DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket Number ICR 98-10]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Course Evaluation Form

ACTION: Notice.

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 Course Evaluation Force completed by students attending courses at OSHA's Training Institute and Education Centers. A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the addresses section below on or before May 12, 1998. 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.

ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket No. ICR 98-10, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, D.C. 20210, telephone number (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:

Robert O'Brien, Division of Administration and Training Information, OSHA Office of Training and Education, 1555 Times Drive, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018, telephone (847) 297-4810 (this is not a toll-free number), E-mail to robert.obrien@oti.osha.gov, or send a facsimile message to (847) 297-4874. 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 Robert O'Brien or Barbara Bielaski at (202) 219-7177 x142. For electronic copies of the Information Collection Request for the Student Data Form, contact OSHA's WebPage on the Internet at http://www.osha.gov under Standards.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Office of Training and Education, administers a program of training and education for employers and employees and personnel engaged in work relating to the Act. This program includes courses on occupational safety and health provided by the OSHA Training Institute, at its national training facility in Des Plaines, Illinois. Besides conducting courses at the OSHA Training Institute in Des Plaines, Illinois, the Institute is also administering a program by which several institutions in various locations throughout the United States have been authorized as OSHA Training Institute Education Centers. These Education Centers conduct a specific number of OSHA courses geared for private sector and other Federal Agency personnel. The goal of the Education Center program is to expand the accessibility of high-quality OSHA training courses.

All students completing training courses at the Training Institute and the Education Centers are requested to complete the Course Evaluation, OSHA Form 49. Students may be Federal, state, private sector, local or tribal government employees. The Course Evaluation From contains ten close-ended questions. Student input on the Course Evaluation Form provides feedback on ten elements to assess communication and accomplishment of learning objectives, course content, training environment, relevance of topics to job, effectiveness of exercises, workshops, laboratories, field trips and audiovisuals, usefulness of course materials and handouts, and overall rating of course. This feedback provides an overall impression of the student's training experience for the course. Students provide more detailed feedback in the narrative sections of the form. The student input received on the Course Evaluation form provides a standardized tool for collecting quality data that has been used to determine program successes and shortcomings. This quality data has assisted the Training Institute in directing resources where they can do the most good. All Course Evaluation Forms are reviewed by the course chairperson, instructors, the Institute Director and the supervisor responsible for that course. Ratings provide baseline data from which to draw conclusions about the effectiveness and quality of the training courses and to assess the level of student satisfaction with the course. Evaluation data is used to determine which courses may need improvement. Problem areas are noted and the supervisor discusses them with the course chairperson. Courses needing further improvement are scheduled for a more comprehensive follow-up course evaluation with recommendations for improvement. Revised courses are closely monitored to determine if problem areas have been resolved.

II. Current Actions

OSHA is planning to request OMB to extend its approval of the Student Evaluation form.

Type of Review: Extension.

Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Title: Course Evaluation Form.

OMB Number: Formerly 1218-0173.

Agency Number: OSHA 49.

Affected Public: Individuals.

Total Respondents: 11,500.

Total Responses: 11,500.

Average Time per Response: 10 minutes.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,916 hours.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in OSHA's request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also become a matter of public record.

Signed this 6th day of March 1998.

Charles N. Jeffress,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.

[FR Doc. 98-6577 Filed 3-12-98; 8:45 am)