High rates of injury and illness -- and the specialized nature of some occupations -- are getting the maritime industry special attention from OSHA. Secretary of Labor Hilda L.Solis plans to re-establish the agency's Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health, according to an agency press release.

Established in 1995, the committee is composed of approximately 15 members who are industry professionals selected to represent the interests of the maritime community. A notice is published in today's Federal Register, which may be viewed at http://s.dol.gov/CJ.

"Re-establishing MACOSH will allow the committee to proceed with its important work to advise OSHA in protecting the safety and health of workers in the maritime industry," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels. "MACOSH meetings provide the public with an opportunity to participate in committee activities on issues related to the safety and health of shipyard, long shoring and marine terminal workers."

On behalf of Secretary Solis, Michaels may seek advice from the committee on a variety of subjects, which may include rulemaking to update regulatory requirements; development of guidance and outreach materials tailored to individual sectors of the industry; and other activities to help reduce work-related deaths, injuries and illnesses. The committee may also provide advice in new areas in which OSHA chooses to pursue or expand its maritime programs to address specific needs.

Meetings of the committee are announced in the Federal Register and are open to the public. More information on the committee can be found at www.osha.gov/dts/maritime/macosh/index.html.