2024-09191. Hazardous Energy Control Standard (Lockout/Tagout); Extension of the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Approval of Information Collection (Paperwork) Requirements

AGENCY:

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.

ACTION:

Request for public comments.

SUMMARY:

OSHA solicits public comments concerning the proposal to extend the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of the information collection requirements specified in the Hazardous Energy Control Standard (Lockout/Tagout).

DATES:

Comments must be submitted (postmarked, sent, or received) by July 1, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Electronically: You may submit comments and attachments electronically at https://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for submitting comments.

Docket: To read or download comments or other material in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov. Documents in the docket are listed in the https://www.regulations.gov index; however, some information ( e.g., copyrighted material) is not publicly available to read or download through the websites. All submissions, including copyrighted material, are available for inspection through the OSHA Docket Office. Contact the OSHA Docket Office at [phone] (TTY [phone]) for assistance in locating docket submissions.

Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and OSHA docket number (OSHA-2011-0033) for the Information Collection Request (ICR). OSHA will place all comments, including any personal information, in the public docket, which may be made available online. Therefore, OSHA cautions interested parties about submitting personal information such as social security numbers and birthdates.

For further information on submitting comments, see the “Public Participation” heading in the section of this notice titled “ SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION .”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Seleda Perryman, Directorate of Standards and Guidance, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor; telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Department of Labor, as part of the continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent ( i.e., employer) burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing information collection requirements in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program ensures that information is in the desired format, reporting burden (time and costs) is minimal, the collection instruments are clearly understood, and OSHA's estimate of the information collection burden is accurate. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) (29 U.S.C. 651 et seq.) authorizes information collection by employers as necessary or appropriate for enforcement of the OSH Act or for developing information regarding the causes and prevention of occupational injuries, illnesses, and accidents (29 U.S.C. 657). The OSH Act also requires that OSHA obtain such information with minimum burden upon employers, especially those operating small businesses, and to reduce to the maximum extent feasible unnecessary duplication of effort in obtaining information (29 U.S.C. 657).

The following sections describe who uses the information collected under each requirement, as well as how they use it. The purpose of these requirements is to control the release of hazardous energy while workers service, maintain, or repair machines or equipment when activation, start up, or release of energy from an energy source is possible; proper control of hazardous energy prevents death or serious injury among these workers.

Energy Control Procedure (paragraph (c)(4)(i)). With limited exception, employers must document the procedures used to isolate from its energy source and render inoperative, any machine or equipment prior to servicing, maintenance, or repair by workers. These procedures are necessary when activation, start up, or release of stored energy from the energy source is possible, and such release could cause injury to the workers.

Paragraph (c)(4)(ii) states that the required documentation must clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques workers are to use to control hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance. The document must include at least the following elements: a specific statement regarding the use of the procedure; detailed procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking, and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy; detailed procedural steps for placing, removing, and transferring lockout or tagout devices, including the responsibility for doing so; and requirements for testing a machine or equipment to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout or tagout devices, as well as other energy control measures.

Protective Materials and Hardware (paragraphs (c)(5)(ii)(D) and (c)(5)(iii)). Paragraph (c)(5)(ii)(D) requires that lockout and tagout devices indicate the identity of the employee applying it. Paragraph (c)(5)(iii) requires that tags warn against hazardous conditions if the machine or equipment is energized. In addition, the tag must include a legend such as one of the following: Do Not Start; Do Not Open; Do Not Close; Do Not Energize; Do Not Operate.

Periodic Inspection Certification Records (paragraph (c)(6)(ii)). Under paragraph (c)(6)(i), employers are to conduct inspections of energy control procedures at least annually. An authorized worker (other than an authorized worker using the energy control procedure that is the subject of the inspection) is to conduct the inspection and correct any deviations or inadequacies identified. For procedure involving either lockout or tagout, the inspection must include a review, between the inspector and each authorized worker, of that worker's responsibilities under the procedure; for procedures using tagout systems, the review also involves affected workers, and includes an assessment of the workers' knowledge of the training elements required for these systems. Paragraph (c)(6)(ii) requires employers to certify the inspection by documenting the date of the inspection and identifying the machine or equipment inspected, the workers included in the inspection, and the worker who performed the inspection.

Training Certification Records (paragraph (c)(7)(iv)). Under paragraph (c)(7)(iv), employers are to certify that workers completed the required training, and that this training is up-to-date. The certification is to contain each worker's name and the training date. Written certification of the training assures the employer that workers receive the training specified by the standard.

Notification of Employees (paragraph (c)(9)). This provision requires the employer or authorized worker to notify affected workers prior to applying, and after removing, a lockout or tagout device from a machine or equipment.

Off-site Personnel (Contractors, etc.) (paragraph (f)(2)(i)). When the on-site employer uses an off-site employer ( e.g., a contractor) to perform the activities covered by the scope and application of the standard, the two employers must inform each other regarding their respective lockout or tagout procedures.

II. Special Issues for Comment

OSHA has a particular interest in comments on the following issues:

• Whether the proposed information collection requirements are necessary for the proper performance of the agency's functions to protect workers, including whether the information is useful;
• The accuracy of OSHA's estimate of the burden (time and costs) of the information collection requirements, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
• The quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and
• Ways to minimize the burden on employers who must comply; for example, by using automated or other technological information, and transmission techniques.

III. Proposed Actions

OSHA is requesting that OMB extend the approval of the information collection requirements contained in the Hazardous Energy Control Standard (Lockout/Tagout). The agency is requesting an adjustment increase in burden hours from 2,622,912 hours to 2,732,064 hours, a difference of 109,152 hours. This increase is due to the increase in the number of establishments from 773,209 to 806,890.

OSHA will summarize the comments submitted in response to this notice and will include this summary in the request to OMB to extend the approval of the information collection requirements.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Title: Hazardous Energy Control Standard (Lockout/Tagout).

OMB Control Number: 1218-0150.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profits.

Number of Respondents: 806,890.

Number of Responses: 73,530,405.

Frequency of Responses: On occasion.

Average Time per Response: Varies.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 2,732,064.

Estimated Cost (Operation and Maintenance): $1,442,985.

IV. Public Participation—Submission of Comments on This Notice and Internet Access to Comments and Submissions

You may submit comments in response to this document as follows: (1) electronically at https://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal eRulemaking Portal; or (2) by facsimile (fax), if your comments, including attachments, are not longer than 10 pages you may fax them to the OSHA Docket Office at 202-693-1648. All comments, attachments, and other material must identify the agency name and the OSHA docket number for the ICR (Docket No. OSHA-2011-0033). You may supplement electronic submission by uploading document files electronically.

Comments and submissions are posted without change at https://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, OSHA cautions commenters about submitting personal information such as social security numbers and dates of birth. Although all submissions are listed in the https://www.regulations.gov index, some information ( e.g., copyrighted material) is not publicly available to read or download from this website. All submission, including copyrighted material, are available for inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket Office. Information on using the https://www.regulations.gov website to submit comments and access the docket is available at the website's “User Tips” link. Contact the OSHA Docket Office at [phone], (TTY [phone]) for information about materials not available from the website, and for assistance in using the internet to locate docket submissions.

V. Authority and Signature

James S. Frederick, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, directed the preparation of this notice. The authority for this notice is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506 et seq.) and Secretary of Labor's Order No. 8-2020 (85 FR 58393).

Signed at Washington, DC, on April 23, 2024.

James S. Frederick,

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.