Trade News Release
Friday, March 4, 1999
Contact: Jeff Ezell (202) 693-1899

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is holding a two-day public meeting of the Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (MACOSH) on March 30-31 in Baltimore, Md.

The 15-person committee advises OSHA on issues and concerns involving the maritime industry, focusing specifically on shipyard and marine cargo-handling areas. Committee members represent diverse maritime interests, including government, shipbuilding, ship repair, shipbreaking, longshoring, labor and professional organizations.

The meeting will include discussion of:

• OSHA's shipyard strategic planning goals
• Vertical tandem lifts in the marine cargo handling environment
• Ship scrapping initiatives and developments
• Training partnerships
• National Shipbuilding Research Panel update
• Ergonomics update
• Standards update, including discussion on the Shipyard Fire Protection Negotiated Rulemaking Committee
• MACOSH subgroup reports
• Rope walking demonstration video

Written data, views or comments for consideration by the committee may be submitted to Paul Rossi, U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA, Room N-3621, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210; phone (202) 693-2086; fax (202) 693-1663. Twenty-five copies are needed. Those submissions received prior to March 15 will be included in the record of the meetings.

Anyone wishing to make an oral presentation to the committee on any of the agenda items also should notify OSHA at the above address. The request should specify the amount of time desired, the capacity in which the person will appear and a brief outline of the presentation. If time permits, the MACOSH chairperson may grant requests to speak.

Individuals with disabilities wishing to attend should contact Theda Kenney at (202) 693-2222, no later than March 8 to obtain appropriate accommodations.

The committee will meet at the Sheraton Inner Harbor, 300 South Charles St., Baltimore, Md., 21201; telephone (410) 962-8300. The meeting will last from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 30, and from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 31.

Notice of this meeting appeared in the Federal Register on March 4, 1999.

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