Economy

U.S. Labor Department Launches Five-Year Maritime Inspection Push in Puerto Rico and USVI

The U.S. Department of Labor is expanding its focus on maritime safety in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands through a new five-year inspection effort aimed at some of the region’s highest-risk waterfront industries. Announced Wednesday, the initiative establishes programmed inspections for maritime operations working on or adjacent to U.S. navigable waterways, with the stated goal of strengthening safety and health protections for workers in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. According to the U.S. D.O.L., the inspections will cover employers involved in shipbuilding and repair, boat building, marine cargo handling, shipping navigation services, port and harbor operations, support activities for water transportation, and marinas that conduct recreational boat repair. Federal officials said the initiative was developed in response to persistently high injury and illness rates in maritime industries. The enforcement plan is structured as a Local Emphasis Program, a type of OSHA ...