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Trade News Release
Friday, July 9, 1999
MEDIA CONTACT: Frank Kane (202) 693-1999

TECHNICAL INQUIRIES: Paul Rossi (202) 693-2086

New requirements for complying with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's standards for longshoring and marine terminals go into effect this month, OSHA reminded employers today.

The final rule containing these standards was published July 25, 1997, and the majority of the provisions went into effect Jan. 21, 1998.

Effective July 16, 1999, in the section dealing with the qualifications of machinery operators and supervisory training, each immediate supervisor of a cargo handling operation of more than five persons shall satisfactorily complete a course in accident prevention. A list of recommended topics is included as a footnote in the section. [See 1918.98(b)]

The following regulations go into effect after July 26, 1999:

In the section dealing with containerized cargo operations, where a container gantry crane is being used to handle containers, the employer shall ensure that no employee is on top of a container, with certain narrow exceptions. [See 1918.85(j)(1)(i)]

In the same section, the employer shall ensure that positive container securing devices are used wherever container gantry cranes are used to hoist containers. [See 1918.85(j)(1)(ii)]

The above two regulations apply whether the containers are handled above deck or below deck.

After July 26, 1999, bulk cargo-moving vehicles shall be equipped with rollover protection of such design and construction as to prevent the possibility of the operator being crushed because of a rollover or upset. [See both 1917.43(f)(3) AND 1918.65(d)(4)]

The text of this news release is on the Internet World Wide Web at http://www.osha.gov.

Information on this news release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-693-1999.