98-6870. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 51 (Tuesday, March 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13073-13074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6870]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. ICR 98-8]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories

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) [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 the impact of 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. 
Currently the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the 
information collection request for the Hazardous Chemicals in 
Laboratories Standard 29 CFR 1910.1450. A copy of the proposed 
information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the 
employee listed below in the addresses section of this notice. The 
Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments which:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information 
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 by May 18, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket 
No. ICR 98-8, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, telephone number [phone]. 
Written comments limited to 10 pages or less in length may also be 
transmitted by facsimile to [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Adrian Corsey, Directorate of Health Standards Programs, Occupational 
Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N3718, 
telephone [phone]. A copy of the referenced information 
collection request is available for inspection and copying in the 
Docket Office and will be mailed immediately to persons who request 
copies by telephoning Adrian Corsey at [phone] extension 105 or 
Barbara Bielaski at [phone] extension 142. For electronic copies 
of the Information Collection Request on Hazardous Chemicals in 
Laboratories, contact OSHA's WebPage on the Internet at http://
www.osha.gov/ and click on standards.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories standard and its 
information collection requirements provide protection for employees 
from the adverse health effects associated with occupational exposure 
to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories. The standard requires that 
employers establish a Chemical Hygiene Plan, including exposure 
monitoring and medical records. These records are used by employees, 
physicians, employers and OSHA to determine the effectiveness of the 
employers' compliance efforts. Also the standard requires that OSHA 
have access to various records to ensure that employers are complying 
with the disclosure provisions.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
    Title: Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories 29 CFR 1910.1450.
    OMB Control Number: 1218-0131.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Federal government, 
State and Local governments.
    Total Respondents: 34,214.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Responses: 306,909.
    Average Time per Response: Ranges from 5 minutes to make records 
available to 1.75 hours for an employee to have a consultation and a 
medical examination.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 96,571.

[[Page 13074]]

    Total Annualized capital/startup costs: 0.
    Total initial annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or 
purchasing services): $10,568,950.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be submitted and 
included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of 
the information collection. The comments will become a matter of public 
record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 11th day of March, 1998.
Charles N. Jeffress,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 98-6870 Filed 3-16-98; 8:45 am]
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