The Department of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a division of the Department of Labor, is seeking comment on whether its information system required for anhydrous ammonia handlers should be continued as is, or if changes are necessary to better protect employee safety while minimizing the burden on employers.
According to a recent Federal Register notice that was picked up by the Green Markets FR Today alert service, the Department of Labor is seeking the comments “as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden.” OSHA has proposed to extend the Office of Management and Budget approval “of the information collection requirements contained in the Standard on the Storage and Handling of Anhydrous Ammonia.”
These standards include paperwork requirements that apply to non-refrigerated and refrigerated containers and systems that employers use to store and transfer anhydrous ammonia in the workplace. OSHA requirements related to anhydrous ammonia specify that “containers and systems have nameplates if required, and that these nameplates be permanently attached to the system so as to be readily accessible for inspection.”
OSHA further requires that these markings – on containers and systems utilizing stationary, non-refrigerated storage containers, tank motor vehicles for the transportation of ammonia, and systems mounted on farm vehicles for the application of ammonia – provide certain information regarding “nine specific characteristics of the containers and systems.” The OSHA standards also specify refrigerated containers must be marked with a nameplate on the outer covering in an accessible place that provides information regarding eight specific characteristics of the container.
“The required markings ensure that employers use only properly designed and tested containers and systems to store anhydrous ammonia, thereby preventing accidental release of, and exposure of employees to, this highly toxic and corrosive substance,” the Federal Register notice said. “In addition, these requirements provide the most efficient means for an OSHA compliance officer to ensure that the containers and systems are safe.
OSHA said it has a particular interest in comments on the following issues: whether the proposed information collection requirements are necessary for the proper performance of OSHA’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 by using automated or other technological information collection and transmission techniques.
Comments must be postmarked, sent, or received by Oct. 15, 2007, and can be submitted via email at http://www.regulations.gov. If comments are no longer than 10 pages, they can be faxed at 202-693-1648. Mailed comments must be submitted in triplicate to: OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2007-0019, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210.