Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2003/04/21/03-9658/seat-belts-for-off-road-work-machines-and-wheeled-agricultural-tractors-at-metal-and-nonmetal-mines
Timestamp: 2018-04-26 23:46:49
Document Index: 208948663

Matched Legal Cases: ['ART 56', '§\u200956', '§\u200956', '§\u2009553', '§\u200956', '§\u200956', '§\u200956', '§\u200956', '§\u200956', '§\u200956', '§\u20093', '§\u2009605', '§\u2009202', '§\u2009203', 'art 51']

Federal Register :: Seat Belts for Off-Road Work Machines and Wheeled Agricultural Tractors at Metal and Nonmetal Mines
A Proposed Rule by the Mine Safety and Health Administration on 04/21/2003
Submit comments by May 21, 2003.
68 FR 19474
19474-19477 (4 pages)
03-9658
PART 56—[AMENDED]
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/03-9658 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/03-9658
MSHA is issuing a proposed rule that would update the Agency's requirements for operator restraint systems (seat belts) for off-road work machines and wheeled agricultural tractors at metal and nonmetal mines. The existing standards require seat belts for off-road work machines to meet the requirements of the Society of Automotive Engineers' (SAE) consensus standard SAE J386-1985, and seat belts for wheeled agricultural tractors to meet the requirements of SAE J1194-1983. Since MSHA promulgated these standards, however, the SAE has revised them to reflect technological advances in seat belt design and materials. Seat belts meeting the specifications of earlier versions of these SAE standards are no longer routinely installed by manufacturers. The proposed rule would permit seat belts to meet the requirements of the more recent revisions of the SAE J386 and SAE J1194 standards.
Clearly identify comments as such and submit them either electronically to ; by facsimile to 202-693-9441; or by regular mail or hand delivery to MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Blvd., Room 2352, Arlington, Virginia 22209-3939. Comments are posted for public viewing at http://www.msha.gov/​currentcomments.
Marvin W. Nichols, Director; Office of Start Printed Page 19475Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA; Phone: 202-693-9442; FAX: 202-693-9441; E-mail: nichols-marvin@msha.gov.
This proposed rule would only update §§ 56/57.14130, paragraph (h), Seat belts construction. MSHA is not updating §§ 56/57.14130, paragraph (b)(2), which also incorporates by reference SAE J1194-1983, because paragraph (b)(2) addresses the construction of roll-over protective structures (ROPS), not seat belts. The construction of ROPS is beyond the scope of this rulemaking.
Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, we are publishing a direct final rule that is substantively identical to this proposed rule. We are publishing this companion proposed rule under § 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act to speed notice and comment rulemaking should we withdraw the direct final rule.
Existing standards §§ 56/57.14130 derived from standards promulgated by MSHA's predecessor, the Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration (MESA) in 1977. Like these existing standards, the standards under MESA required seat belts to meet specific SAE requirements that were incorporated by reference. MSHA's requirements for seat belts at metal and nonmetal mines remained substantively unchanged until 1988.
In 1988, MSHA promulgated final §§ 56/57.14130 for ROPS and seat belts for certain off-road work machines. The final rule (53 FR 32496 and 32524) updated the references to SAE J386-1985 and SAE J1194-1983 to reflect the most current revision. The final rule also added a provision, §§ 56/57.14131, requiring that seat belts on haulage trucks meet the same SAE requirements as MSHA required for seat belts on off-road work machines.
Existing standards §§ 56/57.14130(h) and 56/57.14131(c) require that seat belts for off-road work machines meet the requirements set forth in the Society of Automotive Engineers' (SAE) consensus standard J386-1985. Existing standards §§ 56/57.14130(h) also require that seat belts for agricultural tractors meet SAE consensus standard J1194-1983. These SAE consensus standards are incorporated by reference. Paragraphs §§ 56/57.14130(j) and 56/57.14131(d) contain the required information about the Federal Register's approval of the incorporation by reference and the addresses for examining or obtaining copies.
4.1.5 Marking (Labeling) Each seat belt assembly and/or each section of belt assembly shall be permanently and legibly labeled with year of manufacture, model or style number, and name or trademark of manufacturer or importer, and shall state compliance with SAE J386 JUN85, Part II.
Since 1988, however, SAE has updated SAE J386 twice and SAE J1194 three times, each time reaffirming the previous version or incorporating advances in safety technology. Seat belts and assemblies currently manufactured for off-road work machines and haulage trucks comply with SAE J386-1997 and those currently manufactured for tractors comply with SAE J1194-1999. Seat belts meeting the superceded SAE J386-1985 or SAE J1194-1983 standards are no longer available, except through special orders at considerable cost. Consequently, because manufacturers no longer construct or label seat belts in accordance with the outdated SAE standards, mine operators have difficulty complying with MSHA's existing standards.
Expanded Compliance Alternatives. Newly manufactured replacement seat belts for off-road work machines and wheeled agricultural tractors, as well as those installed on new off-road machines or tractors, meet the specifications in the most recent SAE consensus standards. The immediate availability of replacement seat belts “off-the-shelf,” as opposed to those requiring a special order, speeds replacement, minimizing equipment down time and the enticement to use off-road work machines without compliant seat belts. Also, allowing the use of seat belts meeting other revisions of the SAE standards, rather than only the most recent, would allow mine operators to use the supply of Start Printed Page 19476replacement seat belts they already have on hand.
Enhanced Safety. The proposed rule would improve safety by updating MSHA's standards to allow the use of advances in seat belt technology addressed in the newer industry consensus standards. Many safeguards and improved engineering are integral design features on new products. For example, the more recent revisions of the SAE consensus standards address developments, such as tether straps and three and four point systems, which are not included in the 1983 or 1985 revisions. Up-to-date standards are consistent with the goals of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, Executive Order 12866, and the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
In accordance with Executive Order (E.O.) 12866, we have analyzed the estimated costs and benefits associated with this proposed rule, and have included our Preliminary Regulatory Economic Analysis (PREA) in this preamble. This proposed rule would not be an economically significant regulatory action under § 3(f)(1) of E.O. 12866.
In accordance with § 605 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), we certify that this proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) amendments to the RFA, we must include the factual basis for this certification in the proposed rule. Accordingly, we are publishing the factual basis for our preliminary regulatory flexibility certification statement in the Federal Register, as part of this preamble, and are providing a copy to the Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Advocacy. We also will mail a copy of the proposed rule, including the preamble and certification statement, to metal and nonmetal mine operators and miners' representatives and post it on our Internet Home Page at www.msha.gov.
Factual basis for certification. This proposed rule would provide at least the same level of protection for miners at a lower cost for mine operators. It would affect all 11,641 metal and nonmetal mines, 85.3% (9,928) of which employ fewer than 20 miners and 99.8% (11,618) of which employ 500 or fewer miners (PEIR, CY 2001). It would not include any additional costs and would have no adverse economic impact on the metal and nonmetal mining industry. To the contrary, cost savings would be associated with not having to special order discontinued, older seat belts and not having to replace those seat belts already installed. The proposed rule also would eliminate the burden of preparing and responding to petitions for modification. The advantage of being able to obtain seat belts “off-the-shelf” would allow mine operators to replace damaged seat belts more quickly, thus reducing machinery and equipment down time which could result in lost production.
This proposed rule would affect about 220 small metal and nonmetal mines operated by governmental jurisdictions mostly to provide aggregates for the construction and repair of highways and roads. We have determined, for purposes of § 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, that this proposed rule would not include any Federal mandate that may result in increased expenditures by state, local, or tribal governments in the aggregate of more than $100 million, or increased expenditures by the private sector of more than $100 million. We also determined, for purposes of § 203, that this proposed rule would not significantly or uniquely affect these entities.
This proposed rule would not be subject to Executive Order 12630 because it would not involve implementation of a policy with “takings” implications.
In accordance with Executive Order 13132, we have reviewed this proposed rule and have determined that it would not have “federalism” implications.
(h) Seat belts construction. Seat belts required under this section shall meet the requirement of SAE J386, “Operator Restraint System for Off-Road Work Machines” (1985, 1993, or 1997), or SAE J1194, “Roll-Over Protective Structures (ROPS) for Wheeled Agricultural Tractors” (1983, 1989, 1994, or 1999), as applicable, which are incorporated by reference.
(j) Publications. The incorporation by reference of these publications is approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies of these publications may be examined at any Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health District Office; at MSHA's Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2349, Arlington, Virginia 22209-3939; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., Suite 700, Washington, DC. Copies may be purchased from the Society of Automotive Engineers, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, Pennsylvania 15096-0001.
(h) Seat belts construction. Seat belts required under this section shall meet the requirement of SAE J386, “Operator Restraint System for Off-Road Work Machines” (1985, 1993, or 1997), or SAE J1194, “Roll-Over Protective Structure (ROPS) for Wheeled Agricultural Tractors” (1983, 1989, 1994, or 1999), as applicable, which are incorporated by reference.