Source: http://thefederalregister.com/2012/11/09/2012-27210.html
Timestamp: 2017-12-14 21:00:26
Document Index: 722898419

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1926', '§ 1910', '§ 1926', '§ 1910', '§ 1910', '§ 1926', 'art 1926', '§ 1926', '§ 1910', '§ 1910', '§ 1910', '§ 1910', '§ 1910', '§ 1910', '§ 1926', '§ 1910', '§ 1926', '§ 1910', '§ 1910', 'art 1926', 'art 1926', 'art 1911', 'ART 1926', '§ 1926', '§ 1926', '§ 1926', '§ 1926']

Federal Register | Revising the Exemption for Digger Derricks in the Cranes and
SUMMARY: OSHA is broadening the exemption for digger derricks in its standard for cranes and derricks. OSHA issued a final standard updating the requirements for cranes and derricks on August 9, 2010, and the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) petitioned for review of the standard in the United States Court of Appeals. After petitioning, EEI provided OSHA with new information regarding digger derricks. OSHA reviewed the additional information and the rulemaking record, and decided to broaden the exemption for digger derricks used in the electric-utility industry by means of this direct final rule.
ADDRESSES: Electronically:Submit comments and attachments electronically athttp://www.regulations.gov,which is the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for submitting comments.
Facsimile:OSHA allows facsimile transmission of comments that are 10 pages or fewer in length (including attachments). Fax these documents to the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-1648; OSHA does not require hard copies of these documents. Instead of transmitting facsimile copies of attachments that supplement these documents (e.g.,studies, journal articles), commenters must submit these attachments to the OSHA Docket Office, Technical Data Center, Room N-2625, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20210. These attachments must clearly identify the sender's name, the date, and the docket number (OSHA-2012-0025), so that the Docket Office can attach them to the appropriate document.
Regular or express mail, hand delivery, or messenger (courier) service:Submit comments and any additional information or material to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2012-0025 or RIN No. 1218-AC75, Technical Data Center, Room N-2625, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-2350. (OSHA's TTY number is (877) 889-5627.) Contact the OSHA Docket Office for information about security procedures concerning delivery of materials by express mail, hand delivery, and messenger service. The Docket Office will accept deliveries (express mail, hand delivery, and messenger service) during the Docket Office's normal business hours, 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. ET.
Docket:To read or download comments or other information or material in the docket, go tohttp://www.regulations.govor to the OSHA Docket Office at the address above. Documents in the docket are listed in thehttp://www.regulations.govindex; however, some information (e.g.,copyrighted material) is not available publicly to read or download through this Web site. All submissions, including copyrighted material, are available for inspection at the OSHA Docket Office. Contact the OSHA Docket Office for assistance in locating docket submissions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical inquiries:Mr. Garvin Branch, Directorate of Construction, Room N-3468, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-2020; fax: (202) 693-1689; email:branch.garvin@dol.gov.
For copies of this Federal Register notice, news releases, and other relevant document:Electronic copies of these documents are available at OSHA's Web page athttp://www.osha.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Table of Contents I. Request for Comment II. Direct Final Rulemaking III. Discussion of the Digger-Derrick Exemption in 29 CFR 1926, Subpart CC A. Background B. Changes to the Text of the Exemption in 29 CFR 1926.1400(c)(4) C. Discussion of Conforming Revisions to 29 CFR 1926, Subpart V (Power Transmission and Distribution) IV. Agency Determinations A. Significant Risk B. Final Economic Analysis and Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis C. Technological Feasibility D. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 E. Federalism F. State Plan States G. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act H. Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments List of Subjects in 29 CFR Part 1926 Authority and Signature Amendments to Standards I. Request for Comment
OSHA requests comments on all issues related to this direct final rule, including economic, paperwork, or other regulatory impacts of this rule on the regulated community. If OSHA receives no significant adverse comment, OSHA will publish aFederal Registerdocument confirming the effective date of this direct final rule and withdrawing the companion proposed rule published in the “Proposed Rules” section of today'sFederal Register. Such confirmation may include minor stylistic or technical changes to the document. For the purpose of judicial review, OSHA views the date of confirmation of the effective date of this direct final rule as the date of promulgation.
In direct final rulemaking, an agency publishes a direct final rule in theFederal Registerwith a statement that the rule will go into effect unless the agency receives significant adverse comment within a specified period. The agency may publish an identical proposed rule at the same time. If the agency receives no significant adverse comment in response to the direct final rule, the rule goes into effect. OSHA typically confirms the effective date of a direct final rule through a separateFederal Registernotice. If the agency receives a significant adverse comment, the agency withdraws the direct final rule and treats such comment as a response to the proposed rule. An agency typically uses direct final rulemaking when an agency anticipates that a rule will not be controversial.
In addition to publishing this direct final rule, OSHA is publishing a companion proposed rule in the “Proposed Rules” section of today'sFederal Register. The comment period for the proposed rule runs concurrently with that of the direct final rule. OSHA also will treat comments received on the companion proposed rule as comments regarding the direct final rule. Likewise, OSHA will consider significant adverse comment submitted to the direct final rule as comment to the companion proposed rule. Therefore, if OSHA receives a significant adverse comment on either this direct final rule or the proposed rule, it will publish a timely withdrawal of this direct final rule and proceed with the companion proposed rule. In the event that OSHA withdraws the direct final rule because of significant adverse comment, OSHA will consider all timely comments received in response to the direct final rule when it continues with the proposed rule. After carefully considering all comments to the direct final rule and the proposal, OSHA will decide whether to publish a new final rule. OSHA determined that the subject of this rulemaking is suitable for direct final rulemaking. OSHA originally included the digger-derrick exemption in the proposed Cranes and Derricks in Construction standard as a result of negotiated rulemaking involving stakeholders from many affected sectors. The existing rule for Cranes and Derricks in Construction, subpart CC of 29 CFR 1926, exempts the majority of digger derricks used in the telecommunications and electric-utility industries from the requirements of that subpart. Because the revision specified in this direct final rule extends the exemption to a small number of digger derricks used in the electric-utility industry, and does not impose any new costs or duties, OSHA does not expect objections from the public to this rulemaking action.
III. Discussion of the Digger-Derrick Exemption in 29 CFR 1926, Subpart CC A. Background of the Digger-Derrick Exemption
OSHA developed the proposed standard for cranes and derricks in construction through a negotiated rulemaking involving stakeholders from many affected sectors. The proposed standard included a limited exemption for digger derricks (73 FR 59714, 59916 (Oct. 9, 2008)). After the publication of the proposed rule, OSHA received manycomments criticizing the scope of the exemption because the scope applied to digger derricks designed for the electric-utility industry, and then only when used to dig holes for utility work. Commenters noted that customary use of the digger derrick also involved placing a pole in the hole and attaching transformers and other items to the pole. Commenters complained that the exemption would be largely meaningless unless it also encompassed these functions. Several representatives of the telecommunications industry noted that the industry used digger derricks routinely for similar purposes, and requested that OSHA expand the digger-derrick exemption to encompass telecommunications work in addition to electric-utility work (Docket ID OSHA-2007-0066-0234 and OSHA-2007-0066-0129.1).
When the activities are exempt from subpart CC of 29 CFR 1926, they must still comply with all other applicable construction standards, such as 29 CFR 1926, subpart O (Motor Vehicles, Mechanized Equipment, and Marine Operations), and subpart V.1
1For telecommunications work, compliance with the provisions of § 1910.268 is a condition of the exemption in § 1926.400(c)(4). The scope limitations in § 1910.268(a) (such as the language stating that it does not apply to construction) are irrelevant to application of the exemption. If an employer uses a digger derrick for telecommunications construction work and does not comply with the provisions in § 1910.268, then that employer fails to qualify for the exemption in § 1926.400(c)(4). As a result, that employer must comply with all of the requirements in subpart CC of part 1926, including the operator-certification requirements in § 1926.1427. If the employer fails to comply with subpart CC, and cannot demonstrate that it complied with § 1910.268 for telecommunications work, or § 1910.269 for electric-utility work, then OSHA will cite the employer under subpart CC (not § 1910.268 or § 1910.269). If the employer demonstrates that it complies with the exemption in subpart CC, but does not comply with the separate requirements in subpart O applicable to all motorized vehicles in construction, then OSHA will cite the employer under subpart O. Note that this explanation does not suggest that OSHA is restricting its enforcement discretion on whether to issue citations at all.
On October 6, 2010, Edison Electrical Institute petitioned for review of the Cranes and Derricks in Construction standard in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. During subsequent discussions with OSHA, EEI provided new information to OSHA regarding the use of digger derricks in the electric-utility industry and the resulting impact on the utilities' operations under the current digger-derrick exemption in subpart CC. According to EEI, the exemption from subpart CC covers roughly 95 percent of work conducted by digger derricks in the electric-utility industry (see OSHA-2012-0025-0004 for EEI Dec. 7, 2010, letter, page 2). The majority of the work under the remaining five percent is work that is closely related to the exempted work.Id.For example, when electric utilities use digger derricks to perform construction work involving pole installations, the same digger-derrick crew that performs the pole work typically installs pad-mount transformers on the ground as part of the same power system as the poles. While the pole work is exempt under 29 CFR 1926.1400(c)(4), the placement of the pad-mount transformer on the ground is not.
Furthermore, in comparison to currently exempted pole work, OSHA believes most (if not all) of the remaining five percent of work is at least as safe. Weight measurements provided by EEI demonstrate that transformers placed on a pad on the ground are roughly the same weight as, or in some cases lighter than, the weight of the transformers lifted onto the poles, or the poles themselves (see OSHA-2012-0025-0003 for EEI handout, “Typical Weights” chart).2 In addition, electric utilities typically place distribution transformers in a right of way along front property lines, close to a roadway, or along rear property lines, irrespective of whether the transformers are pole- or pad-mounted. In those cases, the lifting radius of a digger derrick placing a transformer on a pad is similar to the lifting radius of a digger derrick placing a transformer on a pole. Consequently, the lifting forces on a digger derrick should be approximately the same regardless of whether the transformer is pole- or pad-mounted (see, e.g., OSHA-2012-0025-0003). Finally, the approximate height of the transformer relative to the employee installing the transformer is the same for the two types of transformers. An employee installing a pad-mounted transformer is on the ground, near the pad, whereas an employee installing a pole-mounted transformer is either on the pole, or in an aerial lift, near the mounting point for the transformer. In either case, the transformer would be around the same height as the employee.
2EEI's chart does not show weights for concrete and plastic transformer pads, and EEI did not indicate that utilities use digger derricks to place those pads. If utilities do use digger derricks to lift pads, EEI's presentation indicates that digger derricks lift the transformers separately. Because the surface area of these pads is comparable to the transformers on them, and because these pads are generally only a few hundred millimeters thick, OSHA does not believe that the pads weigh any more than transformers or poles.
OSHA acknowledges the arguments that there are minimal safety benefits attributable to imposing the standard's requirements on the remaining five percent of non-exempted work; moreover, the exempted digger-derrick operations are still subject to the protections afforded to workers by OSHA's electric-utility and telecommunications standards (§ 1910.269, subpart V of 29 CFR 1926, and § 1910.268, respectively). OSHAalso notes that the largest labor organization for workers in the electric-utility industry, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, participated in settlement discussions, corroborated the general validity of the information provided by EEI, and actively supported EEI's request for an expanded digger-derrick exemption. In light of these factors, OSHA is removing the burdens on employers for the remaining five percent of non-exempted work, and revising the digger-derrick exemption to include all digger derricks used in construction work subject to 29 CFR 1926, subpart V. Based on its estimates in the Final Economic Analysis in the 2010 final rule, the Agency determined that expanding the exemption for digger derricks will enable employers in NAICS 221120 to avoid compliance costs of about $15.9 million per year, while employers in NAICS 221110 will avoid about $5.7 million per year, for a total cost savings of about $21.6 million annually.
The Agency also is making several minor clarifications to the text of the exemption. First, OSHA is making a minor grammatical clarification by replacing “and” with “or” in the phrase “poles carrying electricortelecommunication lines” (emphasis added). This revision will ensure that the regulated community does not misconstrue the exemption as limited to poles that carry both electric and telecommunications lines. This clarification is consistent with OSHA's explanation in the preamble of the Cranes and Derricks in Construction final rule (see 75 FR 47925).
As revised, paragraph § 1926.952(c)(2) requires employers using digger derricks for subpart V work and, thus, not subject to the requirements of subpart CC of 29 CFR 1926, to comply with the requirements in § 1910.269. OHSA also is clarifying that paragraph (c)(2) applies in addition to, not in place of, the general requirement in § 1926.952(c) that all equipment (including digger derricks) must comply with subpart O of 29 CFR 1926. As noted in the preamble to the subpart CC final rule, OSHAcurrently is developing a rule that will amend subpart V to avoid inconsistencies between subpart V of the construction standards and § 1910.269 (see 70 FR 34822 (June 15, 2005)). Pending completion of that rulemaking, digger derricks excluded from subpart CC of 29 CFR 1926 will be subject to the same requirements regardless of whether employers use them for work covered by subpart V or work covered by § 1910.269, and regardless of whether employers use them for pole work or other subpart V work.
IV. Agency Determinations A. Significant Risk
The purpose of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act; 29 U.S.C. 651et al.) is “to assure so far as possible every working man and woman in the Nation safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resources” (29 U.S.C. 651(b)). To achieve this goal, Congress authorized the Secretary of Labor to promulgate and enforce occupational safety and health standards (29 U.S.C. 654(b), 655(b)). An occupational safety or health standard is a standard that “requires conditions, or the adoption or use of one or more practices, means, methods, operations, or processes, reasonably necessary or appropriate to provide safe or healthful employment and places of employment” (29 U.S.C. 652(8)). A standard is reasonably necessary or appropriate within the meaning of Section 652(8) if it substantially reduces or eliminates significant risk (seeIndustrial Union Department, AFL-CIOv. American Petroleum Institute,448 U.S. 607 (1980)).
This direct final rule does not impose any additional requirements on employers. Because OSHA previously determined that the Cranes and Derricks in Construction standard substantially reduces a significant risk (see 75 FR 47913), it is unnecessary for the Agency to make additional findings on risk for the purposes of this minor amendment to the digger-derrick exemption (see,e.g., Public Citizen Health Research Groupv.Tyson,796 F.2d 1479, 1502 n.16 (DC Cir. 1986) (rejecting the argument that OSHA must “find that each and every aspect of its standard eliminates a significant risk”).
When it issued the final rule for Cranes and Derricks in Construction, OSHA prepared a Final Economic Analysis (FEA) as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (“OSH Act”; 29 U.S.C. 651et seq.) and Executive Orders 12866 and 13563. OSHA also published a final regulatory flexibility analysis as required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612).
In its FEA for the final rule, OSHA estimated that the total costs for NAICS 221110 would be $6.7 million ($4 million for operator certification), and the total costs for NAICS 221120 would be $18.7 million annually ($8.7 million for operator certification) (see FEA Table B-9 in the Aug. 9, 2010, FR notice). Fully exempting digger derricks from the scope of the standard also eliminates costs for other activities besides operator certification, such as inspections and power-line safety. In the original FEA, the two main cost components for an industry were the number of crane operators and the number of jobs involving cranes. The original FEA estimated that digger derricks represented 85 percent of operators, and 85 percent of jobs involving cranes. OSHA, therefore, estimates that digger derricks account for 85 percent of the costs attributed to NAICS 221110 and NAICS 221120. Applying this 85 percent factor to the total costs for the industries yields costs for digger derricks of $5.7 million per year in NAICS 221110 and $15.9 million per year in NAICS 221120, for a total of $21.6 million per year.3
3Based on the size of digger derricks and EEI's descriptions of digger-derrick activities, OSHA understands that the vast majority of digger-derrick use for construction activity in the electric-utility industry will involve transmission and distribution work subject to subpart V of 29 CFR 1926. Employers categorized under NAICS 221120 generally conduct electric-transmission and -distribution work. However, OSHA is including digger derricks under NAICS 221110, which is the SIC code for power generation, because some employers may be under that SIC code because their primary work is in that area, but those employers also may engage in transmission work covered by subpart V. Because the record does not indicate that employers use digger derricks for power-generation construction activities, OSHA assumes that the use of digger derricks under NAICS 221110 is for subpart V work.
Because this direct final rule estimates cost savings of $21.6 million per year, this direct final rule is not economically significant within the meaning of Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735). The rule does not impose additional costs on any private-sector or public-sector entity, and does not meet any of the criteria for an economically significant or major rule specified by Executive Order 12866 and the relevant statutes. This rule is not a “major rule” under Section 804 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (5 U.S.C. 801et seq.).
OSHA developed this direct final rule consistent with the provisions of Executive Orders 12866 and 13563. Accordingly, this direct final rule follows closely the principle of EO 13563 that agencies should use new data developed after completion of a rulemaking (retrospective analysis) to determine if a regulation “should be modified, streamlined, expanded, or repealed.” In this case, review of data submitted after completion of the initial rulemaking provided OSHA with the opportunity to streamline a rule by dropping its application to digger derricks, thereby saving the industry an estimated $21.6 million per year. Asdescribed previously, this action removes duties and costs for the electric-utility industry, and does not impose any new duties on any employer. Because small entities will have reduced costs as a result of this direct final rule, the Agency certifies that the final standard would not impose significant economic costs on a substantial number of small entities.
A standard is technologically feasible when the protective measures it requires already exist, when available technology can bring the protective measures into existence, or when that technology is reasonably likely to develop (seeAmerican Textile Mfrs. Institutev.OSHA,452 U.S. 490, 513 (1981) (ATMI);American Iron and Steel Institutev.OSHA,939 F.2d 975, 980 (DC Cir. 1991) (AISI)). This direct final rule does not require any additional protective measures. In the original FEA, OSHA found the standard to be technologically feasible (75 FR 48079). OSHA concludes that this revision is feasible as well because it reduces or removes current requirements on employers.
When OSHA issued the final rule on August 9, 2010, the Agency submitted an Information Collection Request (ICR) to OMB titledCranes and Derricks in Construction (29 CFR Part 1926 Subpart CC).On November 1, 2010, OMB approved the ICR under OMB Control Number 1218-0261, with an expiration date of November 30, 2013. Subsequently, in December 2010, OSHA discontinued theCranes and Derricks Standard for Construction (29 CFR 1926.550)ICR (OMB Control Number 1218-0113) because the new ICR superseded this ICR. In addition, OSHA retitled the new ICR toCranes and Derricks in Construction (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart CC and Subpart DD).
OSHA notes that a federal agency cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it is approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501et seq.and the agency also displays a currently valid OMB control number for the collection of information, and that the public need not respond to a collection of information requirement unless the agency displays a currently valid OMB control number. Also, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall be subject to a penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information requirement if the requirement does not display a currently valid OMB control number.
When federal OSHA promulgates a new standard or more stringent amendment to an existing standard, the 27 states and U.S. territories with their own OSHA-approved occupational safety and health plans must amend their standards to reflect the new standard or amendment, or show OSHA why such action is unnecessary,e.g.,because an existing state standard covering this area is at least as effective in protecting employees as the new federal standard or amendment (29 CFR 1953.5(a)). The state standard must be at least as effective in protecting employees as the final federal rule. State Plan States must issue the standard within six months of the promulgation date of the final federal rule. When OSHA promulgates a new standard or amendment that does not impose additional or more stringent requirements than an existing standard, State Plan States are not required to amend their standards, although OSHA may encourage them to do so.
When OSHA issued the final rule for Cranes and Derricks in Construction (75FR 48130), it reviewed the rule according to the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA; 2 U.S.C. 1501et seq.) and Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255 (Aug. 10, 1999)), and concluded that the final rule did not meet the definition of a “Federal intergovernmental mandate” under the UMRA. OSHA's standards do not apply to state or local governments except in states that have voluntarily adopted state plans. OSHA further noted that the rule imposed costs of over $100 million per year on the private sector and, therefore, required review under the UMRA for those costs; the Agency determined that its Final Economic Analysis met that requirement.Id.
Cranes and derricks, Construction industry, Occupational safety and health.
David Michaels, Ph.D., MPH, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20210, authorized the preparation of this notice. OSHA is issuing this direct final rule under the following authorities: 29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 657; 40 U.S.C. 3701et seq.;5 U.S.C. 553; Secretary of Labor's Order No. 1-2012 (77 FR 3912, Jan. 25, 2012); and 29 CFR part 1911.
Signed at Washington, DC, on October 9, 2012. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. Amendments to Standards
PART 1926—[AMENDED] Subpart V—Power Transmission and Distribution. 1. Revise the authority citation for subpart V to read as follows: Authority:
2. Amend § 1926.952 by revising paragraph (c)(2) to read as follows:
§ 1926.952 Mechanical equipment.
Subpart CC—Cranes and Derricks in Construction. 3. Revise the authority citation for subpart CC to read as follows: Authority:
4. Amend § 1926.1400 by revising paragraph (c)(4) to read as follows:
§ 1926.1400 Scope.