OSHA Withdraws Proposed Maritime Rules

OSHA withdrew four proposed safety standards for shipyard employment safety standards, including scaffolds, welding, cutting and heating, access and egress and fall protection. The agency intends to devote its resources to higher priority shipyard standards. The proposed shipyard rules were originally published on November 29, 1988, to update and consolidate coverage of various shipyard hazards into one standard. OSHA received only a few comments in response to each proposal, which provided insufficient information on which to proceed. Further, newer technologies have been developed over the past 14 years and would need to be incorporated before final rules could be issued. The specific proposed rules being withdrawn are: scaffolds in shipyard employment; welding, cutting and heating in shipyard employment; access and egress in shipyards; and fall protection for shipyard employment.