*** The collection of information is used by FRA to ensure that covered railroads establish and implement noise monitoring, hearing conservation, and audiometric testing programs to protect their employees against the damaging and potentially dangerous effects of excessive noise in the workplace.
It should be noted that this collection of information is mandatory under 49 CFR Part 227. This collection of information affects Class I, Class II, and Class III railroads. The frequency of the information collected occurs on an annual basis as well as an occasional basis. Reporting information collected by FRA includes waiver requests to the Administrator to be exempted from all or part of the Part 227 requirements; information on affected railroads' Noise Monitoring and Hearing Conservation Programs; testing/retesting results for baseline and periodic audiograms of affected railroad employees; and hearing protection attenuation evaluations for specific noise environments in which hearing protection will be used. FRA Recordkeeping information under this information collection includes employee occupational noise and hearing conservation training records. Additionally, railroads must make exposure measurement records for specific locations available to regional or national labor representatives upon request. Further, railroads must maintain audiometric test records and must keep locomotive cab noise testing/certification records. The purpose of this information collection is to protect the health and safety of railroad employees and to mitigate as much as possible the harmful effects of excessive noise in the railroad environment.
The total burden for this information collection renewal has decreased by a total 2,020 hours from the last approved submission. The decrease in burden results solely from adjustments, which are listed the table provided in the answer to question number 15 of the attached Supporting Justification.
***Adjustments shown in the table provided decreased the burden by 2,020 hours, and increased the number of responses by 457 from the last approved submission.
The current inventory for this submission shows a total of 30,331 hours and 164,277 responses, while the present submission exhibits a total of 28,311 hours and 164,734 responses. Hence, there is a burden decrease of 2,020 hours and an increase of 457 responses.
There is no change in cost to respondents from the previous submission.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
OccNoise0571RIII.doc
Feb . 20, 2018, FR Notice (30-Day; Occ. Noise).pdf
Occupational Noise Exposure for Railroad Operating Employees