Voluntary Protection Program Application Information; Extension of the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Approval of Information Collection (Paperwork) Requirements, 9594-9597 [E8-3153]
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9594
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 35 / Thursday, February 21, 2008 / Notices
The amended notice applicable to
TA–W–62,422 is hereby issued as
follows:
’’All workers of Curtain & Drapery
Fashions, including on-site leased workers of
Paychex Business Solutions, Lowell, North
Carolina, who became totally or partially
separated from employment on or after
November 1, 2006 through December 19,
2009, are eligible to apply for adjustment
assistance under section 223 of the Trade Act
of 1974, and are also eligible to apply for
alternative trade adjustment assistance under
section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974.’’
Signed at Washington, DC, this 8th day of
February 2008.
Elliott S. Kushner,
Certifying Officer, Division of Trade
Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. E8–3221 Filed 2–20–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510–FN–P
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training
Administration
[TA–W–62,656]
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
Saint-Gobain Abrasives, Norton Pike
Division Including On-Site Leased
Workers From Allstaff, Littleton, NH;
Amended Certification Regarding
Eligibility To Apply for Worker
Adjustment Assistance and Alternative
Trade Adjustment Assistance
In accordance with section 223 of the
Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2273), and
section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974 (26
U.S.C. 2813), as amended, the
Department of Labor issued a
Certification of Eligibility To Apply for
Worker Adjustment Assistance and
Alternative Trade Adjustment
Assistance on January 16, 2008,
applicable to workers of Saint-Gobain
Abrasives, Norton Pike Division,
Littleton, New Hampshire. The notice
was published in the Federal Register
on February 1, 2008 (73 FR 6212).
At the request of the State agency, the
Department reviewed the certification
for workers of the subject firm. The
workers are engaged in the production
of abrasive stones.
New information shows that leased
workers of Allstaff were employed onsite at the Littleton, New Hampshire
location of Saint-Gobain Abrasives,
Norton Pike Division. The Department
has determined that these workers were
sufficiently under the control of the
subject firm to be considered leased
workers.
Based on these findings, the
Department is amending this
certification to include leased workers
of Allstaff working on-site at the
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Littleton, New Hampshire location of
the subject firm.
The intent of the Department’s
certification is to include all workers
employed at Saint-Gobain Abrasives,
Norton Pike Division, Littleton, New
Hampshire who were adverselyimpacted by a shift in production of
abrasive stones to Mexico.
The amended notice applicable to
TA–W–62,656 is hereby issued as
follows:
‘‘All workers of Saint-Gobain Abrasives,
Norton Pike Division, including on-site
leased workers from Allstaff, Littleton, New
Hampshire, who became totally or partially
separated from employment on or after
January 9, 2007, through January 16, 2010,
are eligible to apply for adjustment assistance
under section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974,
and are also eligible to apply for alternative
trade adjustment assistance under section
246 of the Trade Act of 1974.’’
Signed at Washington, DC, this 13th day of
February 2008.
Richard Church,
Certifying Officer, Division of Trade
Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. E8–3222 Filed 2–20–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510–FN–P
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training
Administration
[TA–W–62,740]
Tail Inc., Miami, FL; Notice of
Termination of Investigation
Pursuant to Section 221 of the Trade
Act of 1974, as amended, an
investigation was initiated on January
18, 2008 in response to a worker
petition filed by an authorized
representative on behalf of workers at
Tail Inc., Miami, Florida.
The petitioning group of workers is
covered by an earlier petition (TA–W–
62732) filed on January 24, 2008 that is
the subject of an ongoing investigation
for which a determination has not yet
been issued. Further investigation in
this case would duplicate efforts and
serve no purpose; therefore the
investigation under this petition has
been terminated.
Signed at Washington, DC, this 12th day of
February 2008.
Richard Church,
Certifying Officer, Division of Trade
Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. E8–3223 Filed 2–20–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510–FN–P
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training
Administration
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration
[TA–W–62,758]
[Docket No. OSHA–2007–0090]
Parker International Products, Inc.;
Worcester, MA; Notice of Termination
of Investigation
Voluntary Protection Program
Application Information; Extension of
the Office of Management and
Budget’s (OMB) Approval of
Information Collection (Paperwork)
Requirements
Pursuant to section 221 of the Trade
Act of 1974, as amended, an
investigation was initiated on January
29, 2008 in response to a petition filed
by a company official on behalf of
workers of Parker International
Products, Inc., Worcester,
Massachusetts.
The petitioner has requested that the
petition be withdrawn. Consequently,
the investigation has been terminated.
Therefore, further investigation in this
case would serve no purpose.
Signed at Washington, DC, this 7th day of
February, 2008.
Elliott S. Kushner,
Certifying Officer, Division of Trade
Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. E8–3224 Filed 2–20–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510–FN–P
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Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), Labor.
ACTION: Request for public comment.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: OSHA solicits public
comment concerning its proposal to
extend OMB approval of the
information collection requirements
contained in the Voluntary Protection
Programs.
Comments must be submitted
(postmarked, sent, or received) by April
21, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Electronically: You may
submit comments and attachments
electronically at https://
www.regulations.gov, which is the
Federal eRulemaking Portal. Follow the
instructions online for submitting
comments.
DATES:
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 35 / Thursday, February 21, 2008 / Notices
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,
OSHA Docket No. OSHA–2007–0090,
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–
2007–0090). All comments, including
any personal information you provide,
are placed in the public docket without
change, and may be made available
online at https://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 https://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 https://
www.regulations.gov index; however,
some information (e.g., copyrighted
material) is not publicly available to
read or download through the website.
All submissions, including copyrighted
material, are available for inspection
and copying at the OSHA Docket Office.
You may also contact Cathy Oliver at
the address below to obtain a copy of
the ICR.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cathy Oliver, Director, Office of
Partnerships and Recognition,
Directorate of Cooperative and State
Programs, OSHA, U.S. Department of
Labor, Room N–3700, 200 Constitution
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210;
telephone (202) 693–2213.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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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
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requirements in accordance 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 OSH
Act or for developing information
regarding the causes and prevention of
occupational injuries, illnesses, and
accidents (29 U.S.C. 657).
The Voluntary Protection Programs
(VPP) [47 FR 29025], adopted by OSHA,
established the efficacy of cooperative
action among government, industry, and
labor to address employee safety and
health issues and to expand employee
protection. To qualify, employers must
meet OSHA’s rigorous safety and health
management criteria which focus on
comprehensive management systems
and active employee involvement to
prevent or control worksite safety and
health hazards. Employers who qualify
generally view OSHA standards as a
minimum level of safety and health
performance, and set their own more
stringent standards, wherever necessary,
to improve employee protection.
Prospective VPP worksites must
submit an application that includes:
General applicant information (e.g., site,
corporate, and collective bargaining contact
information).
Injury and illness rate performance
information (i.e., number of employees and/
or applicable contractors on-site, type of
work performed and products produced,
North American Industry Classification
System, and Recordable Injury and Illness
Case Incidence Rate information).
Safety and health management system
information (i.e., description of the
applicant’s safety and health management
system including how the system
successfully addresses management
leadership and employee involvement,
worksite analysis, hazard prevention and
control, and safety and health training).
OSHA uses this information to
determine whether an applicant is ready
for a VPP on-site evaluation and as a
verification tool during VPP on-site
evaluations. Without this information,
OSHA would be unable to determine
which sites are ready for VPP status.
Each current VPP applicant is also
required to submit an annual evaluation
which addresses how that applicant is
continuing its adherence to
programmatic requirements.
In 2008 OSHA modified procedures
for VPP applicants, OSHA on-site
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evaluation, and annual participant selfevaluation for applicants/participants
subject to OSHA’s Process Safety
Management (PSM) Standard.
Applicants that perform work that uses
or produces highly hazardous chemicals
exceeding specified limits covered
under the (PSM) standard must submit
responses to the PSM application
supplement along with their VPP
application.
Once in the VPP, the participant is
required to submit an annual evaluation
detailing its continued adherence to
programmatic requirements. Applicants
covered under the PSM standard are
required to submit a PSM questionnaire,
a supplemental document as part of
their annual submission. OSHA needs
this information to ensure that the
participant remains qualified to
participate in the VPP between onsite
evaluations. Without this information,
OSHA would be unable to determine
whether applicants are maintaining
excellent safety and health management
systems during this interim period.
The Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) decided to
continue the OSHA Challenge and VPP
Corporate Pilot programs. These new
initiatives will expand VPP to promote
the safety and health of thousands of
employees across the nation.
OSHA Challenge is designed to reach
and guide employers and companies in
all major industry groups who are
strongly committed to improving their
safety and health management systems
and are interested in pursuing
recognition in VPP. OSHA Challenge
provides participants a guide or
roadmap to improve performance and
ultimately to achieve VPP approval.
OSHA Challenge outlines the
requirements needed to develop and
implement effective safety and health
management systems through
incremental steps. At each stage, certain
actions, documentation and outcomes
are required in the areas covered by VPP
criteria. Participants receive recognition
from OSHA at the completion of each
stage.
Each Challenge Pilot Administrator is
required to submit to OSHA
electronically a Challenge Pilot
Administrator’s application package,
Administrator’s Statement of
Commitment, Challenge Pilot
Administrator Information Form,
Challenge Pilot Administrator’s
Quarterly Report (if there have been
significant changes to any of its
participants’ sites), Challenge Pilot
Administrator’s Annual Report (The
Challenge Pilot Administrator must
prepare and submit the annual report
electronically to OSHA).
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 35 / Thursday, February 21, 2008 / Notices
The VPP Corporate Pilot is designed
to provide a more efficient process for
corporations to increase their level of
participation in VPP. The pilot concept
is two-fold; the corporations submit an
application that describes corporate
level policies and programs that are
uniformly applied at facilities across the
corporation. A comprehensive On-site
Corporate Evaluation is conducted by
OSHA to verify the contents of the
application. Once a corporation is
accepted in the VPP Corporate Pilot, all
eligible corporate facilities will apply
for VPP participation using a more
efficient streamlined application and
OSHA conducts a more streamlined onsite evaluation. Corporations accepted
in the VPP Corporate Pilot must submit
an annual safety and health report.
Employees of VPP participants may
apply to participate in the Special
Government Employee (SGE) Program.
The SGE Program was established as a
means to leverage OSHA’s limited
resources. Through this program,
employees of VPP participants are
trained to take part as team members
during VPP on-site evaluations. In that
capacity, Special Government
Employees may review company
documents, assist with worksite
walkthroughs, interview employees, and
assist in preparing VPP on-site
evaluation reports. Potential Special
Government Employees must submit a
Special Government Employee’s
application that includes:
SGE Eligibility Information Sheet (i.e.,
applicant’s name, professional credentials,
site/corporate contact information, etc.).
Current Resume.
Confidential Financial Disclosure Report
(OGE Form 450).
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OSHA uses the SGE Eligibility
Information Sheet to ensure that the
potential SGE works at a VPP site and
meets the minimum eligibility
qualifications. The resume is required to
provide a detailed description of their
current duties and responsibilities as
they relate to safety and health and the
implementation of an effective safety
and health management system. The
OGE Form 450 is used to ensure that
SGEs do not participate on on-site
evaluations at VPP sites where they
have a financial interest.
II. Special Issues for Comment
OSHA has a particular interest in
comments on the following issues:
• Whether the information collection
requirements are necessary for the
proper performance of the Agency’s
functions, including whether the
information is useful;
• The accuracy of the Agency’s
estimate of the burden (time and costs)
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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 proposes to extend the Office
of Management and Budget’s (OMB)
Approval of the collection of
information (paperwork) requirements
necessitated by the Voluntary Protection
Programs. The Agency will summarize
the comments submitted in response to
this notice, and will include this
summary in its request to OMB to
extend the approval of these
information collection requirements.
Type of Review: Extension of
currently approved collection.
Title: Voluntary Protection Programs
Information.
OMB Number: 1218–0239.
Affected Public: Business or other forprofits; and individuals or households.
Number of Respondents:
VPP
274 Applications
68 Process Safety Management
Applications
1,300 Annual Evaluations
300 (PSM) Annual Evaluations/
Supplemental Questionnaire
OSHA Challenge
17 Applications from Challenge Pilot
Administrators
120 Applications from Challenge Pilot
Candidates
120 Quarterly Reports
120 Annual Evaluations
VPP Corporate
7 Applications from VPP Corporations
120 Applications from VPP Corporate
Facilities
7 Annual Reports
Special Government Employees
300 SGE Eligibility Information
Sheets
300 Resumes
300 Confidential Financial Disclosure
Forms (OGE–Form 450)
Total respondents: 2,985 total
respondents.
Frequency: VPP applications,
Challenge Pilot Administrator’s
applications, Challenge Pilot Candidate
applications, VPP Corporate Pilot
applications and VPP Corporate Pilot
Facility VPP applications are submitted
once; Challenge Pilot Administrator’s
Quarterly Reports are submitted
quarterly (if there have been significant
changes to any of its participants’ sites);
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VPP Annual Evaluations, Challenge
Pilot Administrator’s Annual Report,
and Corporate Safety and Health
Reports are submitted once per year;
and Special Government Employee
applications are submitted once every
three years.
Average Time Per Response:
VPP General
200 hours for VPP applications
20 hours for VPP evaluations
Process Safety Management
40 hours for applications
20 hours for evaluations
OSHA Challenge
5 hours for Challenge Pilot
Administrator applications
10 hours for Challenge Pilot
Candidate applications
5 hours for Challenge Pilot Candidate
quarterly reports
20 hours for Challenge Pilot
Candidate annual reports
VPP Corporate
120 hours for VPP Corporations
applications
80 hours for VPP Corporate facility
applications
40 hours for VPP Corporations annual
reports
Special Government Employees (SGE)
30 minutes for SGE Eligibility
Information Sheet
60 minutes for SGE Resume
Estimated Total Burden Hours:
VPP General
54,800 hours for VPP application
26,000 hours for VPP annual
evaluations
Process Safety Management
2,720 hours for applications
6,000 hours for annual evaluations
OSHA Challenge
85 hours for Challenge
Administrators’ applications
1,200 hours for Challenge Pilot
Candidates’ applications
1,800 hours for Challenge Candidates’
quarterly reports
2,400 hours for Challenge Candidates’
annual reports
VPP Corporate
840 hours for Corporations’
applications
9,600 hours for Corporate VPP facility
applications
280 hours for Corporate facility
annual reports
Special Government Employees (SGE)
150 hours for SGE Eligibility
Information Sheet
300 hours for Resume
Total Burden Hours per year (3-year
average): 106,175.
Estimated Cost (Operation and
Maintenance): $0.
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 35 / Thursday, February 21, 2008 / Notices
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 https://
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–2007–0090).
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 https://
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 https://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 https://
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 through the web site, and for
assistance in using the Internet to locate
docket submissions.
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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
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16:34 Feb 20, 2008
Jkt 214001
et seq.) and Secretary of Labor’s Order
No. 3–2007 (67 FR 31159).
Signed at Washington, DC on February 14,
2008.
Edwin G. Foulke, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational
Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. E8–3153 Filed 2–20–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510–26–P
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND
SPACE ADMINISTRATION
[Notice (08–016)]
Notice of Intent To Grant Exclusive
License
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration.
ACTION: Notice of intent to grant
exclusive license.
9597
Mr. James J. McGroary, Chief Patent
Counsel/LS01, Marshall Space Flight
Center, Huntsville, AL 35812, (256)
544–0013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sammy A. Nabors, Technology Transfer
Program Office/ED03, Marshall Space
Flight Center, Huntsville, AL 35812,
(256) 544–5226. Information about other
NASA inventions available for licensing
can be found online at https://
techtracs.nasa.gov/.
Dated: February 13, 2008.
Keith T. Sefton,
Deputy General Counsel, Administration and
Management.
[FR Doc. E8–3136 Filed 2–20–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7510–13–P
AGENCY:
This notice is issued in
accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209(c)(1) and
37 CFR 404.7(a)(1)(i). NASA hereby
gives notice of its intent to grant an
exclusive license in the United States to
practice the invention described and
claimed in U.S. Patent Application
Serial No. 10/385,168 entitled ‘‘Phase/
Matrix Transformation Weld Process
and Apparatus’’ and NASA Case No.
MFS–31559–1–DIV to Keystone
Synergistic Enterprises, Inc. having its
principal place of business in Port St.
Lucie, Florida. The patent rights in this
invention have been assigned to the
United States of America as represented
by the Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration.
The prospective exclusive license will
comply with the terms and conditions
of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7.
DATES: The prospective exclusive
license may be granted unless, within
fifteen (15) days from the date of this
published notice, NASA receives
written objections including evidence
and argument that establish that the
grant of the license would not be
consistent with the requirements of 35
U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7.
Competing applications completed and
received by NASA within fifteen (15)
days of the date of this published notice
will also be treated as objections to the
grant of the contemplated exclusive
license.
Objections submitted in response to
this notice will not be made available to
the public for inspection and, to the
extent permitted by law, will not be
released under the Freedom of
Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552.
ADDRESSES: Objections relating to the
prospective license may be submitted to
SUMMARY:
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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND
SPACE ADMINISTRATION
[Notice (08–015)]
Notice of Intent To Grant Partially
Exclusive License
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration.
ACTION: Notice of intent to grant
partially exclusive license.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This notice is issued in
accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209(c)(1) and
37 CFR 404.7(a)(1)(i). NASA hereby
gives notice of its intent to grant a
partially exclusive license worldwide to
practice the inventions described and
claimed in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,684,531,
entitled ‘‘Ranging Apparatus and
Method Implementing Stereo Vision
System’’; 5,673,082, entitled ‘‘LightDirected Ranging System Implementing
Single Camera System for Telerobotics
Applications’’; and 6,244,644, entitled
‘‘Compact Dexterous Robotic Hand’’, to
HyperMedia Corporation, having its
principal place of business in Barker,
Texas. The fields of use may be limited
to underwater applications for oil and
gas exploration and production. The
patent rights in these inventions have
been assigned to the United States of
America as represented by the
Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration.
The prospective partially exclusive
license will comply with the terms and
conditions of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR
404.7.
DATES: The prospective partially
exclusive license may be granted unless,
within fifteen (15) days from the date of
this published notice, NASA receives
written objections including evidence
and argument that establish that the
grant of the license would not be
consistent with the requirements of 35
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 35 (Thursday, February 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9594-9597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-3153]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. OSHA-2007-0090]
Voluntary Protection Program Application Information; 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: OSHA solicits public comment concerning its proposal to extend
OMB approval of the information collection requirements contained in
the Voluntary Protection Programs.
DATES: Comments must be submitted (postmarked, sent, or received) by
April 21, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Electronically: You may submit comments and attachments
electronically at https://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal
eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for submitting
comments.
[[Page 9595]]
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, OSHA Docket No. OSHA-2007-
0090, 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-2007-0090). All comments, including any
personal information you provide, are placed in the public docket
without change, and may be made available online at https://
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 https://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 https://www.regulations.gov index;
however, some information (e.g., copyrighted material) is not publicly
available to read or download through the website. All submissions,
including copyrighted material, are available for inspection and
copying at the OSHA Docket Office. You may also contact Cathy Oliver at
the address below to obtain a copy of the ICR.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cathy Oliver, Director, Office of
Partnerships and Recognition, Directorate of Cooperative and State
Programs, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3700, 200 Constitution
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202) 693-2213.
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 (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 OSH Act or for developing
information regarding the causes and prevention of occupational
injuries, illnesses, and accidents (29 U.S.C. 657).
The Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) [47 FR 29025], adopted by
OSHA, established the efficacy of cooperative action among government,
industry, and labor to address employee safety and health issues and to
expand employee protection. To qualify, employers must meet OSHA's
rigorous safety and health management criteria which focus on
comprehensive management systems and active employee involvement to
prevent or control worksite safety and health hazards. Employers who
qualify generally view OSHA standards as a minimum level of safety and
health performance, and set their own more stringent standards,
wherever necessary, to improve employee protection.
Prospective VPP worksites must submit an application that includes:
General applicant information (e.g., site, corporate, and
collective bargaining contact information).
Injury and illness rate performance information (i.e., number of
employees and/or applicable contractors on-site, type of work
performed and products produced, North American Industry
Classification System, and Recordable Injury and Illness Case
Incidence Rate information).
Safety and health management system information (i.e.,
description of the applicant's safety and health management system
including how the system successfully addresses management
leadership and employee involvement, worksite analysis, hazard
prevention and control, and safety and health training).
OSHA uses this information to determine whether an applicant is
ready for a VPP on-site evaluation and as a verification tool during
VPP on-site evaluations. Without this information, OSHA would be unable
to determine which sites are ready for VPP status.
Each current VPP applicant is also required to submit an annual
evaluation which addresses how that applicant is continuing its
adherence to programmatic requirements.
In 2008 OSHA modified procedures for VPP applicants, OSHA on-site
evaluation, and annual participant self-evaluation for applicants/
participants subject to OSHA's Process Safety Management (PSM)
Standard. Applicants that perform work that uses or produces highly
hazardous chemicals exceeding specified limits covered under the (PSM)
standard must submit responses to the PSM application supplement along
with their VPP application.
Once in the VPP, the participant is required to submit an annual
evaluation detailing its continued adherence to programmatic
requirements. Applicants covered under the PSM standard are required to
submit a PSM questionnaire, a supplemental document as part of their
annual submission. OSHA needs this information to ensure that the
participant remains qualified to participate in the VPP between onsite
evaluations. Without this information, OSHA would be unable to
determine whether applicants are maintaining excellent safety and
health management systems during this interim period.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) decided to
continue the OSHA Challenge and VPP Corporate Pilot programs. These new
initiatives will expand VPP to promote the safety and health of
thousands of employees across the nation.
OSHA Challenge is designed to reach and guide employers and
companies in all major industry groups who are strongly committed to
improving their safety and health management systems and are interested
in pursuing recognition in VPP. OSHA Challenge provides participants a
guide or roadmap to improve performance and ultimately to achieve VPP
approval. OSHA Challenge outlines the requirements needed to develop
and implement effective safety and health management systems through
incremental steps. At each stage, certain actions, documentation and
outcomes are required in the areas covered by VPP criteria.
Participants receive recognition from OSHA at the completion of each
stage.
Each Challenge Pilot Administrator is required to submit to OSHA
electronically a Challenge Pilot Administrator's application package,
Administrator's Statement of Commitment, Challenge Pilot Administrator
Information Form, Challenge Pilot Administrator's Quarterly Report (if
there have been significant changes to any of its participants' sites),
Challenge Pilot Administrator's Annual Report (The Challenge Pilot
Administrator must prepare and submit the annual report electronically
to OSHA).
[[Page 9596]]
The VPP Corporate Pilot is designed to provide a more efficient
process for corporations to increase their level of participation in
VPP. The pilot concept is two-fold; the corporations submit an
application that describes corporate level policies and programs that
are uniformly applied at facilities across the corporation. A
comprehensive On-site Corporate Evaluation is conducted by OSHA to
verify the contents of the application. Once a corporation is accepted
in the VPP Corporate Pilot, all eligible corporate facilities will
apply for VPP participation using a more efficient streamlined
application and OSHA conducts a more streamlined on-site evaluation.
Corporations accepted in the VPP Corporate Pilot must submit an annual
safety and health report.
Employees of VPP participants may apply to participate in the
Special Government Employee (SGE) Program. The SGE Program was
established as a means to leverage OSHA's limited resources. Through
this program, employees of VPP participants are trained to take part as
team members during VPP on-site evaluations. In that capacity, Special
Government Employees may review company documents, assist with worksite
walkthroughs, interview employees, and assist in preparing VPP on-site
evaluation reports. Potential Special Government Employees must submit
a Special Government Employee's application that includes:
SGE Eligibility Information Sheet (i.e., applicant's name,
professional credentials, site/corporate contact information, etc.).
Current Resume.
Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450).
OSHA uses the SGE Eligibility Information Sheet to ensure that the
potential SGE works at a VPP site and meets the minimum eligibility
qualifications. The resume is required to provide a detailed
description of their current duties and responsibilities as they relate
to safety and health and the implementation of an effective safety and
health management system. The OGE Form 450 is used to ensure that SGEs
do not participate on on-site evaluations at VPP sites where they have
a financial interest.
II. Special Issues for Comment
OSHA has a particular interest in comments on the following issues:
Whether the information collection requirements are
necessary for the proper performance of the Agency's functions,
including whether the information is useful;
The accuracy of the Agency'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 proposes to extend the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB)
Approval of the collection of information (paperwork) requirements
necessitated by the Voluntary Protection Programs. The Agency will
summarize the comments submitted in response to this notice, and will
include this summary in its request to OMB to extend the approval of
these information collection requirements.
Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.
Title: Voluntary Protection Programs Information.
OMB Number: 1218-0239.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profits; and individuals or
households.
Number of Respondents:
VPP
274 Applications
68 Process Safety Management Applications
1,300 Annual Evaluations
300 (PSM) Annual Evaluations/Supplemental Questionnaire
OSHA Challenge
17 Applications from Challenge Pilot Administrators
120 Applications from Challenge Pilot Candidates
120 Quarterly Reports
120 Annual Evaluations
VPP Corporate
7 Applications from VPP Corporations
120 Applications from VPP Corporate Facilities
7 Annual Reports
Special Government Employees
300 SGE Eligibility Information Sheets
300 Resumes
300 Confidential Financial Disclosure Forms (OGE-Form 450)
Total respondents: 2,985 total respondents.
Frequency: VPP applications, Challenge Pilot Administrator's
applications, Challenge Pilot Candidate applications, VPP Corporate
Pilot applications and VPP Corporate Pilot Facility VPP applications
are submitted once; Challenge Pilot Administrator's Quarterly Reports
are submitted quarterly (if there have been significant changes to any
of its participants' sites); VPP Annual Evaluations, Challenge Pilot
Administrator's Annual Report, and Corporate Safety and Health Reports
are submitted once per year; and Special Government Employee
applications are submitted once every three years.
Average Time Per Response:
VPP General
200 hours for VPP applications
20 hours for VPP evaluations
Process Safety Management
40 hours for applications
20 hours for evaluations
OSHA Challenge
5 hours for Challenge Pilot Administrator applications
10 hours for Challenge Pilot Candidate applications
5 hours for Challenge Pilot Candidate quarterly reports
20 hours for Challenge Pilot Candidate annual reports
VPP Corporate
120 hours for VPP Corporations applications
80 hours for VPP Corporate facility applications
40 hours for VPP Corporations annual reports
Special Government Employees (SGE)
30 minutes for SGE Eligibility Information Sheet
60 minutes for SGE Resume
Estimated Total Burden Hours:
VPP General
54,800 hours for VPP application
26,000 hours for VPP annual evaluations
Process Safety Management
2,720 hours for applications
6,000 hours for annual evaluations
OSHA Challenge
85 hours for Challenge Administrators' applications
1,200 hours for Challenge Pilot Candidates' applications
1,800 hours for Challenge Candidates' quarterly reports
2,400 hours for Challenge Candidates' annual reports
VPP Corporate
840 hours for Corporations' applications
9,600 hours for Corporate VPP facility applications
280 hours for Corporate facility annual reports
Special Government Employees (SGE)
150 hours for SGE Eligibility Information Sheet
300 hours for Resume
Total Burden Hours per year (3-year average): 106,175.
Estimated Cost (Operation and Maintenance): $0.
[[Page 9597]]
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 https://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-2007-0090). 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 https://
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 https://
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 https://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 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. 3-2007 (67 FR
31159).
Signed at Washington, DC on February 14, 2008.
Edwin G. Foulke, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. E8-3153 Filed 2-20-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P
