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###### Department of Labor

###### Occupational Safety and Health Administration 

          - [Docket No. OSHA-2007-0037] 

# AGENCY:

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor. 

# ACTION:

Request for public comment. 

# SUMMARY:

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements contained in the construction standards on Fall Protection Systems Criteria and Practices (29 CFR 1926.502) and  Training Requirements (29 CFR 1926.503). The Fall Protection Systems Criteria and  Practices Standard allows employers to develop alternative procedures to the use of conventional fall protection systems when the systems are infeasible or create a greater hazard. The alternative procedures (plan) must be written. Also, employers who use safety net systems may certify that the installation meets the Standard's criteria in lieu of performing a drop-test on the net. The Training Requirements Standard requires employers to prepare training certification records for their employees. The plan and certification records ensure that employers comply with the requirements to protect employees from falls. 

# DATES:

Comments must be submitted (postmarked, sent, or received) by May 29, 2007. 

# ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by any of the following methods: 

*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 three copies of your comments and attachments to the OSHA Docket Office, OSHA Docket No. OSHA-2007-0037, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 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, 8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m., e.t.                     

*Instructions:*                         All submissions must include the Agency name and OSHA docket number for this ICR (OSHA Docket No. OSHA-2007-0037). 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 website. All submissions, including copyrighted material, are available for inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket Office. You also may contact Todd Owen at the address below to obtain a copy of the ICR.                     

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jamaa N. Hill 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 minimized, collection instruments are understandable, and OSHA's estimate of the information collection burden is correct. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of the 1970 (the Act) authorizes information collection by employers as necessary or appropriate for enforcement of the Act or for developing information regarding the causes and prevention of occupational injuries, illnesses, and accidents (29 U.S.C. 657). 

The Standards on Construction Fall Protection Systems Criteria and Practices (29 CFR 1926.502) and Training Requirements (29 CFR 1926.503) ensure that employers provide the required fall protection for their employees. Accordingly, these standards have the following paperwork requirements: Paragraphs (c)(4)(ii) and (k) of 29 CFR 1926.502, which specify certification of safety nets and development of fall protection plans, respectively, and paragraph (b) of 29 CFR 1926.502, which requires employers to certify training records. The training certification requirement specified in paragraph (b) of 29 CFR 1926.503 documents the training provided to employees potentially exposed to fall hazards. A competent person must train these employees to recognize fall hazards and in the use of procedures and equipment that minimize these hazards. An employer must verify compliance with this training requirement by preparing and maintaining a written certification record that contains the: Name or other identifier of the employee receiving the training; the date(s) of the training; and the signature of the competent person who conducted the training or of the employer. 

## 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       ( print page 14616)                          technological information collection and transmission techniques.                 

## III. Proposed Actions 

OSHA is requesting that OMB extend its approval of the collection of information requirements contained in the construction standards on Fall Protection Systems Criteria and Practices (29 CFR 1926.502) and Training Requirements (29 CFR 1926.503). OSHA is requesting a 396,975 hour reduction, from 894,394 hours to 497,419 as a result of new information indicating estimates that of the number of safety net certifications, safety net installations, and fall protection plans should be lowered. 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 these information collection requirements. 

*Type of Review:*                     Extension of a currently approved information collection requirements.                 

*Title:*                     Construction Fall Protection Systems Criteria and Practices (29 CFR 1926.502) and Training Requirements (29 CFR 1926.503).                 

*OMB Number:*                     1218-0197.                 

*Affected Public:*                     Business or other for-profit.                 

*Number of Respondents:*                     301,178.                 

*Frequency of Recordkeeping:*                     On occasion.                 

*Total Responses:*                     6,039,818.                 

*Average Time per Response:*                     Time per response ranges from 5 minutes (.08 hour) to certify a safety net to 1 hour to develop a fall protection plan.                 

*Estimated Total  Burden Hours:*                     497,419.                 

*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; or (3) by hard copy. All comments, attachments, and other material must identify the Agency name and the OSHA docket number for this ICR (OSHA-2007-0037). You may supplement electronic submissions by uploading document files 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 full name, date, and 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 date 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 through 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 through the website, and for assistance in using the internet to locate docket submissions.                 

                    Electronic copies of this                     **Federal Register**                     document are available at                     *http://www.regulations.gov.*                     This document, as well as news releases and other relevant information, also are available at OSHA's Web page at                     *http://www.osha.gov.*

## V. Authority and Signature 

                    Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., 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. 5-2002 (67 FR 65008).                 

Signed at Washington, DC on March 20, 2007. 

Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., 

Assistant Secretary of Labor.

[FR Doc. E7-5597 Filed 3-27-07; 8:45 am] 

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