Maritime Advisory Committee

MACOSH was initially formed in 1995 as a discretionary advisory committee authorized by Section 7(b) of the OSH Act (29 U.S.C. § 656) to advise, consult with, and make recommendations to the Secretary of Labor on matters relating to the maritime industry. It was preceded by the Shipyard Employment Standards Advisory Committee, which advised OSHA on shipyard issues from 1988 to 1995. The Committee name was changed to reflect a broader committee charter that includes all OSHA-related maritime issues, including those in cargo-handling operations.

On December 20, 2019, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (Pub. L. 116-92) amended the OSH Act to change MACOSH from a committee that is authorized by statute to one that is required by statute, making it non-discretionary.

MACOSH is comprised of 15 representative members appointed by the Secretary, and one Special Agency Liaison (SAL). The SAL, head of the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, is a non-voting member selected because of that office's work in upholding the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, which protects most waterfront workers. One of the 15 representative members is appointed by the Secretary to serve as the Committee chair.

All MACOSH meetings are open to the Public and are announced in the Federal Register. Additional information about Federal Advisory Committees is available in 29 CFR 1912.

Find Additional Information

See additional information on Membership, Meeting Minutes, and Federal Register Notices.

OSHA Contacts

For general information about MACOSH and MACOSH meetings: Amy Wangdahl, Director, Office of Maritime and Agriculture, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3609, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202) 693-2066.