Marine Log - December 2007 - (Page 22)

SHIPYARDSAFETY *BY KORD SPIELMAN STEELY RESOLVE: CUTTING INJURIES hipyards have always had a reputation for being dangerous places to work. Swarming with laborers, these specialized manufacturing sites offer ample opportunity to get into trouble. Constant movement of huge loads of steel, workers positioned on scaffolding to perform tasks far above the ground, the need to enter confined spaces under hazardous conditions, and yard congestion add to safety concerns. Large cranes and transport vehicles are continuously moving through the area, creating more exposure to risk. Statistics bear out the dangers. In 1994, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 31.8 injuries or illnesses per 100 workers in the shipbuilding and repair industry—almost quadruple the 8.4 rate for all private employers. By 2005, the figure for shipyards dropped to 10.9, a tremendous improvement—but still more than double the 5.2 injury rate that year for all private employers. Much of the reduction in injuries has occurred since the Shipbuilders Council of America joined the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in a formal alliance to improve shipyard safety. The Council, which credits the alliance with giving shipyards the necessary tools to promote workplace safety, reports that injuries and illnesses S have been reduced 42% since 2003. The changes are visible. In the past, hoses and electrical cords snaked throughout yards, supplies and materials were often stacked near construction to be handy when needed, and power tools were in frequent operation. As the massive structures grew into recognizable vessels, the impression was one of brawn rather than brain at work. Today, that is beginning to change, with the evolution to a safer yard being pushed along by two factors: 1) the increasing foresighted recognition by shipbuilders that protecting their talented workforce is a critical component of their success; and 2) the growing use of sophisticated technology that has streamlined production and brought justin-time organization to the shipyard. injury reduction 42% SIGNS THAT SHIPYARDS ARE TAKING SAFETY SERIOUSLY Shipyards are emphasizing safety more than ever before. With the crush of work waiting for them, they can ill afford to have employees ignore risks and take chances that may cause a disaster that will bring all operations to a halt. Their interest in safety has been helped along by federal regulations and resources, such as OSHA standards for what constitutes a Shipyard Competent Person and freely available training materials. Many shipbuilders have rigorous orientation and safety courses for new workers that go well beyond federal mandates. Their goal is to have employees know what is expected of them and understand the potential hazards. These courses are not simply cookie-cutter, general reviews of federal regulations. Instead, they are most often customized, not only to the specific yard, but to the actual job the employee will be assigned. For example, a worker who may be required to crawl into confined spaces needs to know if hazardous chemicals may be present, what the possible symptoms of environmental poisoning are related to those specific chemicals, and what precautions they should take. Increasingly, shipbuilders insist on a buddy system when workers are entering dangerous spaces, as well as full communications about the hazards present so that no one is taken by surprise. If the need is there because of a nonnative workforce, the orientation materials are provided in languages other than English. Some shipyards even require outside vendors who work on site to http://www.eagle.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Marine Log - December 2007

Marine Log - December 2007 Contents Editorial Second Thoughts Update Inside Washington Warning: Shipbuilding Over-Supply by 2011 Steely Resolve: Cutting Injuries What’s on Your Mind? Newsmakers Tech News Contracts Events InfoDirect Website Directory ML Marketplace Last Word

Marine Log - December 2007

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