OSHA 10 Maritime cheat sheet

OSH Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 651 et seq.) authorizes OSHA to set and enforce workplace safety standards; the agency sits within the U.S. Department of Labor and is led by an Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.

OSHA jurisdiction over maritime workplaces is split: 29 CFR 1915 covers shipyard employment, 29 CFR 1917 covers marine terminals, and 29 CFR 1918 covers longshoring. General industry (29 CFR 1910) and construction (29 CFR 1926) parts apply where a hazard is not addressed by the maritime parts.

Section 4(b)(1) of the OSH Act limits OSHA authority where another federal agency exercises statutory authority over working conditions; the U.S. Coast Guard regulates vessel design, operation, and manning under 46 U.S.C., while OSHA covers the shoreside and shipyard/terminal workforce.

Section 5(a)(1), the General Duty Clause, requires employers to furnish a workplace free of recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm when no specific standard applies; proving a violation requires a recognized hazard, feasible means of abatement, and employee exposure.

Employer recordkeeping: OSHA Forms 300 (log), 301 (incident report), and 300A (annual summary) are required for establishments with more than 10 employees in covered industries; the 300A must be posted February 1 through April 30.

Recording criteria: a case is recordable if it results in death, days away from work, restricted work or transfer, medical treatment beyond first aid, loss of consciousness, or a significant injury/illness diagnosed by a physician or licensed health care professional.

Fatality reporting: employers must report to OSHA within 8 hours any work-related fatality, and within 24 hours any in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye.

Inspection priorities in order: imminent danger, fatalities/catastrophes, employee complaints, programmed inspections (targeted industries), and follow-up inspections. Compliance officers may not be denied entry without a warrant, but employers can require one.

Employee rights under Section 11(c): workers may file complaints and participate in inspections free of retaliation; complaints must generally be filed within 30 days of the alleged retaliation. State-plan states must have standards at least as effective as federal OSHA.

Confined space entry in shipyards (29 CFR 1915 Subpart B): testing for oxygen, flammables, and toxics is required before entry; oxygen must be between 19.5% and 23.5% by volume, and entry requires a permit, attendant, and atmospheric monitoring.

Fall protection: shipyard employment requires fall protection at 5 feet or more above a lower level (29 CFR 1915.159-161) using guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems; scaffolds must be erected and inspected per 1915 Subpart E.

Ladders and stairways (29 CFR 1915 Subpart E): portable ladders must extend at least 36 inches above the landing, be secured, and be inspected before use; damaged ladders are removed from service.

Hazardous energy control (lockout/tagout) in shipyards follows 29 CFR 1915.89; energy-isolating devices must be locked and tagged by each authorized employee, and machinery must be verified de-energized before work begins.

Cranes in shipyards (29 CFR 1915 Subpart G): load ratings must be posted, rigging inspected before each lift, and employees kept clear of suspended loads; crane operators must be qualified and signalpersons designated.

Marine terminal cargo handling (29 CFR 1917): rail-mounted and container cranes require annual inspection and certification; employees are prohibited from riding on loads or standing under suspended containers, and traffic lanes must be marked.

Longshoring (29 CFR 1918): gangways must be at least 20 inches wide with stanchions and lifelines; cargo handling gear must be inspected before each use, and employees must not be permitted in holds during dumping or loading of bulk cargo that could shift.

Hazard communication in maritime settings (29 CFR 1910.1200): employers must maintain a written program, safety data sheets (SDS), and labels for hazardous chemicals; maritime-specific rules also address painting, solvents, and coatings in 1915 Subpart D.

Personal protective equipment: 29 CFR 1915 Subpart I requires eye, face, head, foot, and hand protection based on hazard assessment; respiratory protection requires fit testing, medical evaluation, and a written program under 29 CFR 1910.134.

Welding and cutting in shipyards (29 CFR 1915 Subpart D): hot work requires a permit, fire watch, and removal or protection of combustibles; cylinders must be secured upright and separated from fuel gas by 20 feet or a fire-rated barrier.

Confined space entry in shipyards (29 CFR 1915 Subpart B): testing for oxygen, flammables, and toxics is required before entry; oxygen must be between 19.5% and 23.5% by volume, and entry requires a permit, attendant, and atmospheric monitoring.

Fall protection: shipyard employment requires fall protection at 5 feet or more above a lower level (29 CFR 1915.159-161) using guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems; scaffolds must be erected and inspected per 1915 Subpart E.

Ladders and stairways (29 CFR 1915 Subpart E): portable ladders must extend at least 36 inches above the landing, be secured, and be inspected before use; damaged ladders are removed from service.

Hazardous energy control (lockout/tagout) in shipyards follows 29 CFR 1915.89; energy-isolating devices must be locked and tagged by each authorized employee, and machinery must be verified de-energized before work begins.

Cranes in shipyards (29 CFR 1915 Subpart G): load ratings must be posted, rigging inspected before each lift, and employees kept clear of suspended loads; crane operators must be qualified and signalpersons designated.

Marine terminal cargo handling (29 CFR 1917): rail-mounted and container cranes require annual inspection and certification; employees are prohibited from riding on loads or standing under suspended containers, and traffic lanes must be marked.

Longshoring (29 CFR 1918): gangways must be at least 20 inches wide with stanchions and lifelines; cargo handling gear must be inspected before each use, and employees must not be permitted in holds during dumping or loading of bulk cargo that could shift.

Hazard communication in maritime settings (29 CFR 1910.1200): employers must maintain a written program, safety data sheets (SDS), and labels for hazardous chemicals; maritime-specific rules also address painting, solvents, and coatings in 1915 Subpart D.

Personal protective equipment: 29 CFR 1915 Subpart I requires eye, face, head, foot, and hand protection based on hazard assessment; respiratory protection requires fit testing, medical evaluation, and a written program under 29 CFR 1910.134.

Welding and cutting in shipyards (29 CFR 1915 Subpart D): hot work requires a permit, fire watch, and removal or protection of combustibles; cylinders must be secured upright and separated from fuel gas by 20 feet or a fire-rated barrier.

Confined space entry in shipyards (29 CFR 1915 Subpart B): testing for oxygen, flammables, and toxics is required before entry; oxygen must be between 19.5% and 23.5% by volume, and entry requires a permit, attendant, and atmospheric monitoring.

Fall protection: shipyard employment requires fall protection at 5 feet or more above a lower level (29 CFR 1915.159-161) using guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems; scaffolds must be erected and inspected per 1915 Subpart E.

Ladders and stairways (29 CFR 1915 Subpart E): portable ladders must extend at least 36 inches above the landing, be secured, and be inspected before use; damaged ladders are removed from service.

Hazardous energy control (lockout/tagout) in shipyards follows 29 CFR 1915.89; energy-isolating devices must be locked and tagged by each authorized employee, and machinery must be verified de-energized before work begins.

Cranes in shipyards (29 CFR 1915 Subpart G): load ratings must be posted, rigging inspected before each lift, and employees kept clear of suspended loads; crane operators must be qualified and signalpersons designated.

Marine terminal cargo handling (29 CFR 1917): rail-mounted and container cranes require annual inspection and certification; employees are prohibited from riding on loads or standing under suspended containers, and traffic lanes must be marked.

Longshoring (29 CFR 1918): gangways must be at least 20 inches wide with stanchions and lifelines; cargo handling gear must be inspected before each use, and employees must not be permitted in holds during dumping or loading of bulk cargo that could shift.

Hazard communication in maritime settings (29 CFR 1910.1200): employers must maintain a written program, safety data sheets (SDS), and labels for hazardous chemicals; maritime-specific rules also address painting, solvents, and coatings in 1915 Subpart D.

Personal protective equipment: 29 CFR 1915 Subpart I requires eye, face, head, foot, and hand protection based on hazard assessment; respiratory protection requires fit testing, medical evaluation, and a written program under 29 CFR 1910.134.

Welding and cutting in shipyards (29 CFR 1915 Subpart D): hot work requires a permit, fire watch, and removal or protection of combustibles; cylinders must be secured upright and separated from fuel gas by 20 feet or a fire-rated barrier.