Hazards and Solutions

General Hazards

• Respiratory Irritation and Systemic Poisoning
• Confined Spaces
• Paint Fumes
• Eye Protection against Radiant Energy during Welding and Cutting in Shipyard Employment. OSHA Fact Sheet, (January 2012). Discusses protection from radiant energy and the requirements for workers to use personal protective equipment.
• Safety Alert: Deadly Hydrogen Sulfide and Shipyard Sewage. OSHA and the American Industrial Hygiene Association, the American Shipbuilding Association, the National Shipbuilding Research Program, and the Shipbuilders Council of America Alliance. Makes both shipyard employers and employees aware of the hazards of sewage systems on both ships and shipyard shore facilities and how to prevent accidents involving hydrogen sulfide gas.
• Pre-Intervention Quantitative Risk Factor Analysis for Ship Construction Processes. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Report No. EPHB 229-11a, (November 2000). Provides a risk factor analysis specific to rake frame subassembly, unloading angle irons, honeycomb confined space welding for double hull barges, and plate shop shear press operations.

The processes listed below include many of the major activities that occur during shipbuilding and ship repair. Each of the "process" links provides a description of the process and associated hazards.

• Dry Docking and Launching
• Fabricating and Repairing Large Structural Components
• Handling Large Materials
• Outfitting (also called "fitting out")
• Painting
• Surface Preparation and Descaling
• Tank Cleaning