OSH Circular

ISO containers must be marked in a manner which conforms to ISO Standard 6346. That Standard requires containers to be marked with a two digit “Size” code and a two digit “Type” code. Understanding what those codes actually mean allows us to conduct our work effectively and safely. Perhaps more importantly, when ship planners and …

As waterfront workers and employers prepare for the Summer of 2024, it’s important to anticipate and take account of the inevitable hot temperatures and the accompanying high humidity levels that will occur. Accordingly, the ILA-USMX Joint Safety Committee would like to pass on the following advice and would urge both workers and employers to implement …

Cellphone Use at Work As a practical matter, the ILA~USMX Joint Safety Committee (JSC) has no real opinion about the general use of cellphones at work. Unless, of course, the person using the cellphone happens to be actively operating any type of vehicle. That’s where the JSC is obliged to draw the line. The JSC …

When The Floor Fails…. Where Will You Be? While container floor failures may not be an everyday occurrence at your terminal, the fact of the matter is that; for a number of reasons, they do occur. The ILA~USMX Joint Safety Committee urges its labor and management constituents to always be aware of their individual, constantly …

Crushed-By-Container Accidents Looking over the global marine cargo handling industry accident experience over the last several months, we take notice that no fewer than three fatal accidents have occurred wherein longshore/marine terminal workers were crushed to death by an intermodal container……… That’s a pretty startling statistic, and one that anyone reading this OSH Circular would …

Avoiding the “Failure to Communicate!” In marine cargo handling operations, the ability to effectively communicate your actions and intentions can literally make the difference between life and death. The relationship between any shore-based or shipboard crane and the signalperson deployed to be the eyes and ears of the load mover cannot be overstated. OSHA requires …

Vessels’ Means of Access/Egress With vessels’ accommodation ladders [gangways] growing in their length in direct proportion to the container carrying capacity of many ships calling at our ports, it’s extremely important to ensure that these means of access/egress are well designed and deployed. Here are some established rules meant to safeguard longshore workers who are …

As the Summer months approach, the ILA~USMX Joint Safety Committee (JSC) publishes its annual heat stress reminder to our labor and management constituents and reminds all our colleagues that the most effective ways to combat excessive workplace heat remain: Got an OSH-related question? Write to the JSC at: [email protected] Working Together For The Benefit Of …

The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June through November, and each year the ILA~USMX Joint Safety Committee is persistent in reminding our labor and management constituents about the importance of being informed and prepared to handle the necessities that may arise as a consequence. This year is no exception ….. The United States Coast Guard, …

The ILA~USMX Joint Safety Committee (JSC) would like to take the time to remind all in-house and outside drivers of all vehicles operating at our marine terminals, that distracted driving can easily get to be a life-threatening activity. In our industry-specific global research, and in our considerable interactions with occupational safety practitioners who are deeply …

The ILA~USMX Joint Safety Committee (JSC) would like to take the time to remind all in-house and outside drivers using yard stack service lanes to stay back at least one full container length when lining up for the receipt or delivery of containers. In our global research, the JSC has found that stacking errors (overlaps) …

OSHA’s current standards addressing this subject look like this: 29 CFR 1918.93(a) Purpose and scope. This section covers areas in which the employer knows, or has reason to believe, that a hazardous atmosphere or substance may exist, except where one or more of the following sections apply: 1918.94(a), Carbon monoxide; § 1918.94(b), Fumigated grains; 1918.94(c), …