The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) now requires Newport News Shipbuilding to strip back all toxic preservative coatings at least 4 inches from an area of heat application before beginning any hot work. The previous standard was 2 inches, per a longstanding agreement between OSHA and NNS.

NNS has developed a website on MyNNS with frequently asked questions that offers guidance on how the changes will affect shipyard operations. Although the OSHA rule only covers toxic coatings, NNS is stripping back all coatings to a minimum of 4 inches for now, out of an abundance of caution. Going forward, NNS will specifically assess where the 4-inch rule applies and communicate updates via the website and other channels.