01-30759. Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a list of information collection requests under review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35). To request a copy of these requests, call the CDC Reports Clearance Officer at [phone]. Send written comments to CDC, Desk Officer, Human Resources and Housing Branch, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503. Written comments should be received within 30 days of this notice.

Proposed Project: Contents of a Request for a Health Hazard Evaluation (OMB No. 0920-0102)—Extension—The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The mission of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is to promote safety and health at work for all people through research and prevention.

Each year, in accordance with its mandates under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) responds to approximately 450 requests for health hazard evaluations to identify potential chemical, biological or physical hazards at the workplace. A printed NIOSH form is available for requesting these health hazard evaluations. The form is also available on the Internet and differs from the printed version only in format and in the fact that it uses an Internet address to which recipients can submit the form to NIOSH. Both the printed and Internet versions of the form provide the mechanism for employees, employers, and other authorized representatives to supply the information required by the regulations which govern the NIOSH health hazard evaluation program (42 CFR 85.3-1). In general, if employees are submitting the form it must contain the signatures of three or more current employees. However, regulations allow a single signature if the requestor is one of three (3) or fewer employees in the process, operation, or job of concern. It takes approximately six (6) NIOSH employees about five (5) minutes to evaluate the submitted form. The information provided is used by NIOSH to determine whether there is reasonable cause to justify conducting an investigation. The purpose of investigations conducted in the health hazard evaluation program is to help employers and employees identify and eliminate occupational health hazards. Without the information requested on this form, NIOSH would be unable to perform its legislated function of conducting health hazard evaluations in workplaces. The total annualized burden for this data collection is 90 hours.

Respondents	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Avg. burden per response (in hrs.)
Employees and Representatives	290	1	12/60
Employers	160	1	12/60

Dated: December 5, 2001.

Nancy E. Cheal,

Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.