Maritime Industry
These Maritime Industry pages are part of OSHA's commitment to assist those in the industry - whether worker or employer - to identify, reduce, and eliminate maritime-related hazards.
For a listing of partnerships, see Shipyards and Shipbuilding and Repair and for a listing of VPP sites, see Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP).
How do I find out about employer responsibilities and workers' rights?
Workers have a right to a safe workplace. The law requires employers to provide their employees with safe and healthful workplaces. The OSHA law also prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for exercising their rights under the law (including the right to raise a health and safety concern or report an injury). For more information see www.whistleblowers.gov or Workers' rights under the OSH Act.
OSHA can help answer questions or concerns from employers and workers. To reach your regional or area OSHA office, go to the OSHA Offices by State webpage or call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742).
Small businesses may contact OSHA's free On-site Consultation services funded by OSHA to help determine whether there are hazards at their worksites. To contact free consultation services, go to OSHA's On-site Consultation webpage or call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) and press number 4.
Workers may file a complaint to have OSHA inspect their workplace if they believe that their employer is not following OSHA standards or that there are serious hazards. Workers can file a complaint with OSHA by calling 1-800-321-OSHA (6742), online via eComplaint Form, or by printing the complaint form and mailing or faxing it to the local OSHA area office. Complaints that are signed by a worker are more likely to result in an inspection.
If you think your job is unsafe or if you have questions, contact OSHA at 1-800-321-OSHA (6742). Your contact will be kept confidential. We can help. For other valuable worker protection information, such as Workers' Rights, Employer Responsibilities, and other services OSHA offers, visit OSHA's Workers' page.
Highlights
- Shipyard Employment. OSHA eTool. Describes common hazards and possible solutions for tasks performed during the maritime industry's ship repair, shipbuilding, shipbreaking, and barge cleaning processes.
- Ship Repair Module - Hanging Staging (Marine). Assists employers design, assemble, use, and dismantle marine hanging staging in a manner that is safe for workers.
- General Working Conditions Standard. OSHA.
- Fire Protection Standard. OSHA.
- Safe Work Practices for Shipbreaking. OSHA Publication 3375, (2010).
For additional highlights, previous Hot Topics or What's New entries, see the What's New Archive.
Maritime Guidance Documents
For a listing of the Maritime-related Guidance Documents, see the OSHA Maritime Guidance Documents page.
OSHA Safety and Health Injury Prevention Sheets (SHIPS)
- Housekeeping Safety (PDF). (July 2016).
- Surface Preparation and Preservation (PDF). (March 2016).
- Control of Hazardous Energy Lockout/Tags-Plus (PDF). (April 2014).
- Shipboard Electrical (PDF). (December 2013).
- Rigging (PDF). (April 2011).
- Shipfitting (PDF). (August 2008).
- Hotwork - Welding, Cutting and Brazing (PDF)