# Seaboard Marine, LTD — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 07-0137
- **title:** Seaboard Marine, LTD — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2007-09-27
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 07-0137 response to Seaboard Marine, LTD concerning 171.8.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-07-0137.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-07-0137.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-07-0137
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2007/070137.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

of Transportation
U.S. Department
Washington, D.C. 20590
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Materials Safety
Pipeline and Hazardous
Administration
SEP 27 2007
Seaboard Marine, LTD
Mr. John P. Plasencia
Ref. No.: 07-0137
8001 NW 79 Avenue
Miami, FL 33166
Dear Mr. Plasencia:
This is in response to your letter dated July 3, 2007 concerning the definition of hazmat
employee under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180).
Specifically, you ask if employees who maintain and repair freight containers, reefer
containers, flat racks, and chassis that are owned and/or leased by your ocean carrier company
meet the definition of a hazmat employee under the HMR. You state that the employees in
question do not load, unload, classify, mark, label, placard, transport or accept hazardous
fabricates, inspects, marks, maintains, reconditions, repairs, or tests a package, container or
A hazmat employee, as defined in § 171.8, includes a person who designs, manufactures,
packaging component that is represented, marked, certified, or sold as qualified for use in
transporting hazardous material in commerce. Based on the information you provided, the
employees in question do not meet the definition of a hazmat employee unless the equipment
that these employees maintain and repair includes packages, containers, or packaging
components that are represented, marked, certified, or sold as qualified for use in transporting
hazardous material in commerce.
I hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
hmA. Gale.
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
171.8
070137

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Drakeford, Carolyn <PHIMSA>
Sent:
From:
INFOCNTR < PHMSA>
To:
Tuesday, July 03, 2007 3:47 PM
Eichenlaub
Subject:
Drakeford, Carolyn <PHMSA>
FW: Information Center Comments/Questions
$171.8
Definitions
See below this man wants a written letter
of
interp.
7/3 RB
07-0137
From: john_plasencia@seaboardmarine.com [mailto: john_plasencia@seaboardmarine.com]
-----Original Message-----
To: INFOCNTR < PHMSA>
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2007 2:46 PM
Subject: Information Center Comments/Questions
Completed by phone 7/3/07 3:18pm - CL (left
vm)
Below is the result of your feedback form.
(john_plasencia@seaboardmarine.com) on Tuesday, July 3,
It was submitted by
2007 at 14:46:16.
PLASENCIA
Email: john_plasencia@seaboardmarine.com
Name:
JOHN P. PLASENCIA
Category: General Information, Regulations, and Definitions (Sections 171.1 - 171.21)
Organization: SEABOARD MARINE, LTD.
Street: 8001 NW 79 AVE
City: MIAMI
State: Florida
Zip Code: 33166
Phone:
305-370-5110
Fax:
305-579-9162
Comments: Subject: Definition
of "hazmat employee"
fleet
Scenario: We are an ocean carrier with a fleet of owned and/or operated vessels, and a
containers, reefer containers, flat racks, and chassis (no tanks at all though).
of
drivers
(contracted
owner/operators). We
also own and/or lease freight
Question: May the following employees be considered as
empioyees do not load, unload, classify, mark, label, placard, transport or accept
"hazmat employees"? (Note: these
hazmat) :
containers)
- vehicle mechanic (i.e. works on the vehicles that transport chassis' and freight
- reefer container maintenance & repair mechanic
- freight container maintenance & repair mechanic
- freight container sweepers (i.e. sweeps out returning empty freight containers)
- chassis maintenance & repair mechanic
under the topic of "HAZCOM")
(Note: In general, the aforementioned employees are instructed by our Safety (OSHA)
I respectfully request your interpretation on the subject matter. Thank you in advance.
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