NVIC 03-92: Occupational health program for merchant mariners

U.S. Department Commandant (G-MTH-1) 2100 Second Street SW of Transportation United States Coast Guard Washington DC 20593-0001 (202) 267-1217 United States Coast Guard COMDTPUB B16700.4 24 Feb 1992 NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 3-92 Electronic Version for Distribution Via the World Wide Web Subj: Recommended Program for Protection of Merchant Mariners from Occupational Health Problems

Recommended Program for Protection of Merchant Mariners from Occupational Health Problems. — PURPOSE. The purpose of this Circular is to provide the marine industry with guidance for a

comprehensive health and safety program. The Coast Guard believes that companies which implement this voluntary program will significantly improve worker health and safety.

Recommended Program for Protection of Merchant Mariners from Occupational Health Problems. — BACKGROUND.

a. The Coast Guard contracted Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas (SWRI) to conduct a comprehensive study of the potential hazards to merchant mariners serving on board chemical vessels. After a thorough evaluation of these hazards, SWRI designed and implemented, on a trial basis, a Marine Occupational Safety and Health program. The program was successful and the results formed the basis forS WRI's recommendations to the Coast Guard. b. In August 1987 the Coast Guard tasked the Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC) with developing a recommended course of action for Coast Guard implemetnation of occupational health standards for merchant mariners. c. The Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee formed the Marine Occupational Safety and Health Subcommittee (MOSH) to address this issue. In January 1991, after two years of development, MOSH submitted a recommended voluntary standard to CTAC which incorporated the major elements ofS WRI's program. CTAC approved the recommendations and presented them to the Coast Guard.

Recommended Program for Protection of Merchant Mariners from Occupational Health Problems. — DISCUSSION.

a. This Circular provides technical information establishing a complete and comprehensive health and safety program or merchant mariners. This voluntary program is intended to be applied to crewmembers on board all Coast Guard inspected vessels, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 3301 et seq., exposed to occupational health hazards. It could also be applied to mariners on uninspected vessels as long as these guidelines enhance and do not conflict with mandatory requirements related to the maritime industry issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). b. This program addresses hazards found on vessels, both cargo and non-cargo, such as confined space entry, engineroom asbestos, carbon monoxide, and noise. NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 3-92 c. Several aspects of this program will require the services of a professional industrial hygienist to develop control strategies for specific hazards that the company's employees are exposed to. An industrial hygienist should be included in any company's occupational health and safety program as either an employee or consultant.

Recommended Program for Protection of Merchant Mariners from Occupational Health Problems. — IMPLEMENTATION.

a. The Coast Guard recommends that maritime companies which employ merchant mariners on board inspected vessels adopt the applicable sections of the enclosed Marine Industrial Hygiene Program for their occupational health and safety program. b. The Coast Guard wholly endorses the use of a medical monitoring program for exposures to occupational health hazards when it is possible for an effective program to be established. Effectiveness will depend upon the types of chemicals workers are exposed to and other factors. The guidelines for a medical monitoring program should be established with input from an industrial hygienist and health professionals. c. The enclosed program has several new concepts such as priority ranking of jobs and hazards. Although these concepts have not been adopted by federal or state agencies in. mandatory standards, this approach allows companies with limited resources to identify the jobs and exposures for which the greatest improvement of worker health can be achieved. Feedback from industry is encouraged during and after the implementation of this program. End: (1) Comprehensive Health and Safety Program for Merchant Mariners

(2) USCG Industrial Hygiene Workplace Monitoring Report CG-5386 (Rev. 4-85) Non-Standard Distribution: C:e New Orleans (90); Hampton Roads (50); Baltimore (45); San Francisco (40); Philadelphia, Port Arthur, Honolulu, Puget Sound (35); Miami, Houston, Mobile, Los Angles/Long Beach, Morgan City (25); Jacksonville, Portland OR (20); Boston, Portland ME, Charleston, Galveston, Anchorage (15); Cleveland (12); Louisville, Memphis,P aducah, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Savannah, San Juan, Tampa, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, Milwaukee, San Diego, Juneau, Valdez (10); Providence, Huntington, Wilmington, Corpus Christi, Toledo, Guam (5). C:m New York (70); St. Ignace (5); Sturgeon Bay (4). D:d Except Baltimore, Monterey, Moriches. D:l CG Liaison Officer MILSEALIFTCOMD (Code N-7CG), CG Liaison Officer RSPA (DHM-22), CG Liaison Officer MARAD (MAR-720.2), CG Liaison Officer JUSMAGPHIL (1). NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 3-92 NOAA Fleet Inspection Officer (1).