(abridged
for length)
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration
[Docket No. OSHA-2011-0059]
Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories
Standard; Extension of the Office of Management and Budget=92s (OMB)
Approval of Information Collection (Paperwork)
Requirements
SUMMARY: OSHA solicits public comments concerning its
proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection
requirements specified in the Standard on Occupational Exposure to
Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories.
DATES: Comments must be
submitted (postmarked, sent, or received) by July 5,
2011
SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION:
1. 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)).
...
The Standard entitled =91=91Occupational Exposure to
Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories=92=92 (29 CFR 1910.1450; the
=91=91Standard=92=92) applies to laboratories that use hazardous
chemicals in accordance with the Standard=92s definitions for
=91=91laboratory use of hazardous chemicals=92=92 and =91=91laboratory
scale.=92=92 The Standard requires these laboratories to maintain worker
exposures at or below the permissible exposure limits specified for the
hazardous chemicals in 29 CFR part 1910, subpart Z. They do so by
developing a written Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) that describes:
Standard operating procedures for using hazardous chemicals;
hazard-control techniques; equipment-reliability measures; worker
information-and- training programs; conditions under which the employer
must approve operations, procedures, and activities before
implementation; and medical consultations and examinations. The CHP also
designates personnel responsible for implementing the CHP, and specifies
the procedures used to provide additional protection to workers exposed
to particularly hazardous chemicals.
Other information collection
requirements of the Standard include: Documenting exposure monitoring
results; notifying workers in writing of these results; presenting
specified information and training to workers; establishing a medical
surveillance program for overexposed workers; providing required
information to the physician; obtaining the physician=92s written
opinion on using proper respiratory equipment; and, establishing,
maintaining, transferring, and disclosing exposure monitoring and
medical records. These collection of information requirements, including
the CHP, control worker overexposure to hazardous laboratory chemicals,
thereby preventing serious illnesses and death among workers exposed to
such chemicals.
II. Special Issues for Comment
OSHA has
a particular interest in comments on the following
issues:
=95 Whether the proposed information collection
requirements are necessary for the proper performance of the Agency=92s
functions to protect workers, including whether the information is
useful;
=95 The accuracy of OSHA=92s estimate of the burden
(time and costs) of the information collection requirements, including
the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
=95 The
quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected;
and
=95 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 proposing to extend the information collection
requirements contained in the Occupational Exposure to Hazardous
Chemicals in Laboratories Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450). The Agency is
requesting to increase the existing burden hour estimate for the
collection of information requirements in the Standard. In this regard,
the Agency is requesting to adjust the current burden hour estimate from
281,419 hours to 293,706 hours.
...
Number of Respondents: 48,461.
Frequency: Varies from 3 minutes (.05 hour) to replace the
safe practice manual to 1 hour to develop a new manual.
Total
Responses: 948,634.
Average Time per Response:
Annually;
monthly, quarterly, semi- annually, on occasion
Estimated
Total Burden Hours:
293,706
Estimated Cost (Operation and Maintenance):
$41,271,276.
