[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 118 (Friday, June 19, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33711-33712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16381]
[[Page 33711]]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. ICR-98-27]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Powered Platforms for Building Maintenance (29 CFR
1910.66)
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: 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/or continuing
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (PRA-95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program helps to
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format,
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized,
collection instruments are clearly understood, and impact of collection
requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is soliciting
comments concerning the proposed extension of the information
collection requirements contained in the standard on Powered Platforms
for Building Maintenance (29 CFR 1910.66). The Agency is particularly
interested in comments which:
Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility;
Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
Minimize the burden of the collection of information on
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submissions of responses.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 18, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket
No. ICR-98-27, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 219-7894. Written comments
limited to 10 pages or less in length may also be transmitted by
facsimile to (202) 219-5046.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Theda Kenney, Directorate of Safety Standards Programs, Occupational
Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-
3605, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210, telephone:
(202) 219-8061. A copy of the referenced information collection request
is available for inspection and copying in the Docket Office and will
be mailed to persons who request copies by telephoning Theda Kenney at
(202) 219-8061, extension 100, or Barbara Bielaski at (202) 219-8076,
extension 142. For electronic copies of the Information Collection
Request on Powered Platforms for Building Maintenance (29 CFR 1910.66),
contact OSHA's WebPage on the Internet at http://www.osha-slc.gob/
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the Act) authorizes
the promulgation of such health and safety standards as are necessary
or appropriate to provide safe or healthful employment and places of
employment. The statute specifically authorizes information collection
by employers as necessary or appropriate for the enforcement of the Act
or for developing information regarding the causes and prevention of
occupational injuries, illnesses, and accidents.
One of the information collection requirements if for the employer
to develop written work procedures to be used to train employees
(Sec. 1910.66(i)(1)(iv)). The employer would then prepare a
certification record to verify that the training has been given
(Sec. 1910.66(i)(1)(v)). The written work procedures would address the
operation, safe use, and inspection of powered platforms.
Another information collection requirement is that employers
develop a written emergency action plan for employees who work on
powered platforms at different building sites (Sec. 1910.66(e)(9)).
OSHA believes it is necessary for the employer to prepare for
emergencies so that employees using powered platforms know what actions
are required of them during emergency situations. Employers would also
certify that employees had been trained in the emergency action plan.
OSHA also requires employers to conduct inspections and tests
(Secs. 1910.66(g)(2)(i), (g)(2)(ii), (g)(3)(i), and (g)(5)(iii)) and to
certify that these inspections and tests had been conducted
(Secs. 1910.66(g)(2)(iii), (g)(3)(ii) and (g)(5)(v)). Certification
records are required to show inspections: (1) Of the building supports
(once a year); (2) of the equipment used on the platform--the hoist,
control systems, bearings, gears, and governors, for example (as
recommended by the manufacturer or supplier, but at least once a year
inspection and tested as needed); (3) of the installation of the
platform (every 30 days or when used less frequently, before each work
cycle); (4) of the wire rope every month or before being used; and (5)
to demonstrate employee training.
OSHA estimates the burden for all of the inspections, tests, and
certification records at 256,500 hours based on professional staff
knowledge of the time it takes to perform the inspections and tests of
the building supports, platform installation and platform equipment,
including wire ropes, and to prepare the required certification
records. OSHA believes about half of the burden it has calculated is a
usual and customary burden to employers for the following reasons: (1)
Many employers rent powered platforms and the rental company supplies
the documentation required by the OSHA standard as a usual and
customary business practice; (2) insurance carriers require building
owners to inspect the platform support system; (3) building owners, for
their own liability, inspect the platform installation and equipment;
(4) many states require building owners to make the same inspections
that OSHA requires in its standard; and (5) there is a national
consensus standard, ANSI A-120, which prescribes similar requirements
which have been adopted by local and state officials and represents
standard industry practice. In consideration of all of these factors,
OSHA believes it would be reasonable to assume that 50 percent of the
burden is usual and customary. For the purpose of this paperwork
package, OSHA is reducing the burden estimate to 128,250 hours for
those inspections, tests, and records. In addition, there are 144 hours
of burden for the training certification records.
The Agency specifically invites the public to comment on its
estimate that 50 percent of the burden discussed above is considered
normal business operations.
[[Page 33712]]
The final group of information collection requirements in the
standard pertains to a number of provisions requiring tags and labels.
Section 1910.65(f)(5)(i)(C) requires a load rating plate to be affixed
to each suspended unit. Section 1910.66(f)(5)(ii)(N) requires the
compartment for an emergency electric operating device to be labeled
with instructions for use. Sections 1910.66(f)(7)(vi),
1910.66(f)(7)(vii), and 1910.66(f)(7)(viii) require the attachment of a
tag on a suspension wire rope when it is installed, renewed or
resocketed.
The information collected would also be used by OSHA compliance
officers to ensure that employers are complying with the requirements
set forth in 29 CFR 1910.66.
II. Current Actions
This notice requests public comment on OSHA's burden hour estimates
prior to OSHA seeking Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of
the information collection requirements contained in the Powered
Platforms for Building Maintenance standard.
Type of Review: Extension of a Currently Approved collection.
Agency: U.S. Department of labor, Occupational Safety and Health
Administration.
Title: Powered Platforms for Building Maintenance (29 CFR 1910.66).
OMB Number: 1218-0121.
Agency Number: Docket Number ICR-98-27.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; State or local
governments.
Number of Respondents: 51,687.
Frequency: Varies (Initially, Annually, Monthly, On Occasion).
Average Time per Response: Varies from five minutes to generate,
maintain and disclose records to 8 hours to prepare plans (average of
two hours).
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 129,763.
Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: $0.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget
approval of the information collection request. The comments will
become a matter of public record.
Signed at Washington, D.C., this 15th day of June 1998.
Charles N. Jeffress,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 98-16381 Filed 6-18-98; 8:45 am]
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