[Federal Register: May 14, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 93)]
[Notices]
[Page 26460-26462]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public
Comment and Recommendation; Mine Accident, Injury and Illness Report
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent burden conducts a preclearance
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format,
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized,
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed.
Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is
soliciting comments concerning the proposed Quarterly Mine Employment
and Coal Production Report (30 CFR 50.30, Form 7000-2).
MSHA is particularly interested in comments which:
* Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility;
* Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
* Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
* Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who
are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic
submissions of responses.
A copy of the proposed information collection request can be
obtained by contact the employee listed below in the For Further
Information Contact section of this notice.
DATES: Submit comments on or before July 13, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Theresa M. O'Malley, Chief, Records
Management Branch, Program Evaluation and Information Resources, 4015
Wilson Boulevard, Room 735A, Arlington, VA 22203-1984. Commenters are
encouraged to send their comments on a computer disk, or via E-mail to
tomalley@dol.gov, along with an original printed copy. Mrs. O'Malley
[[Page 26461]]
can be reach at (703) 235-1470 (voice) or (703) 235-1563 (facsimile).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Theresa M. O'Malley, Chief,
Records Management Branch, Office of Program Evaluation and Information
Resources, U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health
Administration, Room 735A, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22203-
1984. Mrs. O'Malley can be reached at tomalley@dol.gov (Internet E-
mail), (703) 235-1470 (voice), or (703) 235-1563 (facsimile).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The reporting and recordkeeping provisions in 30 CFR 50,
Notification, Investigation, Reports and Records of Accidents, Injuries
and Illnesses, Employment and Coal Production in Mines, are essential
elements in MSHA's Congressional mandate to reduce work-related
injuries and illnesses among the nation's miners.
Section 50.10 requires mine operators and mining contractors to
immediately notify MSHA in the event of an accident. This immediate
notification is critical to MSHA's timely investigation and assessment
of the probable cause of the accident.
Section 50.11 requires that the operator or contractor investigate
each accident and occupational injury and prepare a report. The
operator or contractor may not use MSHA Form 7000-1 as a report, unless
the mine employs fewer than 20 miners and the occurrence involves an
occupational injury not related to an accident.
Section 50.20(a) requires mine operators and mining contractors to
report each accident, injury, or illness to MSHA on Form 7000-1 within
10 working days after an accident or injury has occurred or an
occupational illness has been diagnosed. The use of MSHA Form 7000-1
provides for uniform information gathering across the mining industry.
MSHA tabulates and analyzes the information from MSHA Form 7000-1,
along with data from MSHA Form 7000-2, Quarterly Mine Employment and
Coal Production Report (OMB No. 1219-0006), to compute incidence and
severity rates for various injury types. These rates are used to
analyze trends and to assess the degree of success of the health and
safety efforts of MSHA and the mining industry.
Accident, injury, and illness data when correlated with employment
and production data provide information that allows MSHA to improve its
safety and health enforcement programs, focus its education and
training efforts, and establish priorities for its technical assistance
activities in mine safety and health. Maintaining a current database
allows MSHA to identify and direct increased attention to those mines,
industry segments, and geographical areas where hazardous trends are
developing. This could not be done effectively utilizing historical
data. The information collected under Part 50 is the most comprehensive
and reliable occupational data available concerning the mining
industry.
Section 103(d) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977
(Mine Act) mandates that each accident be investigated by the operator
to determine the cause and means of preventing a recurrence. Records of
such accidents and investigations shall be kept and made available to
the Secretary or his/her authorized representative and the appropriate
State agency. Section 103(h) requires operators to keep any records and
make any reports that are reasonably necessary for MSHA to perform its
duties under the Mine Act. Section 103(j) of the Mine Act requires
operators to notify MSHA of the occurrence of an accident and to take
appropriate measures to preserve any evidence which would assist in the
investigation into the cause or causes of the accident.
II. Current Actions
MSHA is seeking approval of the existing information collection
requirements as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, as
amended.
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Annual Average time per Burden
Regulatory reference Responses Frequency responses response hours
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50.10, Immediate Notification 91 fatals,...... One-time........... 2,247 30 minutes........ 1,124
2,156 other.....
50.11(b), Investigation of 48 fatals,...... One-time........... 22,329 80 hours.......... 50,013
Accidents/Occupational 20,670 nonfatal, 2 hours...........
Injuries. 1,611 other..... 3 hours...........
50.11(b), Separate Reports 43 fatals,...... One-time........... 588 40 hours.......... 3,355
<20 employees. 545 other....... 3 hours...........
50.20 Reports................ 22,997 initial,. One-time........... 34,934 30 minutes........ 15,438
11,937 follow-up 20 minutes........
Verify Data Mailer........... 10,000.......... Annually........... 10,000 30 minutes........ 5,000
Correct Data Mailer.......... 246............. Annually........... 246 15 minutes........ 62
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Totals................... ................ ................... ........... .................. 74,992
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