[Federal Register: May 30, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 103)]
[Notices]               
[Page 30035-30037]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30my07-122]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. OSHA-2007-0034]

 
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.

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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 (Sec. Sec.  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 
(Sec. Sec.  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 (Sec. Sec.  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 (Sec. Sec.  
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).

    Signed at Washington, DC, on May 23, 2007.
Edwin G. Foulke, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. E7-10290 Filed 5-29-07; 8:45 am]

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