The following is the text of a news release from the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC):
(ANNAPOLIS, Md.) — Surprise Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspections around the country have cost marine facilities thousands of dollars in violation penalties. The American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) has recently partnered with MYMIC Training Technologies, a company that provides safety audits and training, to help ABYC members comply with OSHA requirements and start the season prepared.
OSHA began a local emphasis program (LEP) concentrated on the inspection of marinas and boatyards. The LEP began in the Great Lakes region and is continuing to spread. Other states such as New York, Maryland and South Carolina are seeing increased OSHA activities. This past November, Congress approved a significant increase of 82 percent to OSHA fines. Serious violations are hazards that may cause serious injury or death. For these types of violations the fines could be up to $12,740 per occurrence.
“The partnership between MYMIC Training Technologies and ABYC offers ABYC members an option for assistance with safety training and OSHA compliance at the highest level of quality they have come to expect from ABYC,” said Robert Smith, marina safety specialist for MYMIC. “ABYC is widely recognized as the gold standard for training and certifications within the marine industry and with this program, ABYC members can now have peace of mind when it comes to OSHA.”
MYMIC Training Technologies will help implement an ongoing safety plan and provide a course of action for correcting potential hazards or violations.
Audit topics include:
• OSHA requirements: employee training, recordkeeping, chemical storage, respirator use, ladders and scaffolding;
• Firefighting equipment and training, marina electrical, operational hazards;
• Clean marina: recycling, environmental cleanup, fuel spills.
For more information on this program, contact Robert Smith at Robert.smith@mymic.net or call 757-392-2644.
ABOUT ABYC
Since 1954, the nonprofit American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) has developed safety standards for boat design, construction, equipage, repair and maintenance. ABYC is the premier global standards organization in the marine industry and a leader in technical education and technician certification.
