OSHA Proposes Regulations on Shipyard Working Conditions

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is hosting public hearings to propose new regulations related to shipyard working conditions, according to Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, TX). OSHA, a part of the Department of Labor, exists to assure safe and healthful working environments for employees. The first of several public hearings occurred September 9, and the second hearing occurred October 21 in Seattle, WA. The advanced notice and public hearings are intended to give all interested parties the opportunity to participate with written commentary before the final adoption of any new rulings.

The existing Subpart F regulations were adopted in 1972 and adapted standards from the Long Shore Harbor Workers Compensation Act. These rules have seen only few changes since their initial inception. Dorothy Dougherty, Director of the Directorate Standards and Guidance of OSHA, said, "Shipyard employment work is one of the most hazardous occupations in the United States" because the nature of the work includes "hazardous industrial operations such as steel fabrication, welding, abrasive blasting, electrical work and operating complex machinery." She also noted complex working conditions including weather elements, working in confined spaces below deck, on scaffolds and on elevated platforms.

Proposed updates to the current OSHA policy include adding objective medical and first aid criteria for determining the required amount of first aid supplies in stock and the minimum number of first aid responders on-site. The agency also proposes instituting a lockout/tagout system, already considered successful in other general industry sectors. The lockout/tagout systems are designed to protect employees from hazardous energy during maintenance activities. Many shipyard employers already utilize such systems.

Across the U.S., ongoing projects include three shipyard expansions, one renovation and one grassroot project that total $297 million in the shipyard market sector.

www.osha.gov