Comprehensive Guide to Maritime OSHA Standards and Regulations for Business Safety Compliance Managers

Introduction to Maritime OSHA Compliance and Industry Scope

Safety managers operating in shipyards, on docks, and at marine terminals face a unique mix of maritime OSHA standards and regulations. OSHA organizes the maritime scope across three parts: osha 29 cfr 1915 (Shipyard Employment), 29 CFR 1917 (Marine Terminals), and 29 CFR 1918 (Longshoring). General Industry provisions (e.g., PPE, electrical, hazard communication) are incorporated or referenced where applicable, so cross-part alignment is essential.

Jurisdiction matters. OSHA generally covers shore-side and shipyard employment, including contractors working on vessels in shipyards or at the dock. The U.S. Coast Guard typically exercises authority over seamen aboard inspected vessels underway, which can limit OSHA’s reach; however, OSHA requirements still apply where Coast Guard standards do not preempt them, and for longshore and terminal operations.

At a glance, the industry scope breaks down as follows:

Shipyard Employment (1915): Shipbuilding, repair, and breaking in yards, dry docks, and aboard vessels under repair. Core controls include hot work permits, ventilation for confined/enclosed spaces and tanks, atmospheric testing, fall protection around dry docks, LOTO for machinery, and controls for lead, asbestos, and noise.
Marine Terminals (1917): Shore-side cargo transfer and storage. Marine terminal safety guidelines emphasize powered industrial truck operations, crane and derrick operations, container handling, traffic management, illumination, walking-working surfaces, emergency access, and signage.
Longshoring (1918): Cargo handling aboard vessels at berth. Longshoring safety requirements address safe hatch coverings, ro-ro ramp protection, lashing and unlashing procedures, sling and gear inspections, communication/signaling, and safeguarding around winches and conveyors.

For shipyard employment compliance and terminal/longshore operations, set priorities around:

Hazard identification: tank entries, hot work zones, line-of-fire around cranes, and intermodal traffic pinch points.
Training and authorization: confined space attendants, signalpersons, forklift operators, and riggers.
Documentation: SDS management, hot work permits, confined space entry logs, crane/gear inspections, and contractor coordination plans.

To streamline maritime industry OSHA training and documentation, National Safety Compliance offers industry-specific courses for Parts 1915, 1917, and 1918, topic-based modules (confined spaces, fall protection, forklift safety), OSHA publications, and SDS binders—plus an All Access Pass for ongoing updates as regulations evolve.

Understanding the Jurisdictional Reach of OSHA in Maritime Operations

For maritime compliance managers, the key question is where OSHA’s authority starts and stops. Maritime OSHA standards and regulations primarily govern shore‑based shipyard, marine terminal, and longshoring operations. Jurisdiction can shift, however, when work moves onto inspected vessels or offshore facilities.

Shipyard employment (osha 29 cfr 1915): Shipbuilding, repair, and breaking in yards or drydocks. Controls hot work, confined/enclosed spaces, scaffolds, and PPE. Example: test and certify tanks before welding (1915.12); provide ventilation and fire watches during cutting and heating.

Marine terminals (29 CFR 1917): Cargo handling on piers/wharves. Addresses cranes, container handling, powered industrial trucks, and traffic control. Example: meet forklift requirements (1917.43) and intermodal container rules (1917.71); protect pedestrians in roll-on/roll-off areas.

Longshoring (29 CFR 1918): Cargo operations aboard vessels affecting shore-based workers. Requires safe access (gangways), guarding open hatches, and safe stowage/lashing. Example: use certified hoisting gear and fall protection during container lashing on deck.

U.S. Coast Guard regulations preempt OSHA where the Coast Guard has exercised authority over seamen’s working conditions on inspected vessels (OSH Act section 4(b)(1)). OSHA still covers shore‑side employees and hazards not addressed by the Coast Guard. Examples: an unsafe terminal‑provided gangway, defective pier‑side lifting gear, or longshore injuries on a vessel deck during cargo work fall under 1917 or 1918.

Offshore, BSEE and the Coast Guard regulate most OCS operations; OSHA may act only in regulatory gaps. In State Plan States, the state agency enforces shore‑based maritime standards. Where Parts 1915/1917/1918 are silent, applicable 29 CFR 1910 rules (e.g., hazard communication, lockout/tagout, electrical) fill gaps. Treat piers and shipyards as multi‑employer worksites.

To align training and procedures with these boundaries, equip teams by operation type. National Safety Compliance offers maritime industry OSHA training mapped to shipyard employment compliance, marine terminal safety guidelines, and longshoring safety requirements—plus labor law posters and SDS binders—to help apply the right standard every time.

Key Regulations for Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915)

OSHA 29 CFR 1915 is the core of maritime OSHA standards and regulations for shipbuilding, ship repair, and shipbreaking. For shipyard employment compliance, focus on hazards unique to vessels and dry docks, while coordinating with marine terminal safety guidelines (29 CFR 1917) and longshoring safety requirements (29 CFR 1918) if your operations span multiple waterfront activities.

Confined and enclosed spaces are a top risk. Before entry or hot work, a shipyard competent person must test atmospheres and post results; in certain circumstances, a Marine Chemist certificate is required (for example, hot work on or in spaces that contained flammable liquids or gases). Maintain oxygen between safe limits, keep flammables below the LEL, ventilate continuously, and have rescue capability on standby.

Hot work and fire protection requirements are stringent. Implement a written fire safety plan, control ignition sources, and assign trained fire watches with proper extinguishers; fire watches typically remain for at least 30 minutes after hot work ends and conduct a final check. Address hazards from fixed extinguishing systems on vessels (e.g., CO2 discharges) and ensure personnel are trained on alarms, isolation, and re-entry.

Control of hazardous energy is shipyard-specific. The lockout/tags-plus system requires de-energization, verification, a durable tag, and an added positive means of control (such as a lock, blank, or pin) for shipboard systems. Ensure shift-change communication and testing before restoring energy.

Working surfaces and access demand attention: guard deck openings and edges, provide safe gangways with rails and nets, secure ladders and scaffolds, and furnish lifesaving equipment when working over or near water. Maintain housekeeping, lighting, sanitation, and first aid consistent with 1915 general working condition rules.

Exposure controls are critical during welding, cutting, blasting, and coating. Provide local exhaust ventilation, monitor for metals (e.g., lead, cadmium), manage isocyanate-containing coatings, and implement respiratory protection where needed. Maintain up-to-date SDS access and labeling under Hazard Communication.

Practical steps:

Inventory all confined/enclosed spaces and designate a competent person.
Standardize hot work permits and fire watch logs.
Formalize tags-plus procedures for shipboard energy sources.
Inspect scaffolds, gangways, and fall/drowning protection daily.
Monitor air contaminants and document ventilation and PPE.

To operationalize maritime industry OSHA training aligned with OSHA 29 CFR 1915, National Safety Compliance offers topic-specific programs (Confined Space, Hot Work/Fire Watch, Lockout/Tags-Plus, PPE, Hazard Communication), plus SDS binders/centers and motivational safety posters. Their All Access Pass helps safety managers keep teams current as requirements evolve across shipyard, terminal, and longshoring activities.

Safety Standards for Marine Terminals and Longshoring Operations

Marine cargo handling falls primarily under 29 CFR 1917 (Marine Terminals) and 29 CFR 1918 (Longshoring), with overlap from Coast Guard rules aboard vessels. Understanding how these maritime OSHA standards and regulations align—and where shipyard employment rules in 29 CFR 1915 apply during repair or hot work—is essential for a seamless compliance program. Use recognized marine terminal safety guidelines to bridge operational realities with formal requirements.

Control exposure at edges and during transfers. Provide guarded gangways with safe access to vessels, use safety netting where there’s a gap between ship and dock, and ensure ladders are secure and inspected. Maintain clear, illuminated walkways free of tripping hazards. Where employees work near water, supply U.S. Coast Guard–approved personal flotation devices and life rings with retrieval lines positioned for quick deployment.

Cargo handling equipment must meet inspection and operation requirements. Perform and document pre-shift crane and hoisting gear checks; verify load charts, limit switches, and wire rope condition. Establish dedicated signal persons and standard hand or radio signals, and maintain exclusion zones under suspended loads. For intermodal containers, verify spreader twist-lock engagement and manage lashing/unlashing from designed platforms or with fall restraint. On roll-on/roll-off ramps, control vehicle speeds, chock wheels, and verify ramp securement. For powered industrial trucks, enforce operator training and evaluation, seat belt use, speed limits, and marked pedestrian-vehicle traffic flows.

Training and documentation focus areas include:

Maritime industry OSHA training aligned to longshoring safety requirements and terminal tasks
Hazard Communication with current SDS access and labeling
PPE selection and use, including fall protection and hearing conservation
Emergency action, man-overboard response, and first aid/eyewash placement
Lockout/tagout for shore-based equipment and energized shore power
Powered industrial truck operator qualification and refresher training
Inspection records for slings, shackles, spreaders, and cargo gear

Address atmospheric and confined space hazards before entry into holds, intermodal tanks, or refrigerated compartments. Test, ventilate, and coordinate with the vessel representative. When repair, maintenance, or hot work is performed aboard, follow shipyard employment compliance under OSHA 29 CFR 1915, including permits and fire watch.

To operationalize these controls, safety managers can leverage National Safety Compliance resources—topic-specific courses (e.g., fall protection, forklift safety, hazard communication), OSHA publications, SDS binders and centers, motivational safety posters, and an All Access Pass that streamlines training and documentation across terminal and longshoring operations.

Essential Requirements for Commercial Diving and Gear Certification

Commercial diving in U.S. waters is governed primarily by OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Subpart T. Because many projects occur alongside ship repair, marine terminal, or cargo operations, your program must also align with broader maritime OSHA standards and regulations, including osha 29 cfr 1915 (shipyard), 29 CFR 1917 (marine terminals), and 29 CFR 1918 (longshoring). This prevents gaps between dive team practices and topside activities controlled by shipyard employment compliance, marine terminal safety guidelines, and longshoring safety requirements.

Maritime OSHA Standards and Regulations for Business Safety Compliance Managers

Core program elements for employers include:

Planning and supervision: A designated dive supervisor, pre-dive hazard assessment, written dive plan, and real-time depth/time monitoring (1910.421–.423).
Medical fitness and training: Initial and periodic medical exams, diver qualifications matched to the operation (SCUBA vs surface-supplied vs mixed-gas), CPR/O2 provider training, and drills.
Emergency readiness: Onsite oxygen, first aid, communications, and a recompression strategy; a chamber at the dive location when required.

Equipment and “gear certification” expectations focus on fitness for service, documented inspections, and compliance with manufacturer specs and applicable standards:

Breathing gas systems: Compressors delivering CGA Grade D air with CO monitoring and filtration; air purity testing at defined intervals. Cylinders hydrostatically tested per DOT, with current markings.
Life-support and PPE: Serviceable helmets/full-face masks, bailout bottles sized for safe ascent, harness with lifting attachment, weights with quick release, cutting tool, and exposure protection appropriate to conditions.
Umbilicals and hoses: Pressure-rated, maintained, and logged; hard-wire or through-water voice communications verified before each dive; two-way communications required for surface-supplied operations.
Pre-/post-dive checks: Function tests and recorded inspections for regulators, valves, gauges, and emergency systems.

Chamber requirements:

Surface-supplied air dives deeper than 100 fsw or with planned decompression require a chamber at the dive location (1910.425).
Mixed-gas diving requires a chamber at the dive location regardless of depth (1910.426).

Control special hazards by integrating adjacent standards:

Energy isolation of pumps, intakes, and valves (lockout/tagout) before hull or penstock work; coordinate with shipyard and terminal operations to control vessel traffic and crane loads over divers.
For contaminated water work, upgrade PPE, decontamination, and air-supply protections; document exposure assessments.

Maintain complete records: dive logs, equipment maintenance, air quality tests, medical clearances, and training files. For maritime industry OSHA training, OSHA publications, and topic-specific programs that align diving with shipyard and terminal requirements, Safety Compliance Managers turn to National Safety Compliance for up-to-date resources spanning Subpart T and supporting materials for 29 CFR 1915, 1917, and 1918.

Implementing Effective Safety Training for Maritime Personnel

Effective programs start by mapping job roles to the applicable maritime OSHA standards and regulations. In shipyards, focus on OSHA 29 CFR 1915 (Shipyard Employment). For terminals, align with 29 CFR 1917 (Marine Terminals) and marine terminal safety guidelines. For cargo operations aboard vessels, address 29 CFR 1918 (Longshoring) and longshoring safety requirements. This role-based mapping drives targeted, hazard-specific training rather than one-size-fits-all courses.

Build a training matrix that connects tasks to required competencies:

Confined and enclosed spaces: atmospheric testing, ventilation, attendant duties, rescue coordination.
Hot work: permit procedures, fire watch responsibilities, combustible control, lead/zinc coatings hazards.
Fall protection and work over water: guardrails, personal fall arrest, rescue planning, life rings and skiff readiness.
Cranes, derricks, and rigging: sling inspection, load charts, signal person qualifications, exclusion zones around container cranes and RTGs.
Powered industrial trucks: site-specific hazards on piers and decks, stability on uneven surfaces, pedestrian control.
Hazard communication and SDS: labeling for fuels, solvents, coatings; SDS access at dry docks and on gangways.
Electrical safety and control of hazardous energy: lockout/tagout of ship’s systems per shipyard employment compliance rules.
Emergency response: man-overboard, spill containment, medical response, hurricane/typhoon readiness.

Use a blended approach. Combine concise classroom or eLearning modules with hands-on drills: mock confined space entries, hot-work tag-out simulations, rigging inspections with removed-from-service decisions, and man-overboard retrievals under realistic conditions.

Set refresher intervals based on regulation and risk. Examples include: respirator fit testing annually, powered industrial truck operator evaluations at least every three years (and sooner after incidents or task changes), and periodic practice of confined space and over-water rescue procedures.

Validate competency with practical evaluations and documented observations. Track completion, test results, and equipment-specific sign-offs. Keep records organized for audits and incident investigations, and ensure contractors receive equivalent orientation before work begins.

For scalable maritime industry OSHA training that aligns with OSHA 29 CFR 1915 as well as Parts 1917 and 1918, National Safety Compliance offers industry-specific courses, topic modules (e.g., Fall Protection, Forklift Safety, Hazard Communication), OSHA publications, and SDS binders/centers. Their resources help standardize curriculum across fleets, shipyards, and terminals while maintaining compliance and reinforcing safety culture.

Best Practices for Maintaining OSHA Documentation and Recordkeeping

Accurate, accessible records are the backbone of compliance across shipyards, marine terminals, and longshoring operations. Align documentation with maritime OSHA standards and regulations and build a system that is searchable dockside, shipboard, and in the office.

Anchor your program to OSHA’s recordkeeping rule (29 CFR Part 1904):

Complete OSHA Forms 300, 300A, and 301 for recordable cases; retain for 5 years.
Post the 300A summary from Feb 1–Apr 30 in a conspicuous location.
Submit required data electronically to OSHA by March 2. Establishments in designated high-hazard industries may need to submit data from Forms 300, 301, and 300A; verify obligations annually.

Maintain maritime-specific operational records:

Shipyard employment compliance (osha 29 cfr 1915): Keep Marine Chemist certificates, “Safe for Hot Work” postings, gas-testing logs, and Shipyard Competent Person inspections for confined/enclosed spaces. Retain at least through project completion; many employers keep one year or longer.
Marine terminal safety guidelines (29 CFR 1917) and longshoring safety requirements (29 CFR 1918): File unit and periodic proof-load test certificates for cranes/derricks (per 29 CFR 1919), wire rope certifications, rigging gear inspections, and daily crane and PIT pre-use checklists. Keep certificates accessible at the terminal or aboard the vessel.

Control exposure and health records:

Preserve employee exposure and medical records per 29 CFR 1910.1020 (generally duration of employment plus 30 years). Examples: air monitoring for welding fumes, solvent exposure data, audiograms under 1910.95, respirator fit tests and medical evaluations under 1910.134.

Standardize hazard communication:

Maintain a written HazCom program, SDS inventory, labels, and training records. Ensure SDS are immediately available on the dock, in shops, and aboard vessels.

Document maritime industry OSHA training:

Track curricula, attendee rosters, and evaluations for topics such as fall protection, forklift safety (1910.178), lockout/tagout (1910.147), respiratory protection, and emergency response drills.

Strengthen governance:

Use a centralized index, consistent file names, and version control for procedures aligned to 1915/1917/1918.
Schedule quarterly audits against internal checklists and corrective action logs.
On multi-employer sites, document host-contractor coordination, job briefings, and hazard information exchange.

National Safety Compliance supports this framework with OSHA publications, topic-specific courses aligned to maritime operations, SDS binders and centers, and current federal/state Labor Law posters (including 2025/2026 pre-orders) to simplify posting and retention. Their All Access Pass and template libraries help standardize logs, certifications, and training records across fleets and terminals.

Conclusion: Ensuring Long-Term Compliance in Maritime Environments

Sustained compliance in complex port and shipyard operations comes from building systems around maritime OSHA standards and regulations—not treating them as one-off tasks. Align policies to the trilogy of maritime rulesets: OSHA 29 CFR 1915 for Shipyard Employment, 29 CFR 1917 for Marine Terminals, and 29 CFR 1918 for Longshoring, and then integrate supporting requirements like HazCom, recordkeeping, and PPE.

For mixed operations (e.g., ship repair alongside cargo handling), create a clear operational map that identifies when a task falls under shipyard employment compliance versus marine terminal safety guidelines or longshoring safety requirements. For example, hot work in a vessel tank triggers 1915 gas testing by a Shipyard Competent Person (and, when required, a Marine Chemist certificate), while container handling on the dock invokes 1917/1918 equipment and rigging controls.

Practical steps to lock in long-term control:

Governance: Maintain a written compliance matrix linking each job task to the applicable 1915/1917/1918 sections, responsible owners, and required permits.
Training cadence: Build a maritime industry OSHA training matrix with role-based initial and refresher intervals (e.g., shipyard confined/enclosed space testing, hot work, rigging, fall protection, and powered industrial trucks with evaluations at least every three years).
Permits and testing: Standardize hot work permits, atmospheric testing for confined/enclosed spaces, and energy control procedures (lockout/tags-plus in 1915.89).
Equipment integrity: Schedule and document inspections for slings, spreaders, hooks, and cranes per manufacturer and relevant parts; include daily pre-use checks for yard vehicles and forklifts.
Contractor control: Require orientation, training verification, and JHAs for visiting stevedores, repair crews, and vendors.
Emergency readiness: Keep task-specific EAPs current; run and document drills for fires, evacuations, and spill/overboard response appropriate to your site.
Documentation and posting: Keep SDS centers current, maintain OSHA 300 logs, and ensure required labor law and safety postings are up to date and visible.
Assurance: Conduct periodic internal audits against 1915/1917/1918, track corrective actions, and trend leading indicators (JHA quality, near-miss rates).

National Safety Compliance can help operationalize this roadmap with maritime-ready OSHA publications, topic-specific courses (e.g., Fall Protection, Forklift Safety), shipyard-focused materials tied to OSHA 29 CFR 1915, SDS binders and centers, and compliant labor law posters. Their All Access Pass streamlines updates as regulations evolve, supporting a consistent training cadence across terminals and shipyards.