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News Release USDL: 96-406
Friday, September 27, 1996
Contact: Susan Hall Fleming, (202) 219-8151

Responding to the request of maritime employers and employees for a single person as contact, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has named Larry Liberatore as maritime facilitator.

Liberatore will facilitate all OSHA programs affecting the maritime industries and give technical assistance to agency field offices in addition to his duties as director of the Office of Maritime Safety Standards.

As maritime facilitator, Liberatore also will chair the newly formed maritime steering committee. This committee, comprised primarily of OSHA field staff, will assist with outreach efforts when the longshoring standard is published later this year and may provide mentoring for new compliance officers and develop partnerships with shipyards to aid OSHA in training its staff.

"I particularly appreciate Mr. Liberatore's willingness to take on these additional responsibilities to respond to the maritime industry's desire for a single focal point within OSHA to handle questions and concerns," Assistant Secretary Joseph A. Dear said in announcing Liberatore's appointment. Dear noted that creation of the maritime facilitator post would not result in organizational restructuring but would help ensure consistency.

Specific responsibilities of the maritime facilitator include facilitating development of agency maritime standards, interpretations, compliance directives and guidelines; inspection targeting; voluntary compliance programs; training and outreach programs; liaison with the maritime advisory committee and other organizations concerned with maritime issues; and support for the shipyard fire protection negotiated rulemaking committee.

Liberatore has served as director of OSHA's Office of Maritime Standards for the past five years. Before that he headed the Baltimore OSHA area office after holding OSHA positions in Philadelphia and Washington. Liberatore began his public service career with a three-year stint with the Maryland State OSHA program. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland.