[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:
    <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.

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.

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    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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