US Department of Labor, Shipbuilders Council of America alliance seeks to promote safe, healthful workplaces in Mid-Atlantic shipyard industry

PHILADELPHIA - The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Shipbuilders Council of America and its associate members have signed a two-year alliance to protect shipbuilding workers in the Mid-Atlantic region from workplace safety and health hazards.

The alliance will:

• Provide information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
• Develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards and share with shipyard industry employers and workers.
• Promote and encourage the use of OSHA's On-site Consultation Program and the PA OSHA Consultation Program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

'Our alliance with the Shipbuilders Council of America allows a collaborative sharing of safety and health information with workers in the shipbuilding industry, particularly those most vulnerable to workplace hazards,' said OSHA Regional Administrator Michael Rivera in Philadelphia.

Based in Washington, D.C., the Shipbuilders Council of America is the national trade association representing the U.S. shipyard industry. Its members include shipbuilders, ship repairers and the associated supplier base.

OSHA's Alliance Program works with groups committed to worker safety and health to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses. These groups include unions, consulates, trade or professional organizations, businesses, faith- and community-based organizations, and educational institutions. OSHA and the groups work together to develop compliance assistance tools and resources, share information with workers and employers, and educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities.

Shipbuilding and ship repair includes constructing, assembling, installing, cleaning, painting, outfitting, and testing. Hazards include exposure to toxic substances, hazardous atmospheres, electrocution, falls, fires, and explosions. Employers can eliminate or minimize these hazards by using an effective safety and health program.

Learn more about shipbuilding.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to help ensure these conditions for America's workers by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance.

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