Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 118 / Friday, June 19, 1998 / Notices 33711

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.

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.oshaslc.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

(§ 1910.66(i)(1)(iv)). The employer

would then prepare a certification

record to verify that the training has

been given (§ 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

(§ 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

(§§ 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 (§§ 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.
33712 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 118 / Friday, June 19, 1998 / Notices

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 forprofit; 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]

BILLING CODE 4510–26–M

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health

Administration

[Docket No. ICR–98–18]

Concrete and Masonry Construction

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health

Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice of proposed information

collection request; opportunity for

public comment.

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as

part of its continuing effort to reduce

paperwork and information collection

burdens, is conducting a preclearance

consultation program to provide the

general public and Federal agencies

with an opportunity to comment on

both current and proposed collections of

information in accordance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program

helps to ensure that reporting burden

(time and financial resources) is

minimized, collection materials are

clearly understood, impact of collection

requirements on respondents can be

accurately assessed, and requested data

can be provided in the desired format.

Currently, the Occupational Safety and

Health Administration is soliciting

comments on the information collection

requirement contained in 29 CFR

1926.703(a)(2). that provision requires

that formwork drawings or plans for

cast-in-place concrete construction work

be available at the jobsite.

The Agency is particularly interested

in comments that:

• Evaluate whether the proposed

collection of information is necessary

for the proper performance of OSHA’s

responsibilities, 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 the use of

appropriate automated, electronic,

mechanical, or other technological

collection techniques or other forms of

information technology (for example,

permitting electronic submissions of

responses).

DATES: Written comments must be

submitted on or before August 18, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments are to submitted

to the Docket Office, Docket ICR–98–18,

U.S. Department of Labor, Room N–

2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW.,

Washington, DC 20210, (202) 219–7894.

Written comments limited to 10 pages

or less may be transmitted by facsimile

to (202) 219–5046.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Laurence Davey, Directorate of

Construction, Occupational Safety and

Health Administration, U.S. Department

of Labor, Room N3621, 200 Constitution

Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210,

(202) 219–7207. Copies of the

information collection requests are

available for inspection and copying in

the Docket Office and will be mailed to

persons who request copies by

telephoning Mr. Davey at (202) 219–

7207 or Barbara Bielaski at (202) 219–

8076. For electronic copies of the

information collection request, contact

OSHA’s Web Page on Internet at http:/

/www.osha-slc.gov (click on

Information Collection Requests).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The Occupational Safety and Health

Administration (OSHA) currently has

approval from the Office of Management

and Budget (OMB) for the information

collection (records) requirements

contained in 29 CFR 1926.703(a)(2).

That approval will expire on September

30, 1998, unless OSHA applies for an

extension of the OMB approval. This

notice initiates the process for OSHA to

request an extension of the current OMB

approval.

Section 1926.703(a)(2) requires that

formwork drawings or plans for cast-inplace concrete construction work be

available at the jobsite. The information

is needed by employers, employees,

OSHA compliance officers, and other

interested persons in the construction

industry to ensure concrete structures

are erected in a safe and purposeful

manner. This provision addresses safety

and health concerns caused by

improperly designed and erected

formwork. Such hazards could cause

partial or total collapse of concrete

structures and result in serious or fatal

injuries to workers.

Current Action

This notice requests an extension of

the current OMB approval of the

paperwork requirements in 29 CFR

1926.703(a)(2).

Type of Review: Extension of existing

approval.

Agency: Occupational Safety and

Health Administration, U.S. Department

of Labor.

Title: Concrete and Masonry

Construction (29 CFR 1926.703(a)(2)).