[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 209 (Friday, October 27, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64459-64460]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27667]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of Labor Statistics


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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 pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of 
information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA95) [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 the impact of collection requirements on 
respondents can be properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics 
(BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed new collection of 
the Survey of Respirator Use and Practices. A copy of the proposed 
information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the 
individual listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice on or before December 26, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Ausie B. Grigg, Jr., BLS Clearance Officer, 
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 3255, 
2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 20212, telephone number 
202-691-7628 (this is not a toll free number).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ausie B. Grigg, Jr., BLS Clearance 
Officer, telephone number 202-691-7628. (See ADDRESSES section.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 
and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor 
(DOL) have agreed to conduct a survey of United States employers 
regarding the use of respiratory protective devices. Employers are 
required to provide respirators to workers when such equipment is 
necessary to protect the health of the employee. The employer has the 
responsibility to provide respirators that are applicable and suitable 
for the purpose intended, and to establish and maintain a respiratory 
protection program.
    The NIOSH respirator certification and research program must 
assure, in the best manner reasonably possible, that users are provided 
with correct and needed products and information so that they can be 
properly protected when using respirators. However, there are no 
detailed estimates of current respirator usage. The NIOSH respirator 
certification program operates under the assumption that all respirator 
users are using respirators in a complete respirator program. On the 
other hand, sources such as respirator manufacturers, state that users 
often wear respirators with little training and without the benefit of 
a respirator program. As a result, there is a pressing

[[Page 64460]]

need to gather accurate and up-to-date information regarding respirator 
use in the workplace so that the NIOSH respirator certification and 
research program can assure that workers have needed products and are 
properly informed and protected.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in 
comments which:
    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    <bullet> 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.

III. Current Action

    OMB clearance is being sought for the Survey of Respirator Use and 
Practices.
    Type of Review: New Collection.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: Survey of Respirator Use and Practices.
    OMB Number: 1220-New.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit 
institutions; Farms.
    Total Respondents: 40,000.
    Frequency: One-time; Non-recurring.
    Average Time Per Response: The weighted average per response is 30 
minutes. Ninety (90) minutes for establishments with respirator use. 
Fifteen (15) minutes for establishments with no respirator use.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 20,000 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they also will become a 
matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, D.C., this 20th day of October 2000.
Karen A. Krein,
Acting Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor 
Statistics.
[FR Doc. 00-27667 Filed 10-26-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P