Blasting and the Use of Explosives; Extension of the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Approval of Information Collection (Paperwork) Requirements

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Department of Labor, as part of the 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) (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 (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 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 effort in obtaining information (29 U.S.C. 657).

The following sections describe who uses the information collected under each requirement, as well as how they use it. The Standard on Blasting and the Use of Explosives (29 CFR part 1926, subpart U) specifies a number of paperwork requirements. The following is a brief description of the collection of information requirements contained in the Subpart.

General Provisions (§ 1926.900)

§ 1926.900(d) —Paragraph (d) states that employers must ensure that explosives not in use are kept in a locked magazine, unavailable to persons not authorized to handle explosives. The employers must maintain an inventory and use record of all explosives—in use and not in use. In addition, the employer must notify the appropriate authorities in the event of any loss, theft, or unauthorized entry into a magazine.

§ 1926.900(k)(3)(i) —Paragraph (k)(3)(i) requires employers to display adequate signs warning against the use of mobile radio transmitters on all roads within 1,000 feet of blasting operations to prevent the accidental discharge of electric blasting caps caused by current induced by radar, radio transmitters, lighting, adjacent power lines, dust storms, or other sources of extraneous electricity. The employer must certify and maintain a record of alternative provisions made to adequately prevent any premature firing of electric blasting caps.

§ 1926.900(o) —Employers must notify the operators and/or owners of overhead power lines, communication lines, utility lines, or other services and structures when blasting operations will take place in proximity to those lines, services, or structures.

§ 1926.903(d) —The employer must notify the hoist operator prior to transporting explosives or blasting agents in a shaft conveyance.

§ 1926.903(e) —Employers must perform weekly inspections on the electrical system of trucks used for underground transportation of explosives. The weekly inspection is to detect any failure in the system which would constitute an electrical hazard. The most recent certification of inspection must be maintained and must include the date of inspection, a serial number or other identifier of the truck inspected, and the signature of the person who performed the inspection.

§ 1926.905(t) —The employer blaster must maintain an accurate and up-to-date record of explosives, blasting agents, and blasting supplies used in a blast. The employer must also maintain an accurate running inventory of all explosives and blasting agents stored on the operation.

§ 1926.909(a) —Employers must post a code of blasting agents on one or more conspicuous places at the operation. All employees also shall familiarize themselves with the code and conform to it at all times. Danger signs warning of blasting agents shall also be placed at suitable locations.

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 the approval of the information collection requirements contained in the Standard on Blasting and the use of Explosives (29 CFR part 1926, subpart U) U.S.C. 669). The agency is requesting an adjustment decrease in the burden hours amount from 1,602 hours to 1,427 hours, a difference of 175 hours. This decrease is due to the change in the number of affected sites due to general economic growth.

OSHA will summarize the comments submitted in response to this notice and will include this summary in the request to OMB to extend the approval of the information collection requirements.

Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collection.

Title: Standard on Blasting and the use of Explosives.

OMB Control Number: 1218-0217.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profits.

Number of Respondents: 171.

Number of Responses: 758.

Frequency of Responses: On occasion.

Average Time per Response: Various.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,426.

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 https://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal eRulemaking Portal; (2) by facsimile (fax) at (202) 693-1648; or (3) by hard copy. All comments, attachments, and other materials must identify the agency name and the OSHA docket number for the ICR (Docket No. OSHA-2011-0747). You may supplement electronic submissions by uploading document files electronically.

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 website. All submissions, including copyrighted material, are available for inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket Office. Information on using the https://www.regulations.gov website to submit comments and access the docket is available at the website's “User Tips” link.

Contact the OSHA Docket Office for information about materials not available through the website, and for assistance in using the internet to locate docket submissions.

V. Authority and Signature

James S. Frederick, Deputy 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. 8-2020 (85 FR 58393)

[FR Doc. 2024-24793 Filed 10-24-24; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-26-P