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Profile: Ship & Boat Building and Repair
Ship Building and Repair


Office of Maritime Enforcement
Table of Contents


Industry Group 373 - Ship & Boat Building and Repair


Industry Description:

The ship building and repairing industry consists of establishments primarily engaged in building and repairing ships, barges, and lighters, whether self-propelled or towed by other craft. This industry also includes the conversion and alteration of ships and the manufacture of off-shore oil and gas well drilling and production platforms (whether or not self-propelled). [Note: Offshore rigs that are capable of transport on the water (i.e., can be floated and towed to their installation or production site) are considered to be "vessels" and, therefore, are covered by Part 1915 rules.] The boat building and repair industry consists of establishments primarily engaged in the building and repairing of craft such as fiberglass boats, motor boats, kayaks, canoes, houseboats, and dinghies.

Ship and boat building and repair activities comprise some of the most hazardous work place operations. Hazards include exposure to toxic substances, hazardous atmospheres, electrocution, falls, fires, and explosions. The SIC code for "Ship Building and Repair" is 3731. The SIC code for "Boat Building and Repair" is 3732. Shipbreaking is classified under "Water Transportation Services, Not Elsewhere Classified" {Dismantling Ships} SIC code 4499.

According to employment data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average total employment in U.S. private and public (Navy) shipyards for 2002 was 95,000. This total reflects an increase of approximately 1% from the 2001 revised average total employment for the shipbuilding and repairing industry. This is the first increase in the average total employment since 1998. The 2002 employment level in the U.S. shipbuilding and repairing industry is down 44% from the 1982 level of 171,600 employees. BLS data show the total employment for the boat building and repair industry to be 53,000 in 2002.

As of December 31, 2002, ships on order or under construction in U.S. private shipyards totaled 39 naval (1,000 light displacement tons and larger) and 16 commercial vessels (1,000 gross tons and larger). The U.S. Navy shipbuilding plan for fiscal years 2003-2008 includes the construction of 42 new ships, and represents an increase in new shipbuilding work available to the nation's industrial base when compared with Navy programs for the past several years. The FY 2003-2008 program, with an average of seven new ships per year, represents a 5% increase in the quantity of ships being procured compared to the FY 2002-2007 plan. The Navy's plan includes the construction of 13 guided missile destroyers (DDG-51/DD(X)), 8 attack submarines (SSN) and 6 amphibious transport ships (LPD).

Regarding boat building, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), in their 2003 statistical abstract, calculated total boat and water craft sales to be 1,276,800 units in 2003. This is an approximately 1% decrease from the 2002 figure of 1,289,300 units. These units include such diverse craft as jet boats, inboard and outboard motor boats, canoes, sailboats, dories, skiffs, and kayaks.

BLS Profile

Total Recordable Case Rate (Industry Group - 373)
Year Annual
1995 27.3
1996 23.5
1997 20.1
1998 20.5
1999 18.0
2000 19.9
2001 15.6
2002 14.6*
2003 11.0**
2004 12.9
graph: Total Recordable Case Rate

Lost Workday Case Rate (Industry Group - 373)
Year Annual
1995 12.9
1996 11.6
1997 9.7
1998 10.2
1999 9.1
2000 9.9
2001 7.5
2002 8.1*
2003 5.8**
2004 6.8
graph: Lost Workday Case Rate
Cases with Days Away Rate (Industry Group - 373)
Year Annual
1995 5.9
1996 5.4
1997 5.4
1998 4.7
1999 3.9
2000 4.6
2001 3.6
2002 3.4*
2003 2.9**
2004 3.4
graph: Cases with Days Away Rate
* Effective January 1, 2002, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revised its requirements for recording occupational injuries and illnesses. Due to the revised recordkeeping rule, the estimates from the 2002 survey are not comparable with those from previous years, resulting in the discontinuous graph lines

** Beginning with the 2003 reference year, the BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses began using the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Prior to 2003, the survey used the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. The substantial differences between these systems result in breaks in series for industry data.

Fatality Total for NAICS Group 33661 (2004): 9

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (National data)


National Summary by Region
NAICS 33661
Regions Establishments with 10 or more employees Establishments with 9 or fewer employees
Establishments Employees Establishments Employees
1 104 11455 478 1144
2 56 4078 210 461
3 86 25447 291 679
4 409 47609 1312 3308
5 120 19367 420 922
6 215 31795 638 1459
7 33 4741 72 182
8 6 188 65 153
9 123 10942 474 1053
10 120 7375 575 1326

N/A = Data not available

Establishment and employment counts come from Dunn & Bradstreet, March 2006.

Note: OSHA Region 8 primarily represents boat building/repair.


Inspection Summary

FY 2005
Federal OSHA Inspection Data
SIC 373
Federal Data Only I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X Total
Total Inspections
Records Inspec.

Safety
Health		 19
0

11
8		 5
1

3
2		 60
0

40
20		 38
0

22
16		 9
0

4
5		 39
0

29
10		 4
0

2
2		 0
0

0
0		 44
0

44
0		 70
0

41
29		 288
1

196
92
Inspections By Type

Unprogrammed
  Accidents
  Complaints
  Referrals
  Monitoring
  Variance
  Follow-Up
  Unprog. Related
  Other

Programmed
  Planned
  Prog. Related
  Other
12
1
7
1
0
0
3
0
0

7
7
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0

4
4
0
0
19
1
12
3
0
0
0
3
0

41
40
1
0
20
3
9
0
0
0
7
1
0

18
16
2
0
6
0
4
0
0
0
2
0
0

3
0
3
0
14
4
8
2
0
0
0
0
0

25
25
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

4
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
5
0
2
0
3
0
0
0
0

39
37
2
0
22
0
6
12
0
0
1
3
0

48
46
2
0
99
9
49
18
3
0
13
7
0

189
179
10
0
Source: IMIS Database


Top 10 Violations Cited
Standard # Cited # Insp Description
1910.134 147 69 Respiratory Protection
1910.1200 85 40 Hazard Communication
1910.305 64 38 Electrical, Wiring Methods, Comp' & Equip'
1910.107 47 15 Spray Finishing Using Flammable and Comb. Materials
1910.303 47 35 Electrical Systems Design, General Rqmts
1910.212 45 37 Machines, General Requirements
1915.73 45 32 Guarding of Deck Openings & Edges
1910.106 31 21 Flammable and Combustible Liquids
1910.215 30 27 Abrasive Wheel Machinery
1910.213 29 18 Woodworking Machinery Requirements

Source: IMIS Database - FY 2005 (Federal Only)


Some Potential Hazards and Their Sources
Hazard Source
Respiratory hazards Painting, asbestos welding, cleaning, and torch cutting, etc.
Noise Chipping, grinding, powered equipment such as air compressors, and generators
Electrical Hazards Exposure to energized electrical components in wet or damp locations
Struck-by Overhead loads on cranes, materials handling equipment
Falls Unguarded openings and edges on decks, scaffolding
Confined spaces Double-bottom tanks, wing tanks, fuel tanks, ballast tanks, and cofferdams


Average Case and Demographic Characteristics
Average cases per year, 1995-2000 8,031
Demographics of worker Sex 88.1% men
Age 33.0%% ages 35-44
26.3% ages 25-34
20.6% ages 45-54
Length of service with
employer		 30.2% More than 5 years
26.5% less than 1 year
26.1% 1-5 years
Race/ethnic origin 50.8% White non-Hispanic
12.8% Black non-Hispanic
5.1% Hispanic of any race
Characteristics of
injury/illness		 Days away from work 49.1% 1-5 days
28.8% 6-30 days
21.8% 31 or more days
Nature of
injury/illness		 43.1% sprains/strains
19.8% "all other" natures
12.2% bruises/contusions
Part of body affected 24.0% legs/knees/feet/toes
22.4% back
19.3% arms/wrists/hands/finger
11.9% head
Source of
injury/illness		 23.5% Parts/Material
21.2% Worker motion/position
15.7% All "other sources"
13.6% floors/ground surfaces
Event or exposure 20.9% overexertion
17.3% "all other" events/exposure
14.0% struck by object
Source: OSHA Office of Statistical Analysis compilation of BLS data

Note: The percentages on this table do not sum to 100%. Only the most frequently coded characteristics are listed. The "All Other" category should not be interpreted as being all inclusive of the categories not listed above.


2003 BLS Industry Data for
SIC 3730 - SHIP AND BOAT BUILDING AND REPAIRING
All Reported Cases

 4160
Nature of Illness or Injury
Sprains, Strains
Fractures
Cuts, Punctures
Bruises
Heat Burns
Chemical Burns
Amputations
Carpal Tunnel
Tendonitis
Mult Trauma Total
Mult Trauma With Fracture
Mult Trauma With Sprain
Back Pain Total
Back Pain Hurt Back Only
All Other

 Number
2000
300
250
440
30
20
20
120
30
120
20
40
150
70
690
 % Total
48.1
7.2
6.0
10.6
0.7
0.5
0.5
2.9
0.7
2.9
0.5
1.0
3.6
1.7
16.6
Part of Body Affected
Head Total
Eyes
Neck
Trunk Total
Trunk Back
Trunk Shoulder
Upper Extremities Total
Upper Extremities Finger
Upper Extremities Hand
Upper Extremities Wrist
Lower Extremities Total
Lower Extremities Knee
Lower Extremities Foot Toe
Body Systems
Multiple Body Parts
All Other Body Parts

 Number
380
250
150
1460
900
240
730
160
90
220
1100
630
190
60
270
N/A
 % Total
9.1
6.0
3.6
35.1
21.6
5.8
17.5
3.8
2.2
5.3
26.4
15.1
4.6
1.4
6.5
N/A
Source of Injury or Illness
Chem And Chem Products
Containers
Furniture And Fixtures
Machinery
Parts And Materials
Worker Motion
Floors Walkways
Handtools
Vehicle
Health Care Patient
All Other Sources

 Number
30
290
110
220
880
890
660
340
200
N/A
540
 % Total
0.7
7.0
2.6
5.3
21.2
21.4
15.9
8.2
4.8
N/A
13.0
Sex
Men
Women
Sex Not Reported

 Number
3780
380
N/A
 % Total
90.9
9.1
N/A
Age
Under 14
14 to 15
16 to 19
20 to 24
25 to 34
35 to 44
45 to 54
55 to 64
65 And Over
Not Reported

 Number
N/A
N/A
20
280
850
1130
1180
610
40
60
 % Total
N/A
N/A
0.5
6.7
20.4
27.2
28.4
14.7
1.0
1.4
Race
White Non Hispanic
Black
Asian
American Indian or Alaskan Native
Hispanic or Latino and Others
Multirace
Race Not Reported

 Number
1910
480
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1310
 % Total
45.9
11.5
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
31.5
Length of Service
Less Than 3 Months
3 to 11 Months
1 to 5 years
More Than 5 Years
Service Not Reported

 Number
420
690
1350
1620
80
 % Total
10.1
16.6
32.5
38.9
1.9
Days away from work
1 Day
2 Days
3 to 5 Days
6 to 10 Days
11 to 20 Days
21 to 30 Days
31 Days Or More
Median Days Away

 Number
510
410
610
390
600
330
1310
13
 % Total
12.3
9.9
14.7
9.4
14.4
77.9
31.5
N/A
Event/Exposure Leading to Injury
Total Contact With Objects
Struck By Object
Struck Against Object
Caught In Object
Fall to Lower Level
Fall On Same Level
Slips Or Trips
Overexertion Total
Overexertion In Lifting
Repetitive Motion
Exposure to Harmful Substance
Transportation Accidents
Fires And Explosions
Total Assaults - Violent Acts
Assaults By Person
All Other Assaults
All Other Events

Number
1320
570
500
90
280
320
180
1020
460
220
240
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
550
 % Total
31.7
13.7
12.0
2.2
6.7
7.7
4.3
24.5
11.1
5.3
5.8
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
13.2

Photo Credits

1)     Ship under construction - OSHA Region IX

2)     Man cleaning tank on ship - OSHA Region IX

3)     Man grinding deck of ship - OSHA Region IX

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