Terminals handling intermodal containers

Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
have had such quadrennial certification within the previous 48 months.
Equipment requiring annual certification shall have had such annual certification within the previous 12
months, except that no annual certification is required within 12 months
after any required quadrennial certification. Annual examinations for certification may be accomplished up to
one month early without effect on subsequent due dates.
(2) When certificated equipment is
out of service for 6 months or more beyond the due date of a certification inspection, an examination equivalent to
an initial certification, including unit
proof load test, shall be performed before the equipment re-enters service.
(h) Loose gear obtained after October
3, 1983 shall bear a legible mark indicating that it has been tested (see
paragraph (c)(6) of this section). Single
sheave blocks shall be marked with
safe working loads and proof test loads.
Marks relating to testing shall be identifiable on the related certificates,
which shall be available.
(i) Safe working load. (1) The safe
working load of gear as specified in
this section shall not be exceeded.
(2) All cargo handling gear provided
by the employer with a safe working
load greater than five short tons (10,000
lbs. or 4.54 metric tons) shall have its
safe working load plainly marked on it.
(j) Exceptions: The certification requirements of this section do not apply
to the following equipment:
(1) Small industrial crane trucks as
described on page 8 and illustrated on
page 13 of ASME B56.1, 1959, ‘‘Safety
Code for Powered Industrial Trucks’’,
and powered industrial trucks;
(2) Any straddle truck not capable of
straddling two or more intermodal containers 16 feet (4.88 m) in width; and
(3) Gear used only for handling or
holding hoses, handling ship’s stores or
handling the gangway.
[48 FR 30909, July 5, 1983, as amended at 49
FR 28551, July 13, 1984; 61 FR 5509, Feb. 13,
1996; 62 FR 40200, July 25, 1997; 64 FR 61506,
Nov. 12, 1999; 65 FR 40940, June 30, 2000]

§ 1917.51 Hand tools.
(a) Hand tools used by employees
shall be maintained in safe operating
condition.

§ 1917.71

(b)(1) Hand-held portable electric
tools shall be equipped with switches
that must be manually held in a closed
position to operate the tool.
(2) Portable power-driven circular
saws shall be equipped with guards
above and below the base plate or shoe.
The upper guard shall cover the saw to
the depth of the teeth, except for the
minimum arc needed to permit the
base to be tilted for bevel cuts. The
lower guard shall cover the saw to the
depth of the teeth, except for the minimum arc needed to allow proper retraction and contact with the work.
When the tool is withdrawn from the
work, the lower guard shall automatically and instantly return to the covering position.
(c) Only cutting tools shall be used to
cut metal strapping or banding used to
secure cargo.

Subpart D—Specialized Terminals
§ 1917.70

General.

The provisions of this subpart D shall
apply to specialized terminals in addition to any other applicable requirements of this part.
§ 1917.71 Terminals handling intermodal containers or roll-on roll-off
operations.
(a) Every intermodal container shall
be legibly and permanently marked
with:
(1) The weight of the container when
empty, in pounds;
(2) The maximum cargo weight the
container is designed to carry, in
pounds; and
(3) The sum of the weight of the container and the cargo, in pounds.
(b) No container shall be hoisted by
any crane or derrick unless the following conditions have been met:
(1) The employer shall ascertain from
the carrier whether a container to be
hoisted is loaded or empty. Empty containers shall be identified before loading or discharge in such a manner as
will inform every supervisor and foreman on the site and in charge of loading or discharging, or every crane or
other hoisting equipment operator and
signalman, if any, that such container
is empty. Methods of identification

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§ 1917.71

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–10 Edition)

may include cargo plans, manifests or
markings on the container.
(2) In the case of a loaded container:
(i) The actual gross weight shall be
plainly marked so as to be visible to
the crane or other hoisting equipment
operator or signalman, or to every supervisor and foreman on the site and in
charge of the operation; or
(ii) The cargo stowage plan or equivalent permanently recorded display
serving the same purpose, containing
the actual gross weight and the serial
number or other positive identification
of that specific container, shall be provided 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.
(3) Every outbound loaded container
which is received at a marine terminal
ready to load aboard a vessel without
further consolidation or loading shall
be weighed to obtain the actual gross
weight, either at the terminal or elsewhere, before being hoisted.
(4)(i) When container weighing scales
are located at a marine terminal, any
outbound container with a load consolidated at that terminal shall be
weighed to obtain an actual weight before being hoisted.
(ii) If the terminal has no scales, the
actual gross weight may be calculated
on the basis of the container’s contents
and the container’s empty weight. The
weights used in the calculation shall be
posted conspicuously on the container,
with the name of the person making
the calculation and the date.
(5) Open type vehicle carrying containers and those built specifically and
used solely for the carriage of compressed gases are excepted from paragraphs (b)(3) and (b)(4) of this section.
(6) Closed dry van containers carrying vehicles are exempted from paragraph (b)(4) of this section provided
that:
(i) The container carries only completely assembled vehicles and no
other cargo;
(ii) The container is marked on the
outside in such a manner that an employee can readily discern that the
container is carrying vehicles; and
(iii) The vehicles were loaded into
the container at the marine terminal.

(7) The weight of loaded inbound containers from foreign ports shall be determined by weighing or by the method
of calculation described in paragraph
(b)(4)(ii) of this section or by shipping
documents.
(8) Any scale used within the United
States to weigh containers for the purpose of the requirements of this section
shall meet the accuracy standards of
the state or local public authority in
which the scale is located.
(c) No container or containers shall
be hoisted if their actual gross weight
exceeds the weight marked as required
in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, or if
it exceeds the capacity of the crane or
other hoisting device intended to be
used.
(d)(1) Marked or designated areas
shall be set aside within a container or
roll-on roll-off terminal for passage of
employees to and from active cargo
transfer points, except where transportation to and from those points is provided by the employer.
(2) The employer shall direct employees to stay clear of the area beneath a
suspended container.
(e) Each employee working in the immediate area of container handling
equipment or in the terminal’s traffic
lanes shall wear a high visibility vest
(or equivalent protection). 7
NOTE TO PARAGRAPH (e): High visibility
vests or equivalent protection means high
visibility/retro-reflective materials which
are intended to make the user clearly visible
by day through the use of high visibility (fluorescent) material and in the dark by vehicle
headlights through the use of retro-reflective
material. For example, an acceptable area of
material for a vest or equivalent protection
is .5 m2 (760 in.2) for fluorescent (background)
material and .13m2 (197 in.2) for retro-reflective material. Vests or equivalent protection, such as high visibility/retro-reflective
coveralls, that are available for industrial
use, may also be acceptable.

(f) Containers shall be handled using
lifting fittings or other arrangements
suitable and intended for the purpose
as set forth in paragraphs (f)(1) through
(f)(4) of this section, unless damage to
an intermodal container makes special
means of handling necessary.
7 Decals on hard hats will not be considered
equivalent protection for the purposes of this
paragraph.

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Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
(1) Loaded intermodal containers of
20 feet (6.1 m) or more in length shall
be hoisted as follows:
(i) When hoisting containers by the
top fittings, the lifting forces shall be
applied vertically from at least four
such fittings. A less than vertical lift is
permitted only under the following
conditions:
(A) The container being lifted is an
ISO closed box container;
(B) The condition of the box is sound;
(C) The speed of hoisting and lowering is moderated when heavily
ladened containers 8 are encountered;
(D) The lift angle is at 80 to 90 degrees;
(E) The distance between the lifting
beam and the load is at least 8 feet and
2.4 inches (2.5 m); and
(F) The length of the spreader beam
is at least 16.3 feet (5 m) for a 20-foot
container, and at least 36.4 feet (11.1 m)
for a 40-foot container.
(ii) If hoisted from bottom fittings,
the hoisting connections shall bear on
the fittings only, making no other contact with the container. The angles of
the four bridle legs shall not be less
than 30° to the horizontal in the case of
40 foot (12.2 m) containers, 37° in the
case of 30 foot (9.1 m) containers, and
45° in the case of 20 foot (6.1 m) containers.
(iii) Lifting containers by fork lift
trucks or by grappling arms from
above or from one side may be done
only if the container is designed for
this type of handling.
(iv) Other means of hoisting may be
used only if the containers and hoisting means are designed for such use.
(2)(i) When using intermodal container spreaders that employ lanyards
for activation of load disengagement,
all possible precautions shall be taken
to prevent accidental release of the
load.
(ii) Intermodal container spreader
twistlock systems shall be designed
and used so that a suspended load cannot accidentally be released.
(3) Flat bed trucks or container chassis used to move intermodal containers
shall be equipped with pins, flanges, or
8 A heavily laden container is one that is
loaded to within 20 percent of its rated capacity.

§ 1917.71

other means to prevent the container
from shifting.
(4) After July 27, 1998, flat bed, low
boy trailers (mafis) and other similar
equipment used to transport containers
shall be marked with their cargo capacities and shall not be overloaded.
(5) Each tractor shall have all brake
air lines connected when pulling trailers equipped with air brakes and shall
have the brakes tested before commencing operations.
(g)(1) Intermodal containers shall be
inspected for defects in structural
members or fittings before handling.
(2) Any intermodal container found
to be unsafe shall be identified as such,
promptly removed from service and repaired before being returned to service.
(h) Containers shall not be hoisted
unless all engaged chassis twist locks
are released.
(i) Vertical tandem lifts. The following
requirements apply to operations involving the lifting of two or more
intermodal containers by the top container (vertical tandem lifts or VTLs).
(1) Each employee involved in VTL
operations shall be trained and competent in the safety-related work practices, safety procedures, and other requirements in this section that pertain
to their respective job assignments.
(2) No more than two intermodal containers may be lifted in a VTL.
(3) Before the lift begins, the employer shall ensure that the two containers lifted as part of a VTL are
empty.
NOTE TO PARAGRAPH (i)(3): The lift begins
immediately following the end of the prelift
required by paragraph (i)(5) of this section.
Thus, the weight may be determined during
the prelift using a load indicating device
meeting § 1917.46(a)(1)(i)(A) on the crane
being used to lift the VTL.

(4) The lift shall be performed using
either a shore-based container gantry
crane or another type of crane that:
(i) Has the precision control necessary to restrain unintended rotation
of the containers about any axis,
(ii) Is capable of handling the load
volume and wind sail potential of
VTLs, and
(iii) Is specifically designed to handle
containers.
(5) The employer shall ensure that
the crane operator pauses the lift when

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§ 1917.71

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–10 Edition)

the vertically coupled containers have
just been lifted above the supporting
surface to assure that each interbox
connector is properly engaged.
(6) Containers below deck may not be
handled as a VTL.
(7) VTL operations may not be conducted when the wind speed exceeds
the lesser of:
(i) 55 km/h (34 mph or 30 knots) or
(ii) The crane manufacturer’s recommendation for maximum wind
speed.
(8) The employer shall ensure that
each interbox connector used in a VTL
operation:
(i) Automatically locks into corner
castings on containers but only
unlocks manually (manual twistlocks
or latchlocks are not permitted);
(ii) Is designed to indicate whether it
is locked or unlocked when fitted into
a corner casting;
(iii) Locks and releases in an identical direction and manner as all other
interbox connectors in the VTL;
(iv) Has been tested and certificated
by a competent authority authorized
under § 1918.11 of this chapter (for
interbox connectors that are part of a
vessel’s gear) or § 1917.50 (for other
interbox connectors):
(A) As having a load-bearing surface
area of 800 mm2 when connected to a
corner casting with an opening that is
65.0 mm wide; and
(B) As having a safe working load of
98 kN (10,000 kg) with a safety factor of
five when the load is applied by means
of two corner castings with openings
that are 65.0 mm wide or equivalent devices;
(v) Has a certificate that is available
for inspection and that attests that the
interbox connector meets the strength
criteria given in paragraph (i)(8)(iv) of
this section; and
(vi) Is clearly and durably marked
with its safe working load for lifting
and an identifying number or mark
that will enable it to be associated
with its test certificate.
(9) The employer shall ensure that
each container and interbox connector
used in a VTL and each corner casting
to which a connector will be coupled is
inspected immediately before use in
the VTL.

(i) Each employee performing the inspection shall be capable of detecting
defects or weaknesses and be able to
assess their importance in relation to
the safety of VTL operations.
(ii) The inspection of each interbox
connector shall include: a visual examination for obvious structural defects,
such as cracks; a check of its physical
operation to determine that the lock is
fully functional with adequate spring
tension on each head; and a check for
excessive corrosion and deterioration.
(iii) The inspection of each container
and each of its corner castings shall include: a visual examination for obvious
structural defects, such as cracks; a
check for excessive corrosion and deterioration; and a visual examination to
ensure that the opening to which an
interbox connector will be connected
has not been enlarged, that the welds
are in good condition, and that it is
free from ice, mud or other debris.
(iv) The employer shall establish a
system to ensure that each defective or
damaged interbox connector is removed from service.
(v) An interbox connector that has
been found to be defective or damaged
shall be removed from service and may
not be used in VTL operations until repaired.
(vi) A container with a corner casting
that exhibits any of the problems listed
in paragraph (i)(9)(iii) of this section
may not be lifted in a VTL.
(10) No platform container may be
lifted as part of a VTL unit.
(j) Transporting vertically coupled containers. (1) Equipment other than
cranes used to transport vertically connected containers shall be either specifically designed for this application
or evaluated by a qualified engineer
and determined to be capable of operating safely in this mode of operation.
(2) The employer shall develop, implement, and maintain a written plan
for transporting vertically connected
containers. The written plan shall establish procedures to ensure safe operating and turning speeds and shall address all conditions in the terminal
that could affect the safety of VTL-related operations, including communication and coordination among all
employees involved in these operations.

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Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
(k) Safe work zone. The employer
shall establish a safe work zone within
which employees may not be present
when vertically connected containers
are in motion.
(1) The safe work zone shall be sufficient to protect employees in the event
that a container drops or overturns.
(2) The written transport plan required by paragraph (j)(2) of this section shall include the safe work zone
and procedures to ensure that employees are not in this zone when a VTL is
in motion.
[48 FR 30909, July 5, 1983, as amended at 62
FR 40200, July 25, 1997; 65 FR 40940, June 30,
2000; 73 FR 75289, Dec. 10, 2008]

§ 1917.73 Terminal facilities handling
menhaden and similar species of
fish (see also § 1917.2, definition of
hazardous cargo, material, substance or atmosphere).
(a)(1) Tanks in terminal areas used
for receiving or storing bailwater for
recirculating into vessel holds in discharging operations shall be opened or
ventilated to minimize contamination
of water circulated to the vessel.
Bailwater tanks shall be thoroughly
drained upon completion of each day’s
operations and shall be left open to the
air. Drainage is unnecessary when
bailwater has been treated to remove
hydrogen sulfide-producing contaminants and the efficiency of such treatment has been established by the employer.
(2) Before employees enter a dock
tank, it shall first be drained, rinsed
and tested for hydrogen sulfide and oxygen deficiency. Employees shall not
enter the tank when the hydrogen sulfide level exceeds 20 ppm or oxygen
content is less than 19.5 percent, except
in emergencies.
(3) Tests shall be conducted by designated personnel with suitable test
equipment and respiratory protective
equipment complying with the provisions of § 1910.134 of this chapter.
(b) Pipelines and hoses on the dock or
terminal used for receiving and circulating used bailwater shall be completely drained upon completion of
each day’s operation and left open to
the air.
(c) At least four units of respiratory
protective equipment consisting of sup-

§ 1917.91

plied-air respirators or self-contained
breathing apparatus complying with
the requirements of § 1910.134 of this
chapter shall be available in a suitably
labeled cabinet for immediate use in
case of emergency caused by oxygen
deficiency or hydrogen sulfide. Any
employee entering a tank in an emergency shall, in addition to respiratory
protective equipment, wear a lifeline
and safety harness to facilitate rescue.
At least two other employees, similarly equipped, shall be continuously
stationed outside the tank to observe
and to provide rescue services.
(d) The plant superintendent and
foremen shall be trained and knowledgeable about the hazards of hydrogen
sulfide and oxygen deficiency. They
shall be trained in the use of appropriate respiratory and other protective
equipment, and in rescue procedures.
Other supervisory plant personnel shall
be informed of these hazards and instructed in the necessary safety measures, including use of respiratory and
rescue equipment.
(e) Supervisory personnel shall be on
hand at dockside to supervise discharging of bailwater from vessels.
[48 FR 30909, July 5, 1983, as amended at 65
FR 40940, June 30, 2000]

Subpart E—Personal Protection
§ 1917.91 Eye and face protection.
(a)(1)(i) The employer shall ensure
that each affected employee uses protective eye and face protection devices
that comply with any of the following
consensus standards:
(A) ANSI Z87.1–2003, ‘‘American National Standard Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face
Protection,’’ which is incorporated by
reference in § 1917.3;
(B) ANSI Z87.1–1989 (R–1998), ‘‘American National Standard Practice for
Occupational and Educational Eye and
Face Protection,’’ which is incorporated by reference in § 1917.3; or
(C) ANSI Z87.1–1989, ‘‘American National Standard Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face
Protection,’’ which is incorporated by
reference in § 1917.3.
(ii) Protective eye and face protection devices that the employer demonstrates are at least as effective as

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