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Archived News Release--Caution: information may be out of date.

OSHA Press Release: Newly Chartered Shipyard Fire Protection Negotiated Rulemaking Committee to Meet in Portland, Oregon, Oct. 15-17 [09/03/1996]

For more information call: (202) 219-8151

Fifteen representatives of shipyard operators, labor, professional associations and government agencies have been appointed to the newly chartered Fire Protection for Shipyard Employment Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee, and will meet in Portland, Ore., Oct. 15-17.

"In establishing this committee, we are responding to requests from stakeholders from all sectors of the shipyard employment industry encouraging the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to develop a fire protection standard using a consensual approach," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Joseph A. Dear.

The meetings, which are open to the public, will be held at The Port of Portland Building, 700 N.E. Multnomah, 13th floor, Room 3A, Portland, Ore., 97208. An informational meeting will begin at 9 a.m. on Oct. 15, and the organizational meeting of the committee will start at 1 p.m. and end about 5 p.m. Meetings on Oct. 16 and 17 will run from 9-5.

Issues the committee is expected to address include the scope and application of the standard, appropriate controls and work practices for protecting employees, the use of shipyard-based fire brigades and written fire plans. Other issues for consideration are advances in fire technology since OSHA's general industry fire protection standards were published, costs of fire protection and whether technical appendices are needed in a new standard.

Committee members include the following:

Labor representatives

Richard M. Duffy, director, Department of Occupational Health and Safety, International Association of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO, CLC

Ted Pederson, Seattle Fire Department Union, Metal Trades, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

Michael M.X. Buchet, United Brotherhood of Carpenters

Management Representatives

E.P. "Rick" Kaiser, South Tidewater Association of Ship Repairers, Inc.

George Broussard, American Waterways Shipyard Conference

J.D. Paulson, National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO)

Firefighters

Russ Sill, Portland Fire Bureau

Donald R. Mozick, Atlantic Marine, Inc. and Atlantic Dry Dock, Corp.

Safety Professionals

Guy Colonna, National Fire Protection Association

Glenn Harris, Ship Production Panel-5 of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers

Government

George F. Hurley, III, fire chief, Norfolk Naval Shipyard

Morgan J. Hurley, fire protection engineer, Department of Transportation, Coast Guard

Paul Jensen (Ted Pettit alternate), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Joseph V. Daddura (Frank Strasheim alternate), Occupational Safety and Health Administration

State Government

Peter Schmidt, Washington Department of Labor and Industry

Stewart Henderson and Craig Kauffman of the Department of Labor Academy will serve as facilitators for the shipyard negotiated rulemaking (Neg/Reg) sessions. They will outline for the committee the advantages for Neg/Reg and discuss working with caucuses, representing a broad constituency, participating on workgroups, ironing out technical problems and analyzing data and drafting regulatory language.

The facilitators also will introduce the initial matters for the committee to resolve such as the composition of the committee, the use of alternates, the essential commitment of the members to attend the meetings and participate meaningfully, communication with constituencies and bargaining in good faith to develop a proposed rule that all members can support. The final phase of the meeting will include interactive training sessions on interest-based negotiations and a practice session on Neg/Reg.

Current OSHA fire protection standards cover only landside operations. The rule to be developed under Neg/Reg would also address fire protection on vessels and vessel sections.

Seating at the meeting is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Individuals with disabilities wishing to attend should contact Theda Kenney at (202) 219-8061 to obtain appropriate accommodations no later than Oct. 1, 1996.

Individuals may request to address the committee; however, the facilitators will decide to what extent oral presentations will be permitted. Oral presentations will be limited to statements of fact and views and shall not include any questioning of the committee members or other participants unless these questions have been specifically approved by the facilitators.

Minutes of the meetings and materials prepared for the committee will be available for public inspection at the OSHA Docket Office, N2625, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, telephone (202) 219-7894.

Written comments should be submitted in quadruplicate to Docket S-051 at the above address.

Notice of the meeting was published in the Friday, Aug. 30, 1996, Federal Register.

Archived News Release--Caution: information may be out of date.