Marine terminals can now have open fires, reversing a 50-year ban

The US Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has removed its rule banning open fires at marine terminals. This means port operators no longer face federal penalties for allowing activities like welding or burning in these areas.

For decades, port operators had to follow a specific federal rule against open fires, which added a layer of compliance and restricted certain activities. Now, that federal restriction is gone. This change could simplify operations for some terminals, especially those in areas where state or local fire codes are less strict or non-existent for these specific activities.