Last month launched a new local emphasis program to strengthen safety and health protections for maritime workers throughout Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This five-year initiative focuses on programmed inspections on maritime operations on or near U.S. waterways traveled by boats and ships. It covers shipbuilding and repair, boat building, marine cargo handling, navigation services to shipping, port and harbor operations, and recreational boat repair at marinas. This effort is in response to persistently high injury and illness rates in maritime industries, which in some cases are nearly three times higher than the private industry average.
