[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 118 (Thursday, June 19, 2014)][Notices][Pages 35189-35191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14330]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. OSHA-2011-0055]
Steel Erection; Extension of the Office of Management and
Budget's (OMB) Approval of Information Collection (Paperwork)
Requirements
AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.
ACTION: Request for public comments.
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SUMMARY: OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to
extend OMB approval of the information collection requirements
specified in the Standard on Steel Erection (29 CFR part 1926, subpart
R).
DATES: Comments must be submitted (postmarked, sent, or received) by
August 18, 2014.
ADDRESSES:
Electronically: You may submit comments and attachments
electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal
eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for submitting
comments.
Facsimile: If your comments, including attachments, are not longer
than 10 pages you may fax them to the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-
1648.
Mail, hand delivery, express mail, messenger, or courier service:
When using this method, you must submit a copy of your comments and
attachments to the OSHA Docket Office, OSHA Docket No. OSHA-2011-0055,
U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington,
DC 20210. Deliveries (hand, express mail, messenger, and courier
service) are accepted during the Department of Labor's and Docket
Office's normal business hours, 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., e.t.
Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and the
OSHA docket number (OSHA-2011-0055) for the Information Collection
request (ICR). All comments, including any personal information you
provide, are placed in the public docket without change, and may be
made available online at http://www.regulations.gov. For further
information on submitting comments, see the ``Public Participation''
heading in the section of this notice titled SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Docket: To read or download comments or other material in the
docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov or the OSHA Docket Office at
the address above. All documents in the docket (including this Federal
Register notice) are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index;
however, some information (e.g., copyrighted material) is not publicly
available to read or download from the Web site. All submissions,
including copyrighted material, are available for inspection and
copying at the OSHA Docket Office. You may also contact Theda Kenney at
the address below to obtain a copy of the ICR.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Theda Kenney or Todd Owen, Directorate
of Standards and Guidance, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3609,
200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202) 693-
2222.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce
paperwork and respondent (i.e., employer) burden, conducts a
preclearance consultation program to provide the public with an
opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing information
collection requirements in accord with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 (PRA-95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program ensures that
information is in the desired format, reporting burden (time and costs)
is minimal, collection instruments are clearly understood, and OSHA's
estimate of the information collection burden is accurate. The
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the OSH Act) (29 U.S.C. 651
et seq.) authorizes information collection by employers as necessary or
appropriate for enforcement of the Act or for developing information
regarding the causes and prevention of occupational injuries,
illnesses, and accidents (29 U.S.C. 657). The OSH Act also requires
that OSHA obtain such information with minimum burden upon employers,
especially those operating small businesses, and to reduce to the
maximum extent feasible unnecessary duplication of efforts in obtaining
information (29 U.S.C. 657).
Section 1926.752(a)(1). Description of the requirement. Based on
the results of a specified method for testing field-cured samples, the
controlling contractor must provide the steel erector with written
notification that the concrete in the footings, piers, and walls, or
the mortar in the masonry piers and walls, is at 75% of its minimum
compressive-design strength or has sufficient strength to support loads
imposed during steel erection. Note: This is not and will not be
enforced for mortar in piers and walls until OSHA defines an
appropriate substitute or until an appropriate American Society for
Testing and Materials (ASTM) test method is developed.
Sections 1926.752(a)(2) and 1926.755(b)(1). Description of the
requirements. Under Sec. 1926.752(a)(2), the controlling contractor,
before it authorizes commencement of steel erection, must notify the
steel erector in writing that any repairs, replacements, and
modifications to anchor bolts (rods) have been made in accord with
Sec. 1926.755(b)(1) which requires that the controlling contractor
obtain approval from the project structural engineer of
record for the repairs, replacements, and modifications.
Section 1926.753(c)(5). Description of the requirement. Employers
must not deactivate safety latches on hooks or make them inoperable
except for the situation when a qualified rigger determines that it is
safer to hoist and place purlins and single joists by doing so; or
except when equivalent protection is provided in the site-specific
erection plan.
Section 1926.753(e)(2). Description of the requirement. Employers
must have the maximum capacity of the total multiple-lift rigging
assembly, as well as each of its individual attachment points,
certified by the manufacturer or a qualified rigger.
Sections 1926.755(b)(2) and 1926.755(b)(1). Description of the
requirements. Under Sec. 1926.755(b)(2), throughout steel erection the
controlling contractor must notify the steel erector in writing of
additional repairs, replacements, and modifications of anchor bolts
(rods); Sec. 1926.755(b)(1) requires that these repairs, replacements
and modifications not be made without approval from the project
structural engineer of record.
Section 1926.757(a)(4). Description of the requirement. If steel
joists at or near columns span more than 60 feet, employers must set
the joists in tandem with all bridging installed. However, the employer
may use an alternative method of erection if a qualified person
develops the alternative method, it provides equivalent stability, and
the employer includes the method in the site-specific erection plan.
Section 1926.757(a)(7). Description of the requirement. Employers
must not modify steel joists or steel joist girders in a way that
affects their strength without the approval of the project structural
engineer of record.
Sections 1926.757(a)(9) and 1926.758(g). Description of the
requirements. An employer can use a steel joist, steel joist girder,
purlin, or girt as an anchorage point for a fall arrest system only
with the written approval of a qualified person.
Section 1926.757(e)(4)(i). Description of the requirement. An
employer must install and anchor all bridging on joists and attach all
joist bearing ends before placing a bundle of decking on the joists,
unless: A qualified person determines that the structure or portion of
the structure is capable of supporting the bundle, the employer
documents this determination in the site-specific erection plan and
follows the additional requirements specified in Sec.
1926.757(e)(4)(ii)-(vi).
Section 1926.760(e) and (e)(1). Description of the requirement. The
steel erector can leave its fall protection at the jobsite after
completion of the erection activity only if the controlling contractor
or its authorized representative directs the steel erector to do so and
inspects and accepts responsibility for the fall protection.
Section 1926.761. Description of the requirement. Employers must
have qualified persons provide training to all workers exposed to fall
hazards. This training is to include: Recognition of fall hazards at
the worksite; use and operation of guardrail systems, personal fall
arrest systems, positioning device systems, fall restraint systems,
safety net systems, and other fall protection implemented at the
worksite; correct procedures for erecting, maintaining, disassembling,
and inspecting these fall protection systems; procedures that prevent
falls to lower levels, and through or into holes and openings in
walking-working surfaces; and the fall protection requirements of this
Subpart. In addition, employers are to provide special training to
workers engaged in multiple-lift rigging procedures (i.e., to recognize
multi-lift hazards and in the proper procedures and equipment to
perform multiple lifts), connector procedures (i.e., to identify
connector hazards and in the requirements of Sec. Sec. 1926.756(c) and
1926.760(b)), and controlled decking zone (CDZ) procedures (i.e.,
knowledge of CDZ hazards and in the requirements of Sec. Sec.
1926.754(e) and 1926.760(c)).
Paragraph (c)(4)(ii) of Appendix G to Subpart R. Description of the
requirement. This mandatory appendix duplicates the regulatory
requirements of Sec. 1926.502 (``Fall protection systems criteria and
practices''), notably the requirements specified in paragraph
(c)(4)(ii). This paragraph addresses the certification of safety nets
as an option available to employers who can demonstrate that performing
a drop test on safety nets is unreasonable. This provision allows such
employers to certify that their safety nets, including the installation
of the nets, protect workers at least as well as safety nets that meet
the drop test criteria. The employer must complete the certification
process prior to using the net for fall protection, and the certificate
must include the following information: Identification of the net and
the type of installation used for the net; the date the certifying
party determined that the net and its installation would meet the drop-
test criteria; and the signature of the party making this
determination. The most recent certificate must be available at the
jobsite for inspection.
II. Special Issues for Comment
OSHA has a particular interest in comments on the following issues:
Whether the proposed information collection requirements
are necessary for the proper performance of the Agency's functions,
including whether the information is useful;
The accuracy of OSHA's estimate of the burden (time and
costs) of the information collection requirements, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
The quality, utility, and clarity of the information
collected; and
Ways to minimize the burden on employers who must comply;
for example, by using automated or other technological information
collection and transmission techniques.
III. Proposed Actions
The Agency is requesting that OMB extend its approval of the
information collection requirements contained in the Standard on Steel
Erection (29 CFR part 1926, subpart R). The Agency is requesting an
adjustment decrease of 2,203 burden hours (from 23,602 hours to 21,399
hours). This decrease is due to a decline in worksites associated with
this subpart from 15,578 to 13,864.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Title: Steel Erection (29 CFR part 1926, subpart R).
OMB Control Number: 1218-0241.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profits.
Number of Respondents: 13,864.
Frequency of Responses: On occasion, annually; triennially.
Number of Responses: 72,317.
Average Time per Response: Varies from one minute (.02 hour) for a
controlling contractor to inform a steel erector to leave fall
protection at the jobsite to five hours for a project engineer to do
research and analysis to provide approval for modifications to steel
joists or joist girders.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 21,399.
Estimated Cost (Operation and Maintenance): $0.
IV. Public Participation--Submission of Comments on This Notice and
Internet Access to Comments and Submissions
You may submit comments in response to this document as follows:
(1) Electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal
eRulemaking Portal; (2) by facsimile (fax); or (3) by hard copy. All
comments, attachments, and other material must identify the Agency name
and the OSHA docket number for the ICR (Docket No. OSHA-2011-0055).
You may supplement electronic submissions by uploading document files
electronically. If you wish to mail additional materials in reference
to an electronic or facsimile submission, you must submit them to the
OSHA Docket Office (see the section of this notice titled ADDRESSES).
The additional materials must clearly identify your electronic comments
by your name, date, and the docket number so the Agency can attach them
to your comments.
Because of security procedures, the use of regular mail may cause a
significant delay in the receipt of comments. For information about
security procedures concerning the delivery of materials by hand,
express delivery, messenger, or courier service, please contact the
OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-2350, (TTY (877) 889-5627).
Comments and submissions are posted without change at
http://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, OSHA cautions commenters about
submitting personal information such as social security numbers and
date of birth. Although all submissions are listed in the
http://www.regulations.gov index, some information (e.g., copyrighted
material) is not publicly available to read or download from this Web
site. All submissions, including copyrighted material, are available
for inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket Office. Information on
using the http://www.regulations.gov Web site to submit comments and
access the docket is available at the Web site's ``User Tips'' link.
Contact the OSHA Docket Office for information about materials not
available from the Web site, and for assistance in using the Internet
to locate docket submissions.
V. Authority and Signature
David Michaels, Ph.D., MPH, Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Occupational Safety and Health, directed the preparation of this
notice. The authority for this notice is the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506 et seq.) and Secretary of Labor's Order No. 1-2012
(77 FR 3912).
Signed at Washington, DC, on June 13, 2014.
David Michaels,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2014-14330 Filed 6-18-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P
