14 U.S.C. § 911 — Search and rescue center standards

(a) The Secretary^* must establish, implement, and maintain minimum standards needed for safe operation of all Coast Guard search-and-rescue center facilities, covering: (1) lighting, acoustics, and temperature; (2) the number of people on a shift assigned search-and-rescue duties, including communications, adjustable for seasonal workload; (3) watch length to reduce fatigue, based on the best available scientific information; (4) scheduling to reduce on-duty fatigue; (5) each person’s workload; (6) stress management; (7) equipment and facility design to reduce fatigue and improve operations; (8) acquiring and maintaining interim command-center communications equipment; and (9) other requirements the Secretary believes will improve safe operation. (b) Congress expresses that the Secretary should establish and maintain standards ensuring a person on duty or watch does not work more than 12 hours in 24, except in an emergency or unforeseen circumstances. (c) “Search and rescue center facility” means a Coast Guard shore facility that maintains a search-and-rescue mission-coordination and communications watch.