NMMA to testify at OSHA Fire Protection Standards hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Jeff Melby, vice president of environmental and safety, Genmar Holdings, Inc., will testify on behalf of Genmar and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) at a hearing, “The Impact of Regulation on U.S. Manufacturing: Spotlight on Department of Labor & Department of Transportation,” before the Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs of the House Government Reform Committee on June 28, NMMA reported in a recent statement.
Melby’s testimony will focus on the need to fix outdated and unnecessary federal regulations that cost manufacturers time and money, according to the association.
Specifically, Melby requests that Congress take action to require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to use the same fire protection standards as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in its regulation of boat and composite manufacturing plants.
Currently, OSHA uses NFPA guidelines from 1969, which make little sense in today’s boat manufacturing plants, stated NMMA.
“NMMA has been pushing for reforms of these standards for nearly a decade,” said NMMA Vice President of Government Relations Monita Fontaine. “In the mid-nineties, NMMA successfully lobbied the NFPA to update fire protection standards—consistent with public safety–to better reflect the needs of boat and composite manufacturing plants and advancements in fire protection equipment and knowledge. Since that time, NMMA has requested OSHA to bring its own fire standards up-to-date, or to simply adopt NFPA’s standards, neither of which has occurred. This hearing is a step in the right direction.”
The adoption of NFPA standards by OSHA would reduce complexity and make it easier for NMMA member companies to comply with federal requirements and result in substantial savings to their businesses, according to the association.
Representative Candice Miller (R-Mich.), Chair of the Regulatory Reform Subcommittee, will oversee the hearing. Representative Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) is the ranking member.
Jeff Melby is a nine-year veteran of Genmar’s legal department. He holds both law and engineering degrees and is an expert in environmental and safety issues, NMMA stated.
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