Under several provisions of the OSH Act, employers may apply for four different types of variances from the requirements of OSHA standards. Employers submit variance applications voluntarily to OSHA, and the applications specify alternative means of complying with the requirements of OSHA standards. The four types of variances are: temporary variances (Section 6(b)(6)(A) of the OSH Act; 29 U.S.C. 655); experimental variances (Section 6(b)(6)(C) of the OSH Act; 29 U.S.C. 655); permanent variances (Section 6(d) of the Act; 29 U.S.C. 655); and national-defense variances (Section 16 of the OSH Act; 29 U.S.C. 665). OSHA codified these statutory provisions under 29 CFR part 1905 ("Rules of Practice for Variances, Limitations, Variations, Tolerances, and Exemptions under the William-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970").
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.