DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. ICR-98-17]

Design of Cave-in Protection Systems; Information Collection Requirements

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice; opportunity for public comment.

SUMMARY: The DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and information collection burdens, is conducting a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on both current and proposed 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 reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection materials are clearly understood, impact of collection requirements on respondents can be accurately assessed, and requested data can be provided in the desired format. Currently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is soliciting comments concerning the collection of information requirements contained in 29 CFR 1926.652 (b) and (c), Design of Cave-in Protective systems.

The Agency is particularly interested in comments that:

• Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of OSHA's responsibilities, 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 the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology (for example, permitting electronic submissions of responses).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 8, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket ICR-98-17, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR,Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, (202) 219-7894. Written comments limited to 10 pages or less may be transmitted by facsimile to (202) 219-5046.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Laurence Davey, Directorate of Construction, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Room N3621, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, (202) 219-7207. Copies of the information collection requests are available for inspection and copying in the Docket Office and will be mailed to persons who request copies by telephoning Mr. Davey at (202) 219-7207 or Barbara Bielaski at (202) 219-8076. For electronic copies of the information collection request, contact OSHA's Web Page on the Internet at http://www.osha-slc.gov (click on Information Collection Requests).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

In OSHA's construction standard for excavations, employers are required to protect employees from cave-in hazards by using one of several protective systems. The information required to be collected by this standard is used by employers or engineers to design proper cave- in systems that will support the walls of the excavation or trench.

The employer may choose to slope the sides of the trench or bench (step) the soil back. They could also choose to use a support system or shield, such as a trench box. The standard provides allowable configurations and slopes, and provides appendixes to assist the employer with designing either the sloping/benching systems or the support/shield systems. If an employer elects to use a protective system designed by a registered professional engineer, or bases his/her system on tabulated data provided by sources other than the appendix, the employer must obtain certain information and keep it at the job site for review at the time of an inspection. The information obtained by the employer will contain the identity of the registered professional engineer who approved the design, will normally specify why a particular system was chosen, list the limits of the system chosen, and any explanatory information to aid the user of the data in the appropriate selection. The documentation provides both the employer and the compliance officer with the information necessary to determine if the appropriate system has been selected and designed properly.

Without the information collection requirements which are contained in Sec. 1926.652(b)--Design of Sloping and Benching Systems, and Sec. 1926.652(c)--Design of Support Systems, Shield Systems, and other Protective Systems, employees would be at greater risk from cave-in hazards.

Current Action

This notice requests public comment on OSHA's burden hour estimates prior to OSHA seeking Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the information collection requirements contained in 29 CFR 1926.652 (b) and (c), Design of Cave-in Protective Systems.

Type of Review: Extension of existing approval.

Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.

Title: Design of Cave-in Protective systems (29 CFR 1926.652 (b) and (c)).

OMB Number: 1218-0137.

Agency Number: Docket No. ICR-98-17.

Frequency: On Occasion.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 10,000.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: Ranges from -0- to 2 hours.

Total Burden Hours: 20,080 hours.

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

Signed at Washington, DC, this 2nd day of July 1998.

Charles N. Jeffress,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.

[FR Doc. 98-18428 Filed 7-9-98; 8:45 am]

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