WHITE PAPER

SHIPYARD RELATED EMPLOYMENT

SUBMITTED BY SHIPYARD WORKGROUP

Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (MACOSH)

DISCUSSION

“Shipyard Employment means ship repairing, shipbuilding, shipbreaking,
and related employments” (CFR 1915 Subpart A) and “Related
Employment means any employment performed as an incident to or in
conjunction with ship repairing, shipbuilding, or shipbreaking work,
including, but not restricted to, inspection, testing, and employment as
a watchman.” (CFR 1915 Subpart A). 

More challenging economic conditions and corresponding cost cutting
efforts have created a situation where more shipyard personnel are
working in jobs and trades outside their normally assigned tasks,
duties, and work site. This new work environment will require shipyard
personnel to work in more diversified areas, but still fall under the
multiple faceted processes of ship building and repair.

 

BACKGROUND

Efforts to cut costs of shipyard operations have changed dramatically
the work tasking of the shipyard employees. Very few shipyard employees
continue to do only one trade or task as in the past. Previously,
employees generally performed one task; this created an opportunity to
focus specific training for personnel, which in turn produced employees
who are well versed in their trade, understand their roles and
responsibilities in the health and safety program well, and have a good
understanding of CFR 1915 Maritime health and safety regulations.

The current challenging economic environment of job preservation, cost
reduction, and efficiency increases have led to a new multi-tasked
employee, with new tasks and responsibilities.

Changes in shipbuilding technology have created new work environments.
An example is the modular construction of ships. Modules are considered
vessel sections while in assembly buildings or on shipyard property.
Another example is the crane operator, who may be placing stores on the
ship, and a few minutes later helping a pipe fitter install steam
piping, under a pier, without moving the crane.

OSHA wishes to have a better understanding what other tasks may be
assigned to the multi-tasked employee. OSHA is also interested in what
those tasks may entail and whether or not the tasks are “shipyard
related employment”. 

The goal of this White Paper is for the Maritime Advisory Committee for
Occupational Safety and Health (MACOSH) to provide OSHA with a general
idea of what other tasks shipyard employees are now performing, in
addition to their normally assigned duties. These assessments will be of
a general nature, and will not identify any specific facility.

ONE ASSIGNED TASK-MULTI SUB-TASKS

This shipyard assigns one job to each employee. However, if there is no
work in the assignment area, or pending lay-off, or to save valued
employees, the employee may be required to perform pre-determined tasks.
The larger shipyards generally use this work environment.

ONE ASSIGNED TASK-ANY TASK

Generally the smaller shipyards hire someone for a specific task, but
they may also do other tasks as assigned. The shipyard may only have an
extremely limited number of personnel to complete a ship contract and
also maintain the shipyard facility. The tasks can be ship or facility
related. One employee may work as many as ten different tasks within one
day to complete a contract or maintain the facility. These small yards
use employees in any way the shipyard can, to avoid layoff and loss of
valued personnel. A common practice is when a vessel is ready to be
painted; most shipyard personnel will paint until task is completed;
when time to pull cable, a large percentage of employees will pull
cable. These are experienced shipyard employees with numerous skill
sets.

EXAMPLES   

Electrician Categories	Functions	Related Employment Activities

Shipboard Electrician or

Facility Maintenance Electrician	In some shipyards the facility
electrician is responsible for electrical repairs throughout the
facility and may be licensed, while a shipboard electrician may only
work shipboard. In some yards this work can be interchangeable.	Install
wiring in module a assembly building



Install wiring in a temporary shelter used to protect modules outside
assembly building



Assist crane maintenance personnel in crane repairs



Installation or repairs to electrical or wiring in office buildings. 

Insulator Categories	Functions	Related Employment Activities

Shipboard or Facility Maintenance Insulator  	A facility insulator or
lagger is responsible for installing or removing insulation throughout
the facility. In other yards this person may only work shipboard. In
some yards this work can be interchangeable.	Install insulation on steam
pipes in machine shop



Remove insulation on pipes in shipyard office building



Install wall insulation in new building being constructed on shipyard

Welder Categories	Functions	Related Employment Activities

Shipboard or Facility Maintenance Welder	Shipboard welders may have
special qualifications necessary for shipbuilding or repairs and may
also use oxygen/acetylene torches to cut/burn metal. Facility welders
may not have any special qualifications and are used as general purpose
welder/burners. In some yards this work can, and is done, by one person.
Weld steam pipes under pier



Weld exhaust systems on trucks in shipyard garage



Weld on pump foundations



Remove and repair leaking pipe from steam distribution system in boiler
room



Cutting and welding for fabrication of tooling used in ship assembly



Weld repairs to shipyard cranes. 

Sheet Metal Categories	Functions	Related Employment Activities

Shipboard or Facility Sheet Metal Worker	Shipboard sheet metal workers
skills can readily be used to fabricate items used in offices and shops
along with shipboard work. Some companies have one person perform both
functions and other yards separate these functions between facility and
shipboard work. 	Fabricate new gutters for assembly building



Install metal protection on pipes in offices in heavy foot traffic areas



Fabricate metal kick plates for industrial doors



Fabricate sheet metal tables to be used in assembly areas. 



Fabricate hoods for ventilation in production areas. 

Rigger Categories	Functions	Related Employment Activities

Shipboard or Facility Rigger	Riggers work is to prepare loads for
lifting or movement by cranes, come-a-longs, winches or other lifting
and handling devices and ensure that the move is completed safely. This
function can done shipboard, in shops or anywhere within the facility.
Rig lifts utilizing the overhead shop crane



Rig pump lift out of steam pit



Set up lift of an air conditioning unit for installation on top of an
office building in a shipyard



Unload equipment from trucks entering the shipyard

Pipefitter Categories	Functions	Related Employment Activities

Shipboard Pipe Fitter or Facility Maintenance Pipe Fitter 	A pipe fitter
can install, repair or alter piping runs for a variety of systems. This
can be done both shipboard and anywhere within the shipyard.	Install or
repair water pipes to shipyard bathrooms



Install air conditioning piping in  shipyard office building 



Hook up piping to water cooler along side a vessel

Cleaner Categories	Functions	Related Employment Activities

Shipboard Cleaner or Facility Maintenance  Cleaner	The cleaning trade
can be split between shipboard cleaners who clean ships and maintenance
cleaners who clean offices. Additionally, many facilities combine this
person into a painter/cleaner who is responsible for painting and
cleaning 	Clean engineering offices



Shovel snow in shipyard



Mow grass within shipyard



Sweep debris on piers



Clean office bathrooms



Paint walls in the machine shop



Pick up garbage throughout the facility in a dump truck or garbage truck


Machinist Categories	Functions	Related Employment Activities

Machinist, Shipboard (outside), Shop or Facility 

	A machinist’s work is split into three areas. Shipboard machinists
generally install and assemble components on board the vessel. Shop
machinists use equipment such as lathes and boring machines to fabricate
parts generally, for shipboard installation and facility machinists may
combine both areas to make and install equipment within the shipyard
Machine parts for pump repair



Repair crane machinery



Repair trucks in shipyard garage



Make special fixtures for R&D testing. 



Fabricate parts to be used on forklifts or special parts to aid in
making rigging lifts

Crane Operator Categories	Functions	Related Employment Activities

Crane Operator, Pier Side, Machine Shop, Facility	A crane operator can
be assigned to work in a specific area such as a pier side crane or may
work in many areas such as an overhead crane in a machine shop or
assembly building or operate a mobile crane within the facility. In some
shipyards this person may do the rigging for the lift and then operate
the crane during the lift	Operate the overhead crane in the machine shop
to move machined parts thorough out the shop



Operate the mobile cranes to assist in heavy lifts for facility
maintenance to lift an air conditioning unit on top of a building



Rig machinery lifts to be placed in module



Operate a crane with a cage for employees (manlift) to inspect another
large crane

Stage Builder Categories	Functions	Related Employment Activities

Stage builder, Shipboard or Facility	A stage builder may only work
shipboard building interior or exterior staging or scaffolding. In some
shipyards this person may also work anywhere within the shipyard to
build staging or scaffolding for any need. In some facilities this falls
under the carpenter job duties. In modern shipbuilding this person may
erect/dismantle the steel staging versus the traditional wood staging 
Install staging to support the installation of gutters on buildings



Erect safety rails on a facility building’s roof to prevent falls off
the building during a roof repair



Install staging in machine shop to repair overhead crane



Build addition to temporary wooden shelter

Painter Categories	Functions	Related Employment Activities

Painter, Shipboard or Facility	As stated under the cleaner function this
person commonly does both cleaning and painting. However, in some
shipyards the painting trade does not encompass both functions and the
person only paints. A painter may be assigned only shipboard painting
jobs or may be assigned to work on facility assets such as cranes or
buildings in the shipyard or could work in both areas.	Paint CEO office



Paint shipyard cranes



Sweep cuttings in machine shop



Paint exterior of shipyard buildings



Paint lines on pavement for traffic direction within the shipyard

Ship Fitter Categories	Functions	Related Employment Activities

Shipfitter	The shipfitting trade typically is involved in the
construction of the ship’s hull, tanks and internal structures. In
many shipyards this person may perform several trade functions such as
welder/burner and possibly pipefitter. 	Weld pedestals used to hold
modules



Install oxygen lines in assembly building



Installation of a new lathe within the shipyard machine shop

Electronic Technician Categories	Functions	Related Employment Activities

Electronic Technician, shipboard and shop	The electronic technician
typically does the final installation, testing or repair of electrical
components. This person may also assemble electrical components for
installation in an office like setting. 	Maintain shipyard radios



Operate shipyard communication equipment during ship testing



Fabricate computer components in a shop for shipboard installation 

Fire Watch Categories	Functions	Related Employment Activities

Fire Watch	Some facilities have dedicated fire watches in accordance
with Sub Part P regulations. A more common practice is for this function
to be combined with other trades such as painter/cleaners and the person
acts as a fire watch when needed.  	Clean warehouse



Paint drafting office



SUMMARY

Shipyard personnel are, more than ever, being asked to perform functions
and tasks outside their normal day to day assigned job, in the
encompassing ship building and repair process, to assist in job saving,
cost cutting, and increased efficiency measures, in a highly competitive
maritime market. OSHA is making a concerted effort to fully understand
what other tasks are being performed by shipyard personnel, and to
ensure their safety and health. 

Shipyard employees perform many assigned tasks which are shipyard
related. Occasionally a task may come in that is not pure shipyard work.
An example is a bridge I-beam that must be machined, and the shipyard is
the only facility capable to handle the job. Many employees will rig,
machine, weld, clean, polish, and transport the I-beam, but this is a
very small percentage of their total yearly time on a non-shipyard
project.

Employers are responsible to ensure all personnel understand, and are
trained, in all applicable OSHA regulations, when work is assigned. The
shipyard work environment and methods are constantly emerging, and
employer diligence must be engaged to provide a safe and healthful
workplace.

DRAFT – 10/30/2009

 PAGE   

 PAGE   1 

