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Through a new local emphasis program (LEP), OSHA is reinforcing safety and health protections for workers in maritime industries throughout Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The LEP went into effect March 2, 2026 and will remain in effect until March 2, 2031.
Between 2019 and 2024, OSHA said seven out of the 92 inspections it conducted were related to fatalities. Four deaths occurred in marine cargo handling, one related to shipbuilding/repair, one to boat building, and one to barge transportation.
Designed to address high injury and illness rates within maritime industries, the initiative establishes inspections directed at maritime industries operating on or adjacent to U.S. navigable waterways during a five-year inspection plan.
OSHA maritime inspections apply to industries engaged in and located at:
In Puerto Rico, the local OSHA-approved state plan covers most public and private sector employers, but federal OSHA retains authority over maritime employers such as shipyards, marine terminals and longshoring, according to The Virgin Islands Consortium. In the Virgin Islands, federal OSHA covers private sector workplaces, including maritime employers.
The agency is offering free, confidential assistance to improve workplace safety and health while promoting compliance with its standards.
OSHA said it encourages employers across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to take advantage of free on-site consultation services available now through the Puerto Rico OSHA Consultation Program and the U.S. Virgin Islands Safety in Paradise OSHA On-site Consultation Program.
These services help small businesses identify workplace hazards, strengthen safety programs, and reduce injuries in high-risk maritime industries.
Donald Halsing is the Founding Editorial Director of Work Safety 24/7. He was formerly the Associate Editor of Robotics 24/7.
Don's experience spans the supply chain, logistics, and construction industries, having worked in both warehouse operations and land surveying. He is also a professional wedding photographer with his fiancée Ashley.
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