
[Federal Register: June 23, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 121)]
[Notices]               
[Page 35412-35414]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23jn08-69]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. OSHA-2008-0020]

 
Slings; 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 comment.

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SUMMARY: OSHA solicits comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB 
approval of the information collection requirements contained in the 
Standard on Slings (29 CFR 1910.184). The collection of information 
(paperwork) provisions of the Standard specify affixing identification 
tags or markings on slings, developing and maintaining inspection 
records, and retaining proof testing certificates.

DATES: Comments must be submitted (postmarked, sent, or received) by 
August 22, 2008.

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 three copies of your comments 
and attachments to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2008-0020, 
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 OSHA 
docket number for the ICR (OSHA-2008-0020). 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 through 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, RoomN-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 accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program

[[Page 35413]]

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).
    The Slings Standard (29 CFR 1910.184) specifies several collection 
of information (paperwork) requirements, depending on the type of 
sling. The purpose of each of these requirements is to prevent 
employees from using defective or deteriorated slings, thereby reducing 
their risk of death or serious injury caused by sling failure during 
material handling.
    Paragraph (e) of the Standard covers alloy steel chain slings. 
Paragraph (e)(1) requires that alloy steel chain slings have 
permanently affixed and durable identification stating the size, grade, 
rated capacity, and reach of the sling. The information, supplied by 
the manufacturer, is typically marked on a metal tag and affixed to the 
sling.
    Paragraph (e)(3)(i) requires the employer to make a thorough 
periodic inspection of alloy steel chain slings in use on a regular 
basis, but at least once a year. Paragraph (e)(3)(ii) requires the 
employer to make and maintain a record of the most recent month in 
which each alloy steel chain sling was thoroughly inspected, and make 
this record available for examination.
    Paragraph (e)(4) requires the employer to retain certificates of 
proof testing. Employers must ensure that before use, each new, 
repaired, or reconditioned alloy steel chain sling, including all 
welded components in the sling assembly, has been proof tested by the 
sling manufacturer or an equivalent entity. The certificates of proof 
testing must be retained by the employer and made available for 
examination.
    Paragraph (f) of the Standard covers wire rope slings. Paragraph 
(f)(4)(ii) requires that all welded end attachments of wire rope slings 
be proof tested by the manufacturer at twice their rated capacity prior 
to initial use, and that the employer retain a certificate of the proof 
test and make it available for examination.
    Paragraph (g) of the Standard covers metal mesh slings. Paragraph 
(g)(1) requires each metal mesh sling to have a durable marking 
permanently affixed that states the rated capacity for vertical basket 
hitch and choker hitch loadings. Paragraph (g)(8)(ii) requires that 
once repaired, each metal mesh sling be permanently marked or tagged, 
or a written record maintained to indicate the date and type of the 
repairs made, and the person or organization that performed the 
repairs. Records of the repairs shall be made available for 
examination.
    Paragraph (i) of the Standard covers synthetic web slings. 
Paragraph (i)(1) requires that synthetic web slings be marked or coded 
to show the rated capacities for each type of hitch and the type of 
synthetic web material used in the sling.
    Paragraph (i)(8)(i) prohibits the use of repaired synthetic web 
slings until they have been proof tested by the manufacturer or an 
equivalent entity. Paragraph (i)(8)(ii) requires the employer to retain 
a certificate of the proof test and make it available for examination.
    The information on the identification tags, markings, and codings 
assist the employer in determining whether the sling can be used for 
the lifting task. The sling inspections enable early detection of 
faulty slings. The inspection and repair records provide employers with 
information about when the last inspection was made and about the type 
of the repairs made. This information provides some assurance about the 
condition of the slings. These records also provide the most efficient 
means for an OSHA compliance officer to determine that an employer is 
complying with the Standard. Proof testing certificates give employers, 
employees, and OSHA compliance officers assurance that slings are safe 
to use. The certificates also provide the compliance officers with an 
efficient means to assess employer compliance with the Standard.

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

    OSHA is requesting that OMB extend its approval of the information 
collection requirements contained in the Standard on Slings (29 CFR 
1910.184). OSHA is proposing to decrease the existing burden hour 
estimate for the collection of information requirements specified by 
the Standard from 19,167 hours to 17,760 hours, a total decrease of 
1,407 hours. The decrease occurred because, although there was an 
increase in the total number of slings, there was a decrease in the 
number of alloy steel chain slings. The Agency will summarize the 
comments submitted in response to this notice and will include this 
summary in the request to OMB.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Title: Slings (29 CFR 1910.184).
    OMB Number: 1218-0223.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profits; Not-for-profit 
organizations; Federal Government; State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 1,000,000.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Average Time Per Response: Varies from 1 minute (.02 hour) to 
maintain a certificate to 30 minutes (.50 hour) for a manufacturing 
employee to acquire information from a manufacturer for a new tag, make 
a new tag, and affix it to a sling.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 17,760.
    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-2008-0020). 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

[[Page 35414]]

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 through 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 
``UserTips'' link. Contact the OSHA Docket Office for information about 
materials not available through the Web site, and for assistance in 
using the Internet to locate docket submissions.

V. Authority and Signature

    Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., 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. 5-2007 (72 FR 
31159).

    Signed at Washington, DC, on June 12, 2008.
Edwin G. Foulke, Jr.
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. E8-14073 Filed 6-20-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-26-P
