{"operation":"document","citation":"11-0289","title":"CH2MHILL Plateau Remediation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2012-03-30","effective_on":null,"summary":"11-0289 response to CH2MHILL Plateau Remediation concerning 173.410.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0289.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0289.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0289","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2011/110289.pdf","body":"<<>>\n\n1200 New Jersey Avenue BE\nU.S. Department Washington. DC 20590\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration MAR 3 0 2012\nMr. Chris Backus\nPackaging engineer\nTransportation Safety\nCH2MHILL Plateau Remediation\nCompany\nP.O. Box 1600MSIN T3-ll\nRichland, W A 99354\nRef. No.: 11-0289\nDear Mr. Backus:\nThis responds to your e-mail regarding the definition 'of\"lifting attachment\" under the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-80) used to lift and properly secure\nClass 7 (radioactive) material packagings onto a conveyance. Subsequently, you provided\npictures and diagrams of the packaging. You provided a scenario as follows:\nAs your company often lifts steel boxes with a fork truck by placing the fork\narms' inside pockets on the container bottom, are the fork pockets and\nthe surrounding structural framework ofthe metal container considered\na \"lifting attachment that is a structural part ofthe package.\" \"Would it then\nfollow that all ofthese steel structural members (e.g., C-Channels, sheet metal,\nstructural tubing, etc.) must have a minimum safety factor ofthree against\nyielding when used to lift the package with the fork truck.\"\nSpecifically, you ask what is meant by \"lifting attachment\" as used in §173.41 O(b), and whether\nfork pockets and the surrounding structural framework on steel boxes would be considered to be\nlifting attachments.\nEach package used for the shipment ofClass 7 (radioactive) materials must be designed so that\nthe package can be easily handled and properly secured in or on a conveyance during\ntransportation. Section 173.41 O(b) requires that each package used for the shipment ofClass 7\n(radioactive) materials must be designed so that-\nEach lifting attachment that is a structural part ofthe package must be designed\nwith a minimum safety factor ofthree against yielding when used to lift the\npackage in the intended manner, and it must be designed so that failure of any\nlifting attachment under excessive load would not impair the ability ofthe\npackage to meet other requirements ofthis subpart. Any other structural part of\n\n<<>>\n\nthe package which could be used to lift the package must be capable ofbeing\nrendered inoperable for lifting the package during transport or must be designed\nwith strength equivalent to that required for lifting attachments.\nAs you note the boxes are often lifted by placing the arms ofa fork truck into the pockets,\nthe pockets would be considered to be lifting attachments. Other structural members that could\nnot reasonably be used to lift the package by a fork truck or other means would not be\nconsidered to be lifting attachments. Any other structural part ofthe package must be capable of\nbeing rendered inoperable for lifting the package during transport or must be designed with\nstrength equivalent to that required for lifting attachments (see §173.41O(b».\nI hope this information is helpful. Ifwe can be of further assistance, please contact us.\nSincerely,\nBen Supko\nActing Chief, Standards Development\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n\n<<>>\n\nDrakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)\nFrom: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) 11- 02S9\nSent: Monday, November 14, 2011 3:39 PM\nTo: Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)\nSubject: FW: 49 CFR 173.41 O(b) interpretation requested\nHi Carolyn,\nWe received the following request for a letter of interpretation.\nThanks,\nVictoria\nVictoria Lehman\nHazmat Information Center (HMIC)\nhttp://phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/info-center\n(202) 366-1035\nFrom: Backus, Christopher L [mailto:Christopher L Backus@RL.gov]\nSent: Wednesday, November 09, 2011 3:27 PM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nSubject: 49 CFR 173,410(b) interpretation requested\n97-0239\nCompleted by Ae via phone on 11/14/11 at 12:05 left vm\nPHMSA Office of Hazardous Materials Safety:\n49 CFR 173.410(b) states \"Each lifting attachment that is a structural part of the package\". There is some ambiguity as\nto the definition of \"lifting attachment\". We are asking if you can give a precise definition, as we often lift steel boxes\nwith a fork truck by placing the fork arms inside of fork pockets on the container bottom. Are the fork pockets and the\nsurrounding structural framework of the metal container considered a \"lifting attachment that is a structural part of the\npackage\"? Would it then follow that all of these steel structural members (e.g. C-Channels, sheet metal, structural\ntubing, etc.) must have a \"minimum safety factor of three against yielding when used to lift the package\" with the fork\ntruck?\nKind Regards,\nChris Backus\nPackaging Engineer\nTransportation Safety\nPO Box 1600 MSIN T3-11, Richland, WA 99354\nPhone:509-373-2678\nFax:509-373-4051\n1\n\n<<>>\n\nEngrum. Helen (PHMSA)\nFrom: Backus, Christopher L [ChristophecL_Backus@rl.gov]\nSent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 11 :55 AM\nTo: Engrum, Helen (PHMSA)\nSubject: Example of a Structure with openings for Forklift Tines\nAttachments: Fork Pocket Container Example.pdf\nHi Helen,\nPlease find attached a photo and sample sheet of a drawing for a container where forklift tines may be inserted beneath\nthe container and the container structure used to support the weight of the container.\nThanks,\nChris Backus\nPackaging Engineer\nTransportation Safety\nPO Box 1600 MSIN T3-11, Richland, WA 99354\nPhone:509-373-2678\nFax:509-373-4051\ne-mail: Christopher L Backus@rl.gov\n1\n\n<<>>\n\nDX2073(-E3)\n(kAsn)\nUSS (C3)\n(CO03 (SEKC)\nCh (ex3)\nCHNSID\n89\n\n<<>>\n\n\" @\n~\n~\n1263/8\"\nO/S\n~\n@] tJllj\nv\n16 1/2\" ---l ----1 20\" II---246 3/8\" O/S .. I\n243 7/1 6\" C4-C4 I .. 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