Washington — OSHA has revoked its standard on open fires in marine terminals.
In a final rule published April 28, OSHA says that when it initially promulgated the Marine Terminals Standards in 1983, “affected employees made open fires in drums or similar containers to stay warm when they were exposed to the elements.”
The agency points out that this practice is no longer typical and believes that it’s “not likely to become prevalent again in the absence of OSHA’s prohibition.”
Further, the agency adds that workers in the industry aren’t exposed to the elements as they were in the past and have access to new innovations such as heated jackets, which weren’t available 40-plus years ago.
“OSHA also has no records of any citations for a violation of this standard (OSHA’s accessible records extend back to 2012, and OSHA did not receive any public comment or evidence suggesting earlier citations),” states the final rule, which went into effect immediately.
In addition, OSHA on April 17 revoked its standard on house falls in marine terminals, citing changes in how the industry moves cargo.
