DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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) [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 Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200; 1915; 1917; 1918; 1926; 1928. A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the employee listed below in the addressee section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the addressee section below on or before May 13, 1996. 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; an
d
• 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-96-2, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, 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: Anne C. Cyr, Office of Information and Consumer Affairs, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3647, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 219-8148. Copies of the referenced information collection request are available for inspection and copying in the Docket Office and will be mailed immediately to persons who request copies by telephoning Vivian Allen at (202) 219-8076. For electronic copies of the Hazard Communication Information Collection Request, contact the Labor News Bulletin Board (202) 219-4784; or OSHA's WebPage on Internet at http://www.osha.gov/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Hazard Communication Standard and its information collection requirements are designed to ensure that the hazards of all chemicals produced or imported are evaluated and that information concerning their hazards is transmitted to employees and downstream employers. The standard requires chemical manufacturers and importers to evaluate chemicals they produce or import to determine if they are hazardous; for those chemicals determined to be hazardous, material safety data sheets and warning labels must be developed. Employers are required to establish hazard communication programs, to transmit information on the hazards of chemicals to their employees by means of labels on containers, material safety data sheets and training programs. Implementation of these collection of information requirements will ensure all employees have the "right-to-know" the hazards and identities of the chemicals they work with and will reduce the incidence of chemically-related occupational illnesses and injuries.

II. Current Actions

This notice requests an extension of the current OMB approval of the paperwork requirements in the Hazard Communication Standard. Extension is necessary to ensure that employees continue to receive information about hazards and chemicals they are exposed to when working, as well as what protective measures are available to prevent adverse effects from occurring. At OSHA's request, the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH) has convened a work group to consider issues related to improving hazard communication and workers right-to-know. This group of experts has been asked to consider several specific issues including the paperwork burden. The work group has received input from a number of representatives of employers and employees during its deliberation. OSHA will use the recommendations of NACOSH in its consideration of the paperwork burden.

Type of Review: Extension.

Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Title: Hazard Communication.

OMB Number: 1218-0072.

Agency Number: Docket Number ICR-96-2.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Federal government and State, Local or Tribal governments.

Total Respondents: 5,041,918.

Frequency: On occasion.

Total Responses: 74,579,540.

Average Time per Response: Time per response ranges from 12 seconds to affix labels to containers containing hazardous chemicals to 5 hours to develop a hazard communications program.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 13,201,863.

Estimated Capital, Operation/Maintenance Burden Cost: $0.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or 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.

Dated: March 7, 1996.

Adam M. Finkel,
Director, Directorate of Health Standards Programs.

[FR Doc. 96-5974 Filed 3-12-96; 8:45 am]