February 3, 2012
Contact: Office of Communications
Phone: 202-693-1999

OSHA will hold meeting of the Maritime Advisory Committee for
Occupational Safety and Health

WASHINGTON – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will hold a meeting of the Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (MACOSH) February 22-23, 2012, in Washington, D.C.

MACOSH advises Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels, on worker safety and health issues in the maritime industries. The February meeting agenda will include discussions on working safely around radiation; person in water (man overboard); confined space ventilation; safe entry and cleaning practices for vessel sewage tanks; best practices for eye injury reduction; hot work on hollow structures; injury and illness prevention programs; container handling equipment; semi-tractor tip-over; top/side handler operation safety; staying focused on safety while working on or around cargo handling equipment; safety zones between railcars and cargo handling equipment; and preventing chassis drivers from jostling in the cabs.

The meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20210. Work groups will meet 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, February 22, in Room S-4215. The full committee will meet 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, February 23, in Room N-3734 A-C.

MACOSH meetings are open to the public. Individuals may submit comments and requests to speak at http://www.regulations.gov, the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Submissions may also be sent by mail or facsimile. See the Federal Register notice for details. Comments and requests to speak must be submitted by February 15, 2012.

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 ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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