[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 22, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45017-45019]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-11171]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. OSHA-2011-0055]
Steel Erection Standard; 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 the proposal to
extend the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of the
information collection requirements specified in the Steel Erection
Standard.
DATES: Comments must be submitted (postmarked, sent, or received) by
July 22, 2024.
ADDRESSES:
Electronically: You may submit comments and attachments
electronically at https://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal
eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for submitting
comments.
Docket: To read or download comments or other material in the
docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov. Documents in the docket are
listed in the https://www.regulations.gov index; however, some
information (e.g., copyrighted material) is not publicly available to
read or download through the websites. All submissions, including
copyrighted material, are available for inspection through the OSHA
Docket Office. Contact the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-2350 (TTY
(877) 889-5627) for assistance in locating docket submissions.
Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and OSHA
docket number (OSHA-2011-0055) for the Information Collection Request
(ICR). OSHA will place all comments, including any personal
information, in the public docket, which may be made available online.
Therefore, OSHA cautions interested parties about submitting personal
information such as social security numbers and birthdates.
For further information on submitting comments, see the ``Public
Participation'' heading in the section of this notice titled
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Seleda Perryman, Directorate of
Standards and Guidance, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor; telephone (202)
693-2222.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Department of Labor, as part of the 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) (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, the collection instruments are clearly understood, and
OSHA's estimate of the information collection burden is accurate. The
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (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 effort in
obtaining information (29 U.S.C. 657).
The following provisions are a description of the collection of
information requirements contained in the Steel Erection Standard. The
purpose of these requirements is to reduce employees' risk of death or
serious injury while working under hazardous conditions.
Section 1926.752(a)(1)
Based on the results of a specified method for testing field-cured
samples, the controlling contractor must provide the steel erector with
written notification that the concrete in the footings, piers, and
walls, or the mortar in the masonry piers and walls, is at 75 percent
of the minimum compressive-design strength or has sufficient strength
to support loads imposed during steel erection. Note: This is not and
will not be enforced for mortar in piers and walls until such time as
OSHA is able to define an appropriate substitute or until an
appropriate American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) test
method is developed.
Sections 1926.752(a)(2) and 1926.755(b)(1)
Under Sec. 1926.752(a)(2), the controlling contractor, before it
authorizes commencement of steel erection, must notify the steel
erector in writing that any repairs, replacements, and modifications to
anchor bolts (rods) have been made in accordance with Sec.
1926.755(b)(1) which requires the controlling contractor to obtain
approval from the project structural engineer of record for the
repairs, replacements, and modifications.
Section 1926.753(c)(5)
Employers must not deactivate safety latches on hooks or make them
inoperable except for the situation when: a qualified rigger determines
that it is safer to hoist and place purlins and single joists by doing
so; or except when equivalent protection is provided in the site-
specific erection plan.
Section 1926.753(e)(2)
Employers must have maximum capacity of the total multiple-lift
rigging assembly, as well as each of the individual attachment points,
certified by the manufacturer, or a qualified rigger.
Sections 1926.755(b)(1) and 1926.755(b)(2)
Under Sec. 1926.755(b)(2), throughout steel erection the
controlling contractor must notify the steel erector in writing of
additional repairs, replacements, and modifications of anchor bolts
(rods); Sec. 1926.755(b)(1) requires that these repairs, replacements,
and modifications not be made without approval from the project
structural engineer of record.
Section 1926.757(a)(4)
If steel joists at or near columns span more than 60 feet,
employers must set the joists in tandem with all bridging installed.
However, the employer may use an alternative method of erection if a
qualified person develops the alternative method, it provides
equivalent stability, and the employer includes the method in the site-
specific erection plan.
Section 1926.757(a)(7)
Employers must not modify steel joists or steel joist girders in a
way that affects their strength without the approval of the project
structural engineer of record.
Sections 1926.757(a)(9) and 1926.758(g)
An employer can use a steel joist, steel joist girder, or girt as
an anchorage point for a fall-arrest system only with the written
approval of a qualified person.
Section 1926.757(e)(4)(i)
An employer must install and anchor all bridging on joists and
attach all joist bearing ends before placing a bundle of decking on the
joists, unless: a qualified person determines that the structure or
portion of the structure is capable of supporting the bundle, the
employer documents this determination in the site-specific erection
plan, and follows the additional requirements specified in Sec. Sec.
1926.757(e)(4)(ii)-(vi).
Sections 1926.760(e) and (e)(1)
The steel erector can leave the fall protection at the jobsite
after completion of the erection activity only if the controlling
contractor or the authorized representative directs the steel erector
to do so and inspects and accepts responsibility for the fall
protection.
Section 1926.752(e) and Appendix A to Subpart R, ``Guidelines for
Establishing the Components of a Site-Specific Erection Plan: Non-
Mandatory Guidelines for Complying With 1926.752(e),'' Paragraph (a)
Site-specific erection plan. Where employers elect, due to
conditions specific to the site, to develop alternate means and methods
that provide employee protection in accordance with Sec. Sec.
1926.753(c)(5), 1926.757(a)(4), or 1926.757(e)(4), a site-specific
erection plan shall be developed by a qualified person and be available
at the work site. Guidelines for establishing a site-specific erection
plan are contained in Appendix A to this subpart.
Appendix A to Subpart R, paragraph (b). Paragraph (b) of the
Appendix provides for the development of a site-specific erection plan.
Preconstruction conference(s) and site inspection(s) are held between
the erector and the controlling contractor, and others such as the
project engineer and fabricator before the start of steel erection. The
purpose of such conference(s) is to develop and review the site-
specific erection plan that will meet the requirements of this section.
Appendix A to Subpart R, paragraphs (c), (c)(1)-(c)(9), (d),
(d)(1), and (d)(2).
These paragraphs of Appendix A describe the components of a site-
specific erection plan, including: the sequence of erection activity
developed in coordination with the controlling contractor; a
description of the crane and derrick selection and placement
procedures; a description of the fall protection procedures that will
be used to comply with Sec. 1926.760; a description of the procedures
that will be used to comply with Sec. 1926.759; a description of the
special procedures required for hazardous non-routine tasks; a
certification for each employee who has received training for
performing steel erection operations as required by Sec. 1926.761; a
list of the qualified and competent persons; a description of the
procedures that will be utilized in the event of rescue or emergency
response; the identification of the site and project; and signed and
dated by the qualified person(s) responsible for the preparation and
modification.
Paragraph (c)(4)(ii) of Appendix G to Subpart R
This mandatory appendix duplicates the regulatory requirements of
Sec. 1926.502 (``Fall protection systems criteria and practices''),
notably the requirements specified in paragraph (c)(4)(ii). This
paragraph addresses the certification of safety nets as an option
available to employers who can demonstrate that performing a drop test
on safety nets is unreasonable. This provision allows such employers to
certify that their safety nets, including the installation of the nets,
protect workers at least as well as safety nets that meet the drop-test
criteria. The employer must complete the certification process prior to
using the net for fall protection, and the certificate must include the
following information: identification of the net and the type of
installation used for the net; the date the certifying party determined
that the net and the installation would meet the drop-test criteria;
and the signature of the party making this determination. The most
recent certificate must be available at the jobsite for inspection.
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 to
protect workers, 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, and
transmission techniques.
III. Proposed Actions
OSHA is requesting that OMB extend the approval of the information
collection requirements contained in the Steel Erection Standard. The
agency is requesting an adjustment decrease in burden hours from 34,157
hours to 28,454 hours, a difference of 5,703 hours. This decrease is
due to the decrease in the number of covered project sites from 18,468
to 15,383 project sites.
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.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Title: Steel Erection Standard.
OMB Control Number: 1218-0241.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profits.
Number of Respondents: 15,383.
Number of Responses: 84,650.
Frequency of Responses: On occasion.
Average Time per Response: Varies.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 28,454.
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 https://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal
eRulemaking Portal; or (2) by facsimile (fax), if your comments,
including attachments, are not longer than 10 pages you may fax them to
the OSHA Docket Office at 202-693-1648. All comments, attachments, and
other material must identify the agency name and the OSHA docket number
for the ICR (Docket No. OSHA-2011-0055). You may supplement electronic
submission by uploading document files electronically.
Comments and submissions are posted without change at https://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 https://www.regulations.gov index, some information (e.g., copyrighted
material) is not publicly available to read or download from this
website. All submission, including copyrighted material, are available
for inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket Office. Information on
using the https://www.regulations.gov website to submit comments and
access the docket is available at the website's ``User Tips'' link.
Contact the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-2350, (TTY (877) 889-5627)
for information about materials not available from the website, and for
assistance in using the internet to locate docket submissions.
V. Authority and Signature
James S. Frederick, 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. 8-2020
(85 FR 58393).
Signed at Washington, DC, on May 15, 2024.
James S. Frederick,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2024-11171 Filed 5-21-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P
