DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. ICR-98-12]

Construction Posting Requirements--Emergency Numbers and Floor Load Limits; 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 (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 in Sec. 1926.50(f) and Sec. 1926.250(a)(2).

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 14, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments are to be submitted to the Docket Office, Docket ICR-98-12, 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

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) currently has approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the information collection (posting) requirements contained in 29 CFR 1926.50(f) and 1926.250(a)(2). That approval will expire on September 30, 1998, unless OSHA applies for an extension of the OMB approvals. This notice initiates the process for OSHA to request an extension of the current OMB approval.

Currently, section 1926.50(f) requires that telephone number of physicians, hospitals, or ambulances are to be conspicuously posted. However, on June 18, 1998, at 63 FR 33469, OSHA published a final rule amending this standard to totally eliminate the requirement to post the 911 number in areas where that service is available. Following the effective date, August 17, 1998, telephone numbers of physicians, hospitals, or ambulances need only be posted in areas where 911 is not available. Since construction work is hazardous at times and the injury and severity rates are high in spite of efforts to abate identifiable hazards, there is a need to obtain medical attention or provide ambulance and hospital service as expeditiously as possible. It is therefore necessary to require that the phone numbers be conspicuously posted on construction job sites. Section 1926.250(a)(2) requires that the maximum safe load limits of floors within buildings and structures, in pounds per square foot, must be posted in all storage areas, except for floor or slab on grade. During construction of certain multi-story buildings or structures, it is necessary to store materials on elevated floors. To make sure the floors is not overloaded, OSHA requires the load limits to be posted in the storage area in pounds per square foot. This should eliminate the hazard of building collapse due to overloading.

Current Action

This notice requests public comment on OSHA's burden hour estimates prior to OSHA seeking Office on Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the information collection (posting) requirements in 29 CFR 1926.50(f) and 1926.250(a)(2).

Type of Review: Revision.

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

Title: Construction Posting Requirements--Emergency Phone Numbers and Floor Load Limits.

OMB Number: 1218-0093.

Agency Number: Docket No. ICR-98-12.

Frequency: Once.

Affected Public: Business or other For-profit.

Number of Respondents: 187,562.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: Sec. 1926.50(f): 2 minutes; Sec. 1926.250(a)(2): 5 minutes.

Total Burden Hours: 5,555 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 this 7th day of July 1998.

Charles N. Jeffress,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.

[FR Doc. 98-18709 Filed 7-13-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-26-M