April 12, 2013
Contact: Office of Communications
Phone: 202-693-1999

US Department of Labor re-establishes the Maritime Advisory
Committee for Occupational Safety and Health

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris today announced that he will re-establish the charter of the Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health.

The Department of Labor established MACOSH in 1995 to advise the secretary of labor, through the assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, on various issues related to safe and healthful working conditions in the maritime industry, including safety and health standards, injury and illness prevention, training and outreach initiatives, and enforcement initiatives to improve the safety and health of maritime workers.

Re-establishing MACOSH will allow the committee to continue its important work protecting the safety and health of workers in the maritime industry. Since receiving its first charter in 1995, MACOSH has made more than 100 recommendations to OSHA. The agency used these recommendations to develop guidance products and standards. MACOSH meetings are open to the public.

The Department selected the maritime industry for special attention because of its high injury and illness rates and the specialized character of maritime work. On behalf of the secretary, the assistant secretary may seek advice from the committee on a variety of subjects, which include development of guidance and outreach materials tailored to individual sectors of the maritime industry, rulemaking to update regulatory requirements, and other activities to help focus actions in the industry and reduce work-related death, injuries and illnesses. The assistant secretary also may seek advice in new areas in which OSHA chooses to pursue or expand its maritime programs and projects to address specific health and safety needs.

Please direct general inquiries about this notice to Amy Wangdahl, designated federal official for MACOSH and director, Office of Maritime and Agriculture, at 202-693-2086.

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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