Background, History, and Charter

MACOSH is a non-discretionary committee authorized by Section 7(d) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) to provide advice to the Secretary in formulating maritime industry standards and regarding matters pertaining to the administration of the OSH Act related to the maritime industry. The Committee has been in existence since 1995. It was preceded by the Shipyard Employment Standards Advisory Committee (SESAC), which advised OSHA on shipyard issues from 1988 to 1995. MACOSH is subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. 2) and its implementing regulations (41 CFR 101-6 and 102-3).

MACOSH is comprised of 15 representative members and one Special Agency Liaison (SAL), who is the Director of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP). The composition of the MACOSH shall be consistent with that mandated under the Section 7(b) of the OSH Act.

The Assistant Secretary appoints fifteen members to MACOSH, four to represent management, four to represent labor, three to represent occupational safety and health professions; and four to represent government, one of which must be from a State safety and health agencies, and one to be designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (usually from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health). The committee meets two times per calendar year for one or two days per meeting, and workgroups meet monthly via conference calls.

Information about the Federal Advisory Committee Act is found on the General Services Administration's Internet site. Information about the management of Federal Advisory Committees is found in 41 CFR Part 102-3 (PDF).