Railroads, line-haul operations, include those establishments primarily engaged in passenger and freight operations. Railways furnish passenger transportation confined principally to a single municipality, contiguous municipalities, or a municipality and its suburban area. This section also includes establishments primarily engaged in the furnishing of terminal facilities for rail passenger or freight traffic for line-haul service and in the movement of railroad cars between terminal yards, industrial sidings, and other local sites. Terminal companies do not necessarily operate any vehicles themselves but may operate the stations and terminals.
Passenger ground transportation has evolved from just taxi cabs to other services like Uber and Lyft. These establishments are primarily engaged in furnishing passenger transportation by automobiles not operated on regular schedules or between fixed terminals. Taxicab fleet owners and organizations like Uber and Lyft are included, regardless of whether drivers are hired or rent their cabs or are otherwise compensated.
Other ground transportation establishments are primarily engaged in furnishing bus transportation, over regular routes, and on regular schedules, the operations of which are principally outside a single municipality, outside one group of contiguous municipalities, and outside a single municipality and its suburban areas. Additionally, there were establishments primarily engaged in furnishing local bus charter service where such operations are principally within a single municipality, contiguous municipalities, or a municipality and its suburban areas However, there was no published chemical information on OSHA inspections for these market segments. Other establishments are primarily engaged in operating buses to transport pupils to and from school. School bus establishments operated by educational institutions should be treated as auxiliaries. This section also includes establishments engaged in the operation of motor vehicle passenger terminals and of maintenance and service facilities, not operated by companies that also furnish motor vehicle passenger transportation.
Local trucking establishments are primarily engaged in furnishing trucking or transfer services without storage for freight generally weighing more than 100 pounds, in a single municipality, contiguous municipalities, or a municipality and suburban areas. Some establishments involve the storage of contents. There are also trucking establishments primarily engaged in furnishing "over-the-road" trucking services or trucking services and storage services, including household goods either as common carriers or under special or individual contracts or agreements, for freight generally weighing more than 100 pounds. such operations are principally outside a single municipality, outside one group of contiguous municipalities, or outside a single municipality and suburban areas.
Courier services are establishments primarily engaged in the delivery of individually addressed letters, parcels, and packages (generally under 100 pounds), except by means of air transport or by the United States Postal Service. Delivery is usually made by street or highway within a local area or between cities.
Motor freight transfer terminals include establishments that are primarily engaged in the operation of terminal facilities used by highway-type property-carrying vehicles. Also included are terminals that provide maintenance and service for motor vehicles.
There are a group of establishments engaged in the deep-sea transport of freight both foreign and domestic, water freight transport along the Great Lakes and St-Lawrence seaway, and other forms of water freight transport that had no occupational health exposures. The same applied to the deep-sea transport of passengers including ferries. Inclusive are establishments primarily engaged in furnishing miscellaneous services incidental to water transportation, not elsewhere classified, such as lighterage, boat hiring, except for pleasure; chartering of vessels; canal operation; ship cleaning, except hold cleaning; and steamship leasing.
The Coast Guard is the dominant federal agency with the statutory authority to prescribe and enforce standards or regulations affecting the occupational safety and health of seamen aboard inspected vessels. Under the Vessel Inspection Laws of the United States, the Coast Guard has issued comprehensive standards and regulations concerning the working conditions of seamen aboard inspected vessels. Health and Safety professionals should also reference Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 1, and the Coast Guard Marine Safety Manual for the standards applicable to ship’s crew and stevedores.
In addition, Safety and Health professionals should be aware that OSHA has promulgated regulations specific to the maritime industries in Parts 1915, 1917, 1918, and 1919 of Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations.
Other establishments operate marinas. These establishments rent boat slips and store boats and generally perform a range of other services including cleaning and incidental boat repair. They frequently sell food, fuel, and fishing supplies, and may sell boats. Some establishments furnish marine towing and tugboat services in the performance of auxiliary or terminal services in harbor areas. The vessels used in performing these services do not carry cargo or passengers.
In addition, there are establishments primarily engaged in activities directly related to marine cargo handling from the time cargo, for or from a vessel, arrives at shipside, dock, pier, terminal, staging area, or in-transit area until cargo loading or unloading operations are completed. Included in this industry are establishments primarily engaged in the transfer of cargo between ships and barges, trucks, trains, pipelines, and wharves. Cargo handling operations carried on by transportation companies and separately reported are classified here. This industry includes the operation and maintenance of piers, docks, and associated buildings and facilities.
Marine cargo establishments include those companies that are primarily engaged in activities directly related to marine cargo handling from the time cargo, for or from a vessel, arrives at shipside, dock, pier, terminal, staging area, or in-transit area until cargo loading or unloading operations are completed. Included in this industry are establishments primarily engaged in the transfer of cargo between ships and barges, trucks, trains, pipelines, and wharves. Cargo handling operations carried on by transportation companies and separately reported are classified here. This industry includes the operation and maintenance of piers, docks, and associated buildings and facilities. There are many other establishments primarily engaged in furnishing miscellaneous services incidental to water transportation, not elsewhere classified, such as lighterage, boat
hiring, except for pleasure; chartering of vessels; canal operation; ship cleaning, except hold cleaning; and steamship leasing.
Scheduled air transportation includes establishments primarily engaged in furnishing air transportation over regular routes and on regular schedules. This industry includes Alaskan carriers operating over regular or irregular routes. Besides nonscheduled air transportation services, their other airports, airfields, and terminal operations included in this market segment. These establishments primarily engaged in operating and maintaining airports and flying fields; in servicing, repairing (except on a factory basis), maintaining, and storing aircraft; and in furnishing coordinated handling services for airfreight or passengers at airports. This industry also includes private establishments primarily engaged in air traffic control operations.
The Federal Aviation Administration is responsible for prescribing regulations and minimum standards for the safe operation of civil aircraft in air commerce and has jurisdiction over the working conditions of aircraft cabin crewmembers while they are on an operating aircraft. However, the Federal Aviation Administration has stated that OSHA can apply some of its occupational safety and health standards to cabin crewmembers, including the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) and the Occupational Noise Standard (29 CFR 1910.95).
Other establishments primarily are engaged in providing two-way radiotelephone communications services, such as cellular telephone services. This industry also includes establishments primarily engaged in providing telephone paging and beeper services and those engaged in leasing telephone lines or other methods of telephone transmission, such as optical fiber lines and microwave or satellite facilities, and reselling the use of such methods to others. Also, there are establishments that are primarily engaged in furnishing telephone voice and data communications, except radiotelephone and telephone answering services. This industry also includes establishments primarily engaged in leasing telephone lines or other methods of telephone transmission, such as optical fiber lines and microwave or satellite facilities, and reselling the use of such methods to others.
Another market segment includes establishments primarily engaged in broadcasting visual programs by television to the public, except cable and other pay television services. Included in this industry are commercial, religious, educational, and other television stations. Also included here are establishments primarily engaged in television broadcasting and which produce taped television program materials.
Finally, there are many gas production, utility, and electrical services covered in this industrial profile. These services include but are not limited to, transmission and distribution. Water supply and sanitary services make up a large sector of the economy along with steam, air conditioning, and irrigation systems.
The following table represents the potential occupational health based on a job task or work activity, and any related OSHA standards for regulatory compliance. The information presented does not indicate or suggest a relative risk of exposure based on the location within the table nor provides any exposure information. Health risks associated with fatigue, working long hours, stress living away from home, and other psychosocial disorders are not addressed.
The information provides guidance to understand the occupational health hazards from chemical substances, physical and biological agents, radiological, ergonomic, and environmental hazards from exposure to plants and animals. Potential occupational health exposures in this industry were contrived from the OSHA Integrated Management Information System database between 1984 to 2020. Additional information was obtained from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Health Hazard Evaluations performed by request of employee representatives and organizations from 1978 to 2020.
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Worker Exposure Profiles in Electric, Gas, and Sanitary Services
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