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 Ethylene Oxide Standard 29 CFR 1910.1047. 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 April 29, 1997. 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-97-4, 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 fewer may also be transmitted by facsimile to (202) 219-5046.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Bonnie Friedman, Director, OSHA Office of Information and Public 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 to persons who request copies by telephoning Vivian Allen at (202) 219-8076. For electronic copies of the Ethylene Oxide Information Collection Request contact OSHA's WebPage on Internet at http://www.osha.gov/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Ethylene Oxide Standard and its information collection is designed to provide protection for employees from the adverse health effects associated with occupational exposure to ethylene oxide.

The Standard requires employers to monitor employee exposure to ethylene oxide (EtO) and provide notification to employees of their exposure to ethylene oxide. If monitoring indicates exposure above the 8-hour time weight average of one part EtO per million parts of air, or in excess of five parts of EtO per million part of air as average over sampling period of 15 minutes, then the employer is required to develop a compliance plan to reduce the exposures above these levels. Employers are required to make available medical exams to employees who are or may be exposed to EtO at or above the action level (.5 parts per million calculated as an eight hour time-weight average), without regard to the use of respirators, for at least 30 days a year. Exposure monitoring and medical records are to be retained for prescribed amounts of time, and under certain circumstances such records may be transferred to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Employers are also required to communicate the hazards associated with exposure to EtO through signs, labels, material safety data sheets and training.

II. Current Actions

This notice requests an extension of the current OMB approval of the paperwork requirements in the Ethylene Oxide Standard. Extension is necessary to provide continued protection to employees from the health effects asociated with occupational exposure to ethylene oxide.

Type of Review: Extension.

Agency: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Title: Ethylene Oxide.

OMB Number: 1218-0108.

Agency Number: Docket Number ICR-97-4.

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

Total Respondents: 52,546.

Frequency: On occasion.

Total Responses: 166,566.

Average Time per Response: Time per response ranges from five minutes to maintain records to two hours for employee medical exams.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 50,300.

Estimated Capital, Operation/Maintenance Burden Cost: The total cost for employers to conduct exposure monitoring, to provide medical exams, and when necessary transfer records to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health is $1,500,593.

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.

Dated: February 21, 1997.

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

[FR Doc. 97-5003 Filed 2-27-97; 8:45 am)