[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 225 (Friday, November 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62355-62356]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30680]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. ICR 97-46]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Hazard Communication
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 (PRA95) (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.
Currently the Occupational Safety and Health
[[Page 62356]]
Administration is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension
of the information collection request for the Hazard Communication
Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200; 1915; 1917; 1918; 1926; 1928. A copy of the
proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by
contacting the employee listed below in the addressee section of this
notice.
The Department of Labor 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 to the office listed in the
addressee section below on or before January 20, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket
No. ICR-97-46, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution
Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 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: Todd R. Owen, Directorate of Health
Standards Programs, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Labor, Room N-3718, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington
D.C. 20210. Telephone: (202) 219-7075, extension 109. Copies of the
referenced information collection request are available for inspection
and copying in the Docket Office and will be mailed to persons who
request copies by telephoning Todd R. Owen (202) 219-7075 extension 109
or Barbara Bielaski on 219-8076, extension 142. For electronic copies
of the Hazard Communication Information Collection Request, contact the
Labor News Bulletin Board (202) 219-4784; or OSHA's WebPage on Internet
at http://www.osha.gov/ and click on standards.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Hazard Communication Standard and its information collection
requirements are designed to ensure that the hazards of all chemicals
produced or imported are evaluated and that information concerning
their hazards is transmitted to employees and downstream employers. The
standard requires chemical manufacturers and importers to evaluate
chemicals they produce or import to determine if they are hazardous;
for those chemicals determined to be hazardous, material safety data
sheets and warning labels must be developed. Employers are required to
establish hazard communication program, to transmit information on the
hazards of chemicals to their employees by means of labels on
containers, material safety data sheets and training programs.
Implementation of these collection of information requirements will
ensure all employees have the ``right-to-know'' the hazards and
identities of the chemicals they work with and will reduce the
incidence of chemically-related occupational illnesses and injuries.
II. Current Actions
This notice requests an extension of the current OMB approval of
the paperwork requirements in the Hazard Communication Standard.
Extension is necessary to ensure that employees continue to receive
information about hazardous and chemicals they are exposed to when
working, as well as what protective measures are available to prevent
adverse effects from occurring.
Type of review: Extension.
Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Title: Hazard Communication.
OMB Number: 1218-0072.
Agency Number: Docket Number ICR-97-46.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Federal government
and State, Local or Tribal governments.
Total Respondents: 5,041,918.
Frequency: On occasion.
Total Responses: 74,679,540.
Average Time per Response: Time per response ranges from 12 seconds
to affix labels to in-house containers containing hazardous chemicals
to 5 hours to develop a hazard communication program.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 7,301,762.
Estimated Capital, Operational/Maintenance Burden Cost: $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 will also become a
matter of public record.
Dated: November 17, 1997.
Adam M. Finkel,
Director, Directorate of Health Standards Programs.
[FR Doc. 97-30680 Filed 11-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-M
