The Department of Labor (DOL) has submitted the following public information collection requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35). A copy of each ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by contacting the Department of Labor (DOL). To obtain documentation, contact Darrin King on 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or e-mail: king.darrin@dol.gov.
Comments should be sent to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, 202-395-7316 (this is not a toll-free number), within 30 days from the date of this publication in the Federal Register.
The OMB 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 submission of responses.
Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
Title: The Hydrostatic Testing Provision of the Standard on Portable Fire Extinguishers (29 CFR 1910.157(f)(16)).
OMB Number: 1218-0218.
Frequency: On occasion.
Type of Response: Recordkeeping and Third party disclosure.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Federal Government; and State, local, or tribal government.
Number of Respondents: 9,000,000.
Number of Annual Responses: 1,326,000.
Estimated Time Per Response: Varies from 1 minute to maintain a certification record of fire extinguishers tested off-site to 33 minutes to test fire extinguishers on-site and to generate and maintain the certification record.
Total Burden Hours: 123,180.
Total Annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing services): $12,240,000.
Description: 29 CFR 1910.157(f)(16) requires employers to develop and maintain a certification record of hydrostatic testing of portable fire extinguishers. The certification record must include the date of inspection, the signature of the person who performed the test, and the serial number (or other identifier) of the fire extinguisher that was tested. The certification record provides assurance that fire extinguishers have been hydrostatically tested in accordance with and at the intervals specified in Table L-1, thereby ensuring that they will operate properly in the event employees need to use them.
Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
Title: Portable Fire Extinguishers (Annual Maintenance Certification Record) (29 CFR 1910.157(e)(3)).
OMB Number: 1218-0238.
Frequency: Annually.
Type of Response: Recordkeeping and Third party disclosure.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Federal Government; and State, local, or tribal government.
Number of Respondents: 135,000.
Number of Annual Responses: 135,000.
Estimated Time Per Response: 30 minutes.
Total Burden Hours: 67,500.
Total Annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing services): $19,440,000.
Description: 29 CFR 1910.157(e)(3) specifies that employers must subject each portable fire extinguisher to an annual maintenance inspection and record the date of the inspection. In addition, this provision requires employers to retain the inspection record for one year after the last entry or for the life of the shell, whichever is less, and to make the record available to OSHA upon request. This recordkeeping requirement assures employees and Agency compliance officers that portable fire extinguishers located in the workplace will operate normally in case of fire; in addition, this requirement provides evidence to OSHA compliance officers during an inspection that the employer performed the required maintenance checks on the portable fire extinguishers.
Darrin A. King,
Acting Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-13369 Filed 6-14-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P