# Southern International, Incorporated — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 03-0217  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2003-12-19

03-0217 response to Southern International, Incorporated concerning 178.345.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Research and
›pecial Program:
Administration
DEC 19 2003
Mr. Terry L. Brittenham, President
Ref. No. 03-0217
Southern International, Incorporated
4200 Perimeter Center Drive, Suite 205
Oklahoma City, OK 73112-2391
Dear Mr. Brittenham:
This responds to your August 18, 2003, letter requesting clarification concerning requirements for
manholes, latches, and ladders on Specification DOT 406, DOT 407 and DOT 412 cargo tank motor
vehicles that transport petroleum crude oil under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HIMR;49 CFR
Parts 171-180). Your questions are paraphrased ans answered below:
Q1. What DOT regulations apply to cargo tank hatch assemblies for DOT specification 406, 407, and
412 cargo tank motor vehicles?
Al. Section 178.345-5 of the HMR specifies the requirements for manhole assemblies on DOT 406,
407, and 412 cargo tank motor vehicles. The term "hatch assembly" and "manhole assembly" are
synonymous for regulatory purposes. Generally, a manhole assembly mut be structurally capable of
withstanding without leakage a static internal fluid pressure of at least 36 psig or cargo tank test
pressure, whichever is greater.
Q2. Are there any DOT regulations that pertain to ladders on cargo tank motor vehicles?
AZ. Under the HMR, ladders attached to cargo tank motor vehicles are regulated as appurtenances.
An appurtenance includes any attachment to a cargo tank that has no lading retention or containment
function and provides no structural support to the cargo tank, as defined in § 178.320 of the HMR.
Design, construction, and installation requirements for such appurtenances are provided in § 178,345-
3(f) for DOT 406, 407, and 412 cargo tank motor vehicles.
I hope this answers your inquiry.
Sincerely,
Susan
Senior Transportation Regulations Specialist
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
178.345-5
030217

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Southern International, Incorporated
Oklahoma City, OK 73112-2391
4200 Perimeter Center Drive, Suite 205
Telephone: (405) 943-5288
USA
• Telefax: (405) 947-4149
E-Mail: Sll@icnet.net
Boothe
August 18, 2003
5178.345-5
Cargo lank
Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo
U.S. DOT/RSPA (DHM-10)
Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Ref #03-0217
400 7th Street S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590-0001
Subject:
Clarification concerning cargo tank motor vehicle requirements in the
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180).
Dear Mr. Mazzulio:
Specification DOT 406 (178.346), DOT 407 (178.347), and DOT 412 (178.348) cargo
Part 178.345 describes general design and construction requirements applicable to
tank motor vehicles. Here, 178.345-5 describes requirements for manhole assemblies
assembly located on the top of a cargo tank used to transport crude oil? Also, if an
on a cargo tank. Is there any DOT regulation that describes requirements for a hatch
tank, in order to meet requirements for fall protection (please see the attachment), is
operator needs access to a manhole or a hatch assembly located on the top of the cargo
there any DOT or OSHA or ASME regulation that describes requirements as to how such
a ladder assembly shall be constructed?
If you should have any question, please call me at (405)-943-5288.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
President
Brittenhan
TLB/pam
attachment

<<<PAGE 3>>>

would prevent ine perormance of the required work, an alternate system may be used. The contractor must develop and
protection systems descred in Subpart M would create a greater safety hazard or is infeasible, i.e., impossible to construc
aplement a written fall protection plan meeting the requirements of §1926.502
instances in which it is impossible to provide fall protection for workers are rare. Where an individual worker must rig the fall
protection system, and it cannot be accomplished from an aerial lift or by tying-off to the existing structure, momentary
Boposure do a tal taded ex be ura void hazards serial adequate a hial protesten systems elzed actualze such
enhance safety, rather than creating a secondary hazard.
The following table summarizes commonly encountered situations where fall protection is required, the heights at which fall protection
must be provided, and the OSHA reference for that requirement.
Table 1. Fall protection requirements in commonly encountered situations.
Situation
Height Requiring
Fall Protection
OSHA Reference
[Scaffold
1(245 in wide)
10 ft (3.0 m)
1926.451(a)(4)
(<45 in wide)
Scaffold
- 3.0 m)
4 ft to 10 ft (1.3
1926.451(a)(4)
Swinging scaffold
(painter's scaffold)
16 ft (1.8 m)
1926.451 (I)(8); personal fall
satisfy criteria in 1926.502
protection provided must
Impalement hazard
Any exposure
Bridge decks
|1926.20(a)(1)
unprotected sides and
6 ft (1.8 m)
1926.500(b)(1)
edges
installation
Bridge decks, form
16 ft (1.8 m)
1926.500(b)(2)
Tall steel bridges
Form work and
6 ft (1.8 m)
6 ft (1.8 m)
1926.501(b)(1); 1926.502(c)
reinforcing steel
1926.501(b)(5)
erection
Precast concrete
6 ft (1.8 m)
1926.501(b)(12)
runway: walkvays, and 6ft (1.8 m
1926.501(b)(7)
Aerial lifts
All situations
1926.556(b)(2)(v); personal
fall protection must satisfy
Ladders
Varies
criteria. in 1926.502
Openings for
6ft (1,8m)
1926 SubpartX
1926.501(b)(4) :
dangerous equipment
All situations
1926.501(b)(8)
Any height
1926.20(a)(1), 1926.28(a)
SECTION 3: ELECTRICAL
http://www.tfhrc.gov/////hnr20/bridge/repair/ch3/ch3.htm
7/30/2003

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2003/030217.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `e7c4f4737780430fd2bc7eaa43564acc04f59d74dc0dee9ddea748fcfc882288`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T08:38:50.647Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-03-0217`

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