[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 83 (Monday, May 3, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23432-23434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-09207]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. OSHA-2011-0066]
Vertical Tandem Lifts (VTLs) for Marine Terminals; 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 comments.
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SUMMARY: OSHA solicits public comments concerning the proposal to
extend the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of the
information collection requirements specified in the Vertical Tandem
Lifts (VTLs) Standard.
DATES: Comments must be submitted (postmarked, sent, or received) by
July 2, 2021.
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.
Docket: To read or download comments or other material in the
docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov. Documents in the docket 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 website. All submissions, including
copyrighted material, are available for inspection through the OSHA
Docket Office. Contact the OSHA Docket Office for assistance in
locating docket submissions.
Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and OSHA
docket number (OSHA-2011-0066) for the Information Collection Request
(ICR). OSHA will place all comments, including personal information, in
the public docket, which may be made available online. Therefore, OSHA
cautions interested parties about submitting personal information such
as Social Security numbers and birthdates. For further information on
submitting comments, see the ``Public Participation'' heading in the
section of this notice titled SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Seleda Perryman or Theda Kenney,
Directorate of Standards and Guidance,
OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor; telephone (202) 693-2222.
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 (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 Vertical Tandem Lift (VTL) Standard for Marine Terminals (29
CFR part 1917) specifies the following collection of information
requirements. The purpose of each of these requirements is to provide
workers with safe work practices when using VTLs. A VTL is the practice
of a container crane lifting two or more intermodal containers, one on
top of the other, connected by a particular type of inter box
connector, known as a semiautomatic twist lock.
Paragraph (a) of Sec. 1917.71 requires that all intermodal
containers are legibly and permanently marked with the weight of the
container when empty ((a)(1)); the maximum weight the container is
designed to carry in pounds ((a)(2)); and the maximum weight including
the container ((a)(3)).
Additionally, loaded containers must display their gross weight
plainly marked on the container in a way that it is visible to the
crane operator or other hoisting equipment operator or signalman, or to
every supervisor and foreman on the site and in charge of the operation
((b)(2)(i)), or supplied in the form of a cargo stowage plan or
equivalent permanent record to the crane or other hoisting equipment
operator and signalman, if any, and to every supervisor and foreman on
the site and in charge of the operation ((b)(2)(ii)).
The labeling of intermodal containers with the weight of the
container, the maximum weight of cargo that can be packed in the
container, and their sum provides the crane operator or other hoisting
equipment operator or signalman, or to every supervisor and foreman on
the site and in charge of the operation with a minimum and maximum
range under which a container can be safely lifted. Providing the gross
weight, either marked on the container or supplied in the form of a
cargo stowage plan or equivalent permanent record, ensures that the
containers being lifted and the cranes/derricks performing the lifting
are not overloaded.
Paragraph (i)(8)(iv) of Sec. 1917.71 requires employers to ensure
that the interbox connectors used in VTLs has been certified by a
competent authority authorized under Sec. 1918.11 (for interbox
connectors that are part of a vessel's gear) or Sec. 1917.50 (for
other interbox connectors). Paragraph (i)(8)(v) requires employers to
make the certification available for inspection and that the
certificate attests that the interbox connector meets the strength
criteria specified in paragraph (i)(8)(iv) of the standard. Also,
paragraph (i)(8)(vi) requires that each interbox connector be clearly
and durably marked with its safe working load for lifting with and an
identifying number or mark that will enable it to be associated with
its test certificate. The certification is necessary to ensure that
interbox connector-corner casting assemblies have adequate strength to
ensure the safety of the lift. Marking of interbox connectors informs
employers, workers and OSHA that the interbox connectors have been
certified.
Paragraph (j)(2) of Sec. 1917.71 requires the employer to develop,
implement, and maintain a written plan for transporting vertically
connected containers in the terminal. The transport plan helps ensure
the safety of terminal workers and thereby enhances productivity.
Paragraph (k)(2) of Sec. 1917.71 requires that the written transport
plan include the safe work zone and procedures to ensure that workers
are not in the zone when a VTL is in motion.
Written plans give employers, workers, and OSHA compliance officers
assurance that VTLs are safe to use and provide the compliance officers
with an efficient means to assess employer compliance with the
Standard.
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 to
protect workers, 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 proposing an adjustment increase and a program change of
the existing burden hour estimate for the collection of information
requirements specified by the Standard from 512 hours to 23,256 hours,
a total increase of 22,744 hours. The estimated number of marine
terminals that use VTLs is based on data from the North American
Classification Information System (NACIS) retrieved from the Bureau of
Labor Statistics website.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Title: Vertical tandem Lifts (VTLs) for Marine Terminals (29 CFR
part 1917).
OMB Control Number: 1218-0260.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profits; not-for-profit
organizations; Federal Government; State, Local, or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 1,192.
Number of Responses: 75,875.
Frequency of Responses: On occasion.
Average Time per Response: Various.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 23,256.
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 http://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal
eRulemaking Portal; (2) by facsimile; or (3) by hard copy. Please note:
While OSHA's Docket Office is continuing to accept and process
submissions by regular mail, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Docket
Office is closed to the public and not able to receive submissions to
the docket by
hand, express mail, messenger, and courier service. All comments,
attachments, and other material must identify the agency name and the
OSHA docket number for the ICR (Docket No. OSHA-2011-0066. You may
supplement electronic submissions by uploading document files
electronically. If you wish to mail additional materials in reference
to an electronic or a 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 that the agency can attach
them to your comments.
Due to security procedures, the use of regular mail may cause a
significant delay in the receipt of comments.
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
website. All submissions, including copyrighted material, are available
for inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket Office. Information on
using the http://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 at (202) 693-2350, (TTY (877) 889-5627)
for information about materials not available from the website, and for
assistance in using the internet to locate docket submissions.
V. Authority and Signature
James S. Frederick, Acting 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. 1-2012
(77 FR 3912).
Signed at Washington, DC, on April 23, 2021.
James S. Frederick,
Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2021-09207 Filed 4-30-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P
