-3653, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210.
Deliveries (hand, express mail, messenger, and courier service) are
accepted during the Department of Labor's and Docket Office's normal
business hours, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., e.t.
Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and OSHA
docket number for the Information Collection Request (ICR) (OSHA-2010-
0048). All comments, including any personal information you provide,
are placed in the public docket without change, and may be made
available online at http://www.regulations.gov. For further information
on submitting comments see the "Public Participation" heading in the
section of this notice titled SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Docket: To read or download comments or other material in the
docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov or the OSHA Docket Office at
the address above. All documents in the docket (including this Federal
Register notice) are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index;
however, some information (e.g., copyrighted material) is not publicly
available to read or download through the Web site. All submissions,
including copyrighted material, are available for inspection and
copying at the OSHA Docket Office. You may also contact Theda Kenney at
the address below to obtain a copy of the ICR.
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:
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 (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 accurate. The
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the OSH Act) (29 U.S.C. 651
et seq.) authorizes information collection by employers as necessary or
appropriate for enforcement of the OSH Act or for developing
information regarding the causes and prevention of occupational
injuries, illnesses, and accidents (29 U.S.C. 657). The OSH Act also
requires that OSHA obtain such information with minimum burden upon
employers, especially those operating small businesses, and to reduce
to the maximum extent feasible unnecessary duplication of efforts in
obtaining information (29 U.S.C. 657).
Paragraph (e)(9) of the Standard requires that employers develop
and implement a written emergency action plan for each type of powered
platform operation. The plan must explain the emergency procedures that
workers are to follow if they encounter a disruption of the power
supply, equipment failure, or other emergency. Prior to operating a
powered platform, employers must train workers on the importance of
alarm systems and emergency escape routes, and emergency procedures
that pertain to the building on which they will be working. Employers
should review with each worker those parts of the emergency action plan
that the worker must know to ensure their protection during an
emergency; these reviews must occur when the worker receives an initial
assignment involving a powered platform operation and after the
employer revises the emergency action plan.
According to paragraph (f)(5)(i)(C), employers must affix a load
rating plate in a prominent location on each suspended unit. The load
rating plate should state the unit's weight and its rated load
capacity. Paragraph (f)(5)(ii)(N) requires employers to mount each
emergency electric operating device in a secured compartment and label
the device with instructions for its use. After installing a suspension
wire rope, paragraphs (f)(7)(vi) and (f)(7)(vii) mandate that employers
attach a corrosion-resistant tag with specified information to one of
the wire rope fastenings if the rope is to remain at one location. In
addition, paragraph (f)(7)(viii) requires employers who resocket a wire
rope to either stamp specified information on the original tag or put
that information on a supplemental tag and attach it to the fastening.
Paragraphs (g)(2)(i) and (g)(2)(ii) require that building owners
have a competent person annually: Inspect the supporting structures of
their buildings; inspect and, if necessary, test the components of the
powered platforms, including control systems; inspect/test
components subject to wear (e.g., wire ropes, bearings, gears, and
governors); and certify these inspections and tests. Under paragraph
(g)(2)(iii), building owners must maintain and, on request, provide to
OSHA a written certification record of these inspections/tests. This
record must include the date of the inspection/test, the signature of
the competent person who performed it, and the number/identifier of the
building support structure and equipment inspected/tested.
Paragraph (g)(3)(i) mandates that building owners use a competent
person to inspect and, if necessary, test each powered platform
facility according to the manufacturer's recommendations every 30 days,
or prior to use if the work cycle is less than 30 days. Under paragraph
(g)(3)(ii), building owners must maintain and, on request, provide to
the Agency a written certification record of these inspections/tests.
This record must include the date of the inspection/test, the signature
of the competent person who performed it, and the number/identifier of
the powered platform facility inspected/tested.
According to paragraph (g)(5)(iii), building owners must use a
competent person to thoroughly inspect suspension wire ropes for a
number of specified conditions once a month. Additionally, wire ropes
that have been inactive for 30 days or longer, must be inspected before
placing them into service. Paragraph (g)(5)(v) requires building owners
to maintain and, on request, provide to OSHA a written certification
record of these monthly inspections. This record must consist of the
date of the inspection, the signature of the competent person who
performed it, and the number/identifier of the wire rope inspected.
Upon completion of this training, paragraph (i)(1)(v) specifies
that employers must prepare a written certification that includes the
identity of the worker trained, the signature of the employer or the
trainer, and the date the worker completed the training. In addition,
the employer must maintain each worker's training certificate for the
duration of their employment and, on request, make it available to
OSHA.
Emergency action plans allow employers and workers to anticipate,
and effectively respond to, emergencies that may arise during powered
platform operations. Affixing load rating plates to suspended units,
instructions to emergency electric operating devices, and tags to wire
rope fasteners can prevent workplace incidents by providing information
to employers and workers regarding the conditions under which they can
safely operate these systems. Requiring building owners to establish
and maintain written certification of inspections and testing provides
employers and workers with assurance that the building structure and
equipment are in good condition.
The training requirements allow workers to develop the skills and
knowledge necessary to effectively operate, use, and inspect powered
platforms, recognize and prevent safety hazards associated with
platform operation, respond appropriately under emergency conditions,
and maintain and use their fall protection arrest system. In addition,
the paperwork requirements specified by the Standard provide the most
efficient means for an OSHA compliance officer to determine whether or
not employers and building owners are providing the required
notification and certification.
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
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 or other technological information
collection and transmission techniques.
III. Proposed Actions
OSHA is requesting that OMB extend its approval of the information
collection requirements contained in the Standard on Powered Platforms
for Building Maintenance (29 CFR 1910.66). The Agency is requesting a
decrease in its current burden hours from 130,764 hours to 130,763
hours, a difference of one hour. The Agency will summarize the comments
submitted in response to this notice and will include this summary in
the request to OMB.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Title: Standard on Powered Platforms for Building Maintenance (29
CFR 1910.66).
OMB Control Number: 1218-0121.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profits.
Number of Respondents: 900.
Frequency: On occasion; Initially, Monthly, Annually.
Average Time per Response: Various.
Total Burden Hours Requested: 130,763.
Estimated Cost (Operation and Maintenance): $0.
IV. Public Participation--Submission of Comments on This Notice and
Internet Access to Comments and Submissions
You may submit comments in response to this document as follows:
(1) Electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal
eRulemaking Portal; (2) by facsimile (FAX); or (3) by hard copy. All
comments, attachments, and other material must identify the Agency name
and the OSHA docket number for the ICR (Docket No. OSHA-2010-0048). You
may supplement submissions by uploading document electronically. If you
wish to mail additional materials in reference to an electronic or
facsimile submission, you must submit them to the OSHA Docket Office
(see the section of this notice titled ADDRESSES). The additional
materials must clearly identify your electronic comments by your name,
date, and the docket number so the Agency can attach them to your
comments.
Because of security procedures, the use of regular mail may cause a
significant delay in the receipt of comments. For information about
security procedures concerning the delivery of materials by hand,
express delivery, messenger, or courier service, please contact the
OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-2350, (TTY (877) 889-5627). Comments
and submissions are posted without change at http://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, OSHA cautions commenters about
submitting personal information such as social security numbers and
dates of birth. Although all submissions are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index, some information (e.g., copyrighted
material) is not publicly available to read or download from this Web
site. All submissions, including copyrighted material, are available
for inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket Office. Information on
using the http://www.regulations.gov Web site to submit comments and
access the docket is available at the Web site's "User Tips" link.
Contact the OSHA Docket Office for information about materials not
available from the Web site, and for assistance in using the Internet
to locate docket submissions.
V. Authority and Signature
Dorothy Dougherty, Deputy 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 May 8, 2017.
Dorothy Dougherty,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2017-10398 Filed 5-19-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P
