[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 156 (Thursday, August 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43423-43424]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21784]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. ICR-98-34]
Presence Sensing Device Initiation (PSDI) (29 CFR 1910.217(h);
Information Collection Requirements
ACTION: Notice; Opportunity for Public Comment.
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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 Presence Sensing
Device Initiation (29 CFR 1910.217(h)). The Agency 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 use;
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 on or before October 13,
1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket
No. ICR-98-34, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.,
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: Theda Kenney, Directorate of Safety
Standards Programs, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Labor, Room N-3605, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 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 Presence
Sensing Device Initiation (29 CFR 1910.217(h)), contact OSHA's WebPage
on the Internet at http://www.osha.gov and click on ``Regulations and
Compliance.''
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
I. Background
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the Act) authorizes
the promulgation of such health and safety stndards 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.
The collections of information contained in PSDI are considered
essential for ensuring the safety of employees using presence sensing
devices. The requirement for affixing test rod instructions label to
the presence sensing device--1910.217(h)(10)(i)--enhances the proper
and essential device testing. Because operator safety depends on the
PSDI safety system, conforming with the equipment testing and checking
requirements is absolutely essential for worker safety.
The requirements for certification/validation--1910.217(h)(11)(i)
through (vi), (13), and Appendices A and C--ensure that the design,
installation, and ongoing maintenance of the safety system is
objectively evaluated for conformance with all applicable requirements
of the section. The section further requires notification of unplanned
incidents such as component failures and accidents which could impair
the continuing safety of the system. For employees, employers, OSHA
compliance and consultation personnel, insurance authorities, and
others involved to be able to recognize easily that the system meets
OSHA standards, the press must be labeled to affirm validation/
certification. Submitting copies of accident reports to the validation
organization is necessary to assure that the validation organization
will have knowledge of field experience in this mode of press operation
and will be able to incorporate any lessons learned from the accidents
into the certification/validation program provisions.
Because this rule permits a mode of operation which previously was
prohibited, OSHA believes it is especially essential to verify that
this method does not compromise worker safety. The certification/
validation program provides a method to ensure that the press and
related equipment are properly arranged and that the installation does
not become degraded over time. It should be noted that although OSHA
uses the term ``certification'' for this process, it should not be
confused with the use of the word as addressed in the OMB implementing
regulations for the Paperwork Reduction Act, to reflect a minimal
information collection method. The word ``certification'' in this
rulemaking is based on the American National Standard ANSI Z3l.1. 1-
1987, and is nationally recognized as describing a broad,
comprehensive, well-defined program for ensuring product or material
conformance with established standards.
II. Current Actions
This notice requests public comment on OSHA's burden hour estimates
before OSHA seeks Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the
information collection requirements contained in the Presence Sensing
Device Initiation (PSDI) standard.
OSHA has calculated the burden for this collection of information
at 30,615 burden hours. OSHA believes this amount may be even lower
because many employers do not use PSDI. In
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fact, many employers have not incurred any paperwork burden to comply
with the standard because they have not elected to use PSDI features on
their power presses. OSHA is requesting the appropriate approval from
OMB in the event an employer may wish to use a PSDI, which will trigger
the collection of information requirements.
Type of Review: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection.
Agency: U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health
Administration.
Title: Presence Sensing Device Initiation (29 CFR 1910.217(h)).
OMB Number: 1218-0143.
Agency Number: Docket Number ICR-98-34.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Not for profit
institutions; Federal Government; State, local or tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 2,238.
Frequency: Varies (Initially, Yearly, On Occasion).
Average Time per Response: Varies from two minutes (.02 hr.) to 4
hours.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 30,615.
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 (OMB)
approval of the information collection request. The comments will
become a matter of public record.
Signed at Washington, DC, this 5th day of August 1998.
[FR Doc. 98-21784 Filed 8-12-98; 8:45 am]
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