Overhead and Gantry Cranes; 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 its Standard on Overhead and Gantry Cranes (29 CFR 1910.179).

DATES:

Comments must be submitted (postmarked, sent, or received) by July 30, 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-2007-0034, 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-2007-0034). 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 website. All submissions, including copyrighted material, are available for inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket Office. You may also contact Theda Kenney at the address below to obtain a copy of the ICR.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Theda Kenney or Todd Owen, Directorate of Standards and Guidance, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3609, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; 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 (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).

The Standard specifies several paperwork requirements. The following sections describe who uses the information collected under each requirement, as well as how they use it. The purpose of these requirements is to prevent death and serious injuries among employees by ensuring that all critical components of the crane are inspected and tested on a periodic basis and that the crane is not used to lift loads beyond its rated capacity.

(A) Marking the Rated Load (§§ 1910.179(b)(3), (b)(5), and (k)(2))

Paragraph (b)(5) requires that the rated load be plainly marked on the side of each crane. If the crane has more than one hoist, the rated load must be marked on each hoist or the load block. The manufacturer will mark the rated loads. If the crane is modified, paragraph (b)(3) requires the new rating to be determined and marked on the crane. Also, paragraph (k)(2) requires employers to retain rated test load results and that the results are readily available to appointed personnel. Marking the rated load capacity of a crane ensures that employers and employees will not exceed the limits of the crane, which can result in crane failure.

(B) Inspection of and Certification Records for Hooks and Hoist Chains (§§ 1910.179(j)(2)(iii), (j)(2)(iv), and (j)(4))

Paragraphs (j)(2)(iii) and (j)(2)(iv) require monthly inspections with certification records of hooks and hoist chains. The certification must include the date of the inspection, the signature of the person who performed the inspection, and the serial number, or other identifier, of the inspected hook or hoist chain. Paragraph (j)(4) requires that cranes that are not in regular use meet the requirements of paragraph (j)(2). Paragraph (j)(4)(iii) specifically requires that standby cranes be inspected semi-annually in accordance with paragraph (j)(2). Certification records provide employers, employees, and OSHA compliance officers with assurance that the hooks and hoist chains used on cranes regulated by the Standard have been inspected as required by the Standard. These inspections help assure that the equipment is in good operating condition, thereby preventing failure of the hooks or hoist chains during material handling. These records also provide the most efficient means for the compliance officers to determine that an employer is complying with the Standard.

(C) Repair and Testing of Defective Hooks (§§ 1910.179(l)(3) and (k)(2))

As required by paragraph (k)(2), employers must make readily available test reports of load rating tests of repaired crane hooks conducted under paragraph (l)(3)(iii)(a). These reports inform the employer, employees, and OSHA compliance officers that a rated load test was performed, providing information about the capacity of the crane and the adequacy of the repaired hook. This information is used by crane operators so that they will not exceed the rated load of the crane or hook.

(D) Inspection of and Certification Records for Ropes (§§ 1910.179(m)(1) and (m)(2))

Paragraph (m)(1) requires employers to inspect thoroughly all running rope in use, and do so at least once a month. In addition, rope which has been idle for at least a month must be inspected before use, and a record prepared to certify that the inspection was done. The certification record must include the inspection date, the signature of the person conducting the inspection, and the identifier of the rope inspected. Employers must keep the certification records on file and available for inspection. The certification records provide employers, employees, and OSHA compliance officers with assurance that the ropes are in good condition.

In addition, paragraph (m)(2) requires that the employer thoroughly inspect all rope which has been idle for period of a month or more. This inspection shall be for all types of deterioration and shall be performed by an appointed person whose approval shall be required for further use of the rope. A certification record shall be prepared and include the date of inspection; the signature of the person who performed the inspection; and, an identifier for the rope which was inspected.

(E) Disclosure of Certification Records

The disclosure of certification records provide the most efficient means for OSHA compliance officers to determine that an employer is complying 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, 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 Standard on Overhead and Gantry Cranes (29 CFR 1910.179). The Agency is requesting to reduce its current burden hour estimate associated with this Standard from 360,179 to 360,144 hours for a total reduction of 35 hours. 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: Overhead and Gantry Cranes (29 CFR 1910.179).

OMB Number: 1218-0224.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 35,000.

Frequency: On occasion; monthly; semi-annually.

Average Time Per Response: Varies from 5 minutes (.08 hour) to disclose certification records to 2 hours to obtain and post rated load information on cranes.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 360,144.

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 (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-2007-0034). 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 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 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).