[Federal Register: July 31, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 146)][Notices] [Page 41775-41777]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31jy07-116]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. OSHA-2007-0060]
Cranes and Derricks in Construction; Extension of the Office of
Management and Budget's (OMB) Approval of Information Collection
(Paperwork) Requirements
AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.
ACTION: Request for public comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: OSHA solicits public comment concerning its proposal to extend
OMB approval of the information collection requirements specified in
the Construction Standard on Cranes and Derricks (29 CFR 1926.550).
The Standard is designed to protect employees who work with,
or in the vicinity of, cranes or derricks.
DATES: Comments must be submitted (postmarked, sent, or received) by
October 1, 2007.
ADDRESSES:
Electronically: You may submit comments and attachments
electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal
eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for submitting
comments.
Facsimile: If your comments, including attachments, are not longer
than 10 pages, you may fax them to the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-
1648.
Mail, hand delivery, express mail, messenger, or courier service:
When using this method, you must submit three copies of your comments
and attachments to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2007-0060,
U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington,
DC 20210. Deliveries (hand, express mail, messenger, and courier
service) are accepted during the Department of Labor's and Docket
Office's normal business hours, 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., e.t.
Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and OSHA
docket number for the ICR (OSHA-2007-0060). All comments, including any
personal information you provide, are placed in the public docket
without change, and may be made available online at http://www.regulations.gov.
For further information on submitting comments see
the Public Participation heading in the section of this notice titled
Supplementary Information.
Docket: To read or download comments or other material in the
docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov or the OSHA Docket Office at
the address above. All documents in the docket (including this Federal
Register notice) are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index; however,
some information (e.g., copyrighted material) is not publicly available
to read or download through the Web site. All submissions, including
copyrighted material, are available for inspection and copying at the
OSHA Docket Office. You may also contact Stewart Burkhammer at the
address below to obtain a copy of the ICR.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stewart Burkhammer, Directorate of
Construction, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3468, 200
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202) 693-
2020.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. 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)). 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 (the OSH Act) (29 U.S.C. 651
et seq.) authorizes information collection by employers as necessary or
appropriate for enforcement of the 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 efforts in obtaining
information (29 U.S.C. 657).
Several paragraphs of the Cranes and Derricks Standard for
Construction (Sec. 1926.550) contain notification requirements,
including paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(4), (a)(16), (d)(1), (f)(1),
(f)(2) and (g)(4). If an equipment manufacturer's specifications are
not available, paragraph (a)(1) requires employers to operate a crane
or derrick using specifications determined and recorded by a qualified
engineer who is competent to make such determinations. Under paragraph
(a)(2), employers must post on each crane and derrick its rated load
capacities, and recommended operating speeds, special hazard warnings,
or instructions. Paragraph (a)(4) requires employers to post at the
worksite an illustration of the hand signals prescribed by the
applicable ANSI standard for that type of crane or derrick. According
to paragraph (a)(16), employers must revise as appropriate the
capacity, operation, and maintenance instruction plates, tags, or
decals if they make alterations that involve the capacity or safe
operation of a crane or derrick.
Paragraph (d)(1) requires employers to plainly mark the rated loads
of overhead and gantry cranes on each side of the cranes, and if the
crane has more than one hoisting unit, each hoisting unit shall have
its rated load marked on it or its load block. These markings must be
clearly legible from the ground or floor. Similarly, paragraph
(f)(1)(ii) requires employers to ensure that floating cranes and
derricks have a load rating chart, with clearly legible letters and
figures, and are securely fixed at a location easily visible to the
operator. When load ratings are reduced to stay within the limits for
the list of the barge with a crane mounted on it, paragraph (f)(1)(iii)
requires employers to provide a new load rating chart. For permanently
mounted floating cranes and derricks, paragraph (f)(2)(ii), requires
that a load rating chart with clearly legible letters and figures be
provided and securely fixed at a location easily visible to the
operator. Paragraph (g)(4)(ii)(I) requires employers to ensure that the
personnel platform be conspicuously posted with a plate or other
permanent marking which indicates the weight of the platform and its
rated load capacity or maximum intended load.
In summary, these provisions require employers to provide
notification of specified operating characteristics through
documentation, posting, or revising maintenance instruction plates,
tags, or decals, and to notify employees of hand signals used to
communicate with equipment operators by posting an illustration of
applicable signals at the worksite. These paperwork requirements ensure
that employers operate a crane or derrick according to the limitations
and specifications developed for that equipment, and that hand signals
used to communicate with equipment operators are clear and correct.
Therefore, these requirements prevent employers from exceeding the
operating specifications and limitations of cranes and derricks, and
ensure that they use accurate hand signals regarding equipment
operation. By operating the equipment safely and within specified
parameters, and communicating effectively with equipment operators,
employers will prevent serious injury and death to the equipment
operators and other employees who use or work near the equipment.
The Cranes and Derricks Standard also contains two paragraphs
requiring employers to inspect and document crane inspections.
Paragraph (a)(6) requires employers to perform annual inspections of
cranes and derricks and to establish and maintain a written record of
the dates and results of these inspections. Paragraph (b)(2) requires
the employer to prepare and maintain a certification record which
includes the date, listing of critical items inspected, signature of
person performing the inspections, and a serial number or identifier
of the crane inspected as specified in ANSI B30.5-1968, Safety Code
for Crawler, Locomotive and Truck Cranes.
These inspections identify problems such as deterioration caused by
exposure to adverse weather conditions, worn components and other flaws
and defects that develop during use, and accelerated wear resulting
from misalignments of connecting systems and components. Establishing
and maintaining a written record of the annual inspections alerts the
equipment mechanics to servicing or repair problems. Prior to returning
the equipment to service, employers can review the records to ensure
that the mechanics performed the necessary repairs and maintenance.
Accordingly, by using only equipment that is in safe working order,
employers will prevent severe injury and death to the equipment
operators and other employees who use or work near the equipment.
Paragraph (a)(11) of OSHA's Cranes and Derricks Standard for
Construction (1926.550) addresses conditions in which a crane or
derrick powered by an internal combustion engine is exhausting in an
enclosed space that employees occupy or will occupy. Under these
conditions, employers must record tests made of the breathing air in
the space to ensure that adequate oxygen is available and that
concentrations of toxic gases are at safe levels.
Establishing a test record allows employers to document oxygen
levels and specific atmospheric contaminants, ascertain the
effectiveness of controls, implement additional controls if necessary,
and readily provide this information to other crews and shifts who may
work in the enclosed space. Accordingly, employers will prevent serious
injury and death to equipment operators and other employees who use or
work near this equipment in an enclosed space. In addition, these
records provide the most efficient means for an OSHA compliance officer
to determine that an employer performed the required tests and
implemented appropriate controls.
Paragraph (a)(15) requires that any overhead wire be considered to
be an energized line unless and until the person owning such line or
the electrical utility authorities indicate that it is not an energized
line and it has been visibly grounded. Failure to appropriately
identify overhead wires would require those working with or in the
vicinity of overhead lines to perform costly, time-consuming
activities, prior to performing their assigned duties.
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 its approval of the information
collection requirements contained in the Construction Cranes and
Derricks Standard (29 CFR 1926.550). The Agency will summarize the
comments submitted in response to this notice and will include this
summary in the request to OMB.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Title: The Construction Standard on Cranes and Derricks (29 CFR
1926.550).
OMB Number: 1218-0113.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 91,997.
Frequency: Annually; On occasion.
Average Time Per Response: Varies from 5 hours to inspect a crane
with a capacity of more than 60 tons to 3 minutes (.05 hour) to
maintain and disclose exposure monitoring data of an enclosed space
where exhaust from cranes or derricks may expose employees to a
deficiency of oxygen and/or toxic gases.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 103,076.
Estimated Cost (Operation and Maintenance): $570,074
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 http://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal
eRulemaking Portal; (2) by facsimile (FAX); or (3) by hard copy. All
comments, attachments, and other material must identify the Agency name
and the OSHA docket number for the ICR (Docket No. OSHA-2007-0060). You
may supplement electronic submissions by uploading document files
electronically. If you wish to mail additional materials in reference
to an electronic or facsimile submission, you must submit them to the
OSHA Docket Office (see the section of this notice titled Addresses).
The additional materials must clearly identify your electronic comments
by your name, date, and the docket number so the Agency can attach them
to your comments.
Because of security procedures, the use of regular mail may cause a
significant delay in the receipt of comments. For information about
security procedures concerning the delivery of materials by hand,
express delivery, messenger, or courier service, please contact the
OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-2350 (TTY (877) 889-5627).
Comments and submissions are posted without change at http://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
http://www.regulations.gov index, some information (e.g., copyrighted
material) is not publicly available to read or download through this
Web site. All submissions, including copyrighted material, are
available for inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket Office.
Information on using the http://www.regulations.gov Web site to submit
comments and access the docket is available at the Web site's User Tips
link. Contact the OSHA Docket Office for information about materials
not available through the Web site, and for assistance in using the
Internet to locate docket submissions.
V. Authority and Signature
Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., 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. 5-2002 (67 FR
65008).
Signed at Washington, DC, on July 26, 2007.
Edwin G. Foulke, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. E7-14714 Filed 7-30-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P
