OSHA addresses health and safety issues related to shipbreaking

In early November, OSHA issued two directives from its headquarters in Washington, D.C. for the updating of its National Emphasis Program on Shipbreaking and its Enforcement Guidance for Personal Protective Equipment in Shipyard Employment. Inspections of shipbreaking operations will now focus on 20 worker safety and health issues that include polychlorinated biphenlys, confined spaces, heavy metals, powered industrial trucks, guarding of deck edges, oil/fuel removal and tank cleaning, hearing conservation, fire prevention, scaffolds, personal protective equipment and asbestos and lead exposure.

Asbestos has long been a health threat in the shipbuilding and shipbreaking industry. Many American naval men contracted such deadly illnesses as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining of the body’s major organs and cavities, because of asbestos exposure while working in shipyards. In fact, the Shipbreaking national emphasis program (NEP) was initiated in 2000 thanks to an agreement between OSHA, the U.S. Navy, the Maritime Administration and EPA.

The recently revised NEP directive fosters the agency goal of reducing injury and illness among Latino workers, who make-up a significant part of the shipbreaking work force. This includes exposure to toxic asbestos fibers which can be inhaled while working in shipyards and that ultimately cause the development of pleural mesothelioma in the lungs and peritoneal mesothelioma in the lining of the chest.

Additionally, the revised NEP provides clarification regarding fall protection requirements during shipbreaking operations. The newest version of the NEP is available online with links to shipyard employment safety and health information.

Source: Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Centre, Thursday, December 9th, 2010

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