[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,

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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

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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]
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