[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 49 (Thursday, March 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11928-11929]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6150]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Reporting of Fatality or Multiple 
Hospitalization Incidents (1218-0007)

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 approval for the 
paperwork requirements of 29 CFR 1904.8, Reporting of Fatality or 
Multiple Hospitalization Incidents.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 12, 1997.
    Written comments should:
    <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.

ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket 
No. ICR-97-6, 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:
Bonnie Friedman, Office of Information and Consumer Affairs, 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of 
Labor, Room N3647, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210, 
telephone: (202) 219-8148. Copies of the reference information 
collection request are available for inspection and copying in the 
Docket Office and will be mailed immediately to persons who request 
copies by telephoning Vivian Allen at (202) 219-8076. For electronic 
copies, contact OSHA's WebPage on Internet at http://www.osha.gov/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    OSHA promulgated regulation 29 CFR 1904.8 which currently requires 
employers to report work related fatalities and/or incidents involving 
the in-patient hospitalization of three or more employees to OSHA 
within 8 hours of learning of the incident. OSHA investigates such 
incidents in order to provide the Agency with information on the causes 
of employment fatalities, injuries and illnesses to identify and 
require correction of serious hazards and to prevent the occurrence of 
such incidents in the future. Such information can also be a source of 
support for new and revised safety and health standards. Investigators 
will determine whether there was a violation of OSHA standards, and, if 
so, whether the violation may have contributed to the incident. In 
addition, the Agency determines whether OSHA standards adequately cover 
the hazards which led to the incident. Therefore, such investigations 
must be prompt and thorough if they are to provide valid, useful 
information and achieve their intended purposes.
    OSHA currently has approval from The Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for information collection requirements contained in 29 
CFR 1904.8. That approval will expire on May 31, 1997, unless OSHA 
applies for an extension of the OMB approval. This notices initiates 
the process for OSHA to request an extension of the current OMB 
approval. This notice also solicits public comment on OSHA's existing 
paperwork burden estimates from those interested parties and to seek 
public response to several questions related to the development of 
OSHA's estimation. Interested parties are requested to review OSHA's 
estimates, which are based upon the most current data available, and to 
comment on their accuracy or appropriateness in today's workplace 
situation.

II. Current Actions

    This notice requests an extension of the current OMB approval of 
the paperwork requirements in 29 CFR 1904.8, Reporting of Fatality or 
Multiple Hospitalization Incidents.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Agency: U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration.
    Title: Reporting of Fatality or Multiple Hospitalization Incidents.
    OMB Number: 1218-0007.
    Agency Number: Docket No. ICR-97-6.

[[Page 11929]]

    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Farms; Non-profit 
institutions; Small businesses or organizations.
    Number or respondents: 6,349.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 0.25 hours.
    Total Estimated Cost: $47,610.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,587.
    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 will also become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: March 6, 1997.
Joseph DuBois,
Director, Division of Data Analysis, OSHA Office of Statistics.
[FR Doc. 97-6150 Filed 3-12-97; 8:45 am]
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