OSHA, National Shipbuilding Research Program Renew Alliance

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) have renewed their Alliance, originally signed on July 15, 2003, to continue providing NSRP members and others in the shipbuilding industry with important health and safety information to reduce or prevent employee exposure to shipyard hazards. Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., indicated that the success of the program over the last four years confirmed their commitment to promoting safe and healthy workplaces, and that the continued relationship would foster safer work environments for men and women in the shipbuilding industry. Through the Alliance, NSRP assisted OSHA in developing the Shipyard Employment eTool Fire Protection module, which addresses the Fire Protection in Shipyard Employment Standard. Future projects include the development of a Marine Hanging Staging (MHS) module, which will inform employers on how to design, assemble, use, and dismantle MHS in a safe manner for employees. Through OSHA's maritime industry-related Safety and Health Topics page, more than 121,000 individuals received information on the shipbuilding and maritime industries. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health.