The ultimate guide to personal safety on ships

The Ultimate Guide to Personal Safety on Ships www.marineinsight.com Marine Insight© The Ultimate Guide to Personal Safety On board Ships First Edition Publication date February 2012 Authors: Anish Wankhede and Raunek Kantharia Published by: Marine Insight www.marineinsight.com Graphic Design: Anish Wankhede (copyright symbol) Copyright 2012 Marine Insight NOTICE OF RIGHTS All rights reserved No part of this book may be rewritten, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or distributed in any form or means, without prior written permission of the publisher NOTICE OF LIABIITY The authors and editors have made every effort possible to ensure the accuracy of the information provided in the book Neither the authors and Marine Insight, nor editors or distributors, will be held liable for any damages caused either directly or indirectly by the instructions contained in this book, or the equipment, tools, or methods described herein Join Marine Insight on About this eBook Authors’ Acknowledgement While writing this e-book, we have considered that safe practices are not only for engine or deck crew but also for each and every person who boards the ship or sails with the same Marine Insight is extremely thankful to all the maritime professionals who have provided their insights for making this book It doesn’t matter if you belong to deck, engine, or galley department, when safety of the crew and the ship is at stake, a well planned team effort is what helps to overcome or fight an emergency situation We are also grateful to all the chief engineers and captains for the constant support and encouragement they have provided us to write this book For a ship to operate safely at the sea, team effort is of utmost importance However, the first step towards safety starts with the individual and therefore personal safety is imperative In this e-book, you will understand the basics and importance of personal safety along with the right methodology to approach and implement safety in your work on ships Also find out how as an individual you can stay away from trouble on ship, ensuring not only your own safety but also of the whole ship We would also like to thank all our team members at Marine Insight for working with immense patience and showing great enthusiasm Last but not the least; we thank all Marine Insight readers for showing their love and interest, which inspire us each day to deliver our best! Dedicated To This e-book has been divided into chapters, which cover each and every aspect of personal safety with extensive details Seafarers at the Sea If you like this eBook, please feel free to share it with your friends - Anish Wankhede & Raunek Kantharia Salute to all! Content Why personal safety should be the first priority on ships? (Page no.: – 24) Personal safety- Your first step on ship (Page no.: 25 – 50) Personal safety in every part of the ship (Page no.: 51 – 80) Personal safety in ship’s operations (Page no.: 81 – 126) How to use special personal protective equipment on ships? (Page no.: 127 – 142) Miscellaneous safety tips & resources (Page no.: 143 – 156) Chapter Why personal safety should be the first priority?  Why safety is so important?  How to develop the right attitude towards personal safety?  What all things are included in personal safety?  What all things you should know before boarding the ship? Share This E-book Why Safety at Sea is a Matter of Utmost Importance? According to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), “Shipping is perhaps the most international of all the world’s greatest industries and one of the most dangerous.” To understand the role and importance of safety in a shipping organization or process, we will take help of the “Safety Triangle.” This means that in shipping industry even the most basic job of transporting cargo across oceans involves great amount of risk, involving both physical and financial aspects Human well being Every part of the shipping business is bounded by stringent regulations, which prompts companies to act in disciplined and organized manner To ensure that all operations are carried out in an efficient and smooth manner at the sea, the shipping companies resort to “safety” as their first tool for streamlining processes Safety in all types of operations is the key factor in ensuring that the company always maintains its position about the profit line, both efficiently and ethically Clean Sea SAFETY TRIANGLE Commercial Success Costa Concordia figure “Carnival Corp., parent company of Costa Cruises, said that the partial sinking of Costa Concordia cruise ship off the coast of Italy could cost it nearly $100 million in lost earnings” When the “Safety Triangle” was compromised in the operation of the Costa Concordia cruise ship, it led to the loss of life, property, and environment When a shipping company operates under safety norms, three things (mentioned in the safety triangle) rank at the top of their priority lists: Personal Safety Personal safety or safety of life at sea comes at the top of priority list as there is no loss which is considered greater than the loss of human life Shipping companies understand the importance of the safety of human life at the sea and thus rank it at the very top It’s a known fact that without an efficient crew no shipping company can survive Marine Environment Protection While operating in both domestic and international waters, no shipping company can exclude marine environment protection from its business plan Safety of marine ecosystem can be ensured by efficient operating conditions on ships to avoid pollution by oil spills, garbage dumping etc Commercial Success Technically, a shipping company can achieve commercial success when the first two aspects of the “safety triangle” are taken care of An efficient operation of the ship, without any kind of harm to human life or environment saves shipping companies a lot of time, money, and labour, which ensures growth and profitability in return Join Marine Insight on How to Develop the Right Attitude to Attain The Ultimate Personal Safety on Ships? When we talk about personal safety, it is important to understand that just by providing the right safety equipment to seafarers a safe working environment cannot be created It is only through persistent self motivation and training can a seafarer develop the right attitude towards on board safety You can provide long hours of training and seminars to ensure that the crew knows and understands all the safety features of your ship However, note that this would not guarantee a secure working environment Unless seafarers realize the importance of safety, hours and hours of training imparted on safe working practices wouldn’t bring any results So how does one develop the right attitude to attain the ultimate personal safety on ships? As a seafarer, it is extremely important that the duties onboard ships are performed with an utmost conscious mind in order to avoid any kind of harm to the crew or the ship But the attitude to keep an agile mind doesn’t come on its own Moreover, no one is going to stand by you forever to make sure that all duties are performed articulately along with the right safety measures Every person has a safety conscious mind; however, many a times we avoid safe practices just to get over with the job quickly or are too lazy to follow additional safety procedures Such attitude needs to be shunned! “SAFETY IS A STATE OF MIND — ACCIDENTS ARE AN ABSENCE OF MIND” There is a need to develop safer habits to overcome our “slack attitude” towards safety and to make our working environment safer and secure Only through consistent practice can one form the right mind set to inculcate safe working procedures Ultimate personal safety can be said to have achieved when safe working habits become an integral part of one’s reflexes rather than self-initiated actions For example, if a ball is thrown at your face, your hands will automatically move to stop the ball This is known as a reflex action When such reflexes take form of safe practices and become an inherent part of a seafarer’s working behaviour, the ultimate personal safety attitude is said to have achieved This natural instinct of a safety conscious mind is the key factor for developing the right attitude in seafarers Disciplined working procedures and consistent practice are the two aspects which play a major role in achieving the right mind set You might have undergone rigorous safety trainings and seminars on land; but note that practicing on shore is one thing and putting what you have learnt in real life scenario on ships is a totally different ball game To make sure that you maintain a certain level of safety while working on ship, there is a universal checklist which you need to follow It is called “The Point Personal Safety Checklist” To ensure that you take the right course towards personal safety, follow these important checks before carrying out any operation or work on ships: Awarerness of Your Surroundings In Box – The Point Personal Safety Checklist Now we know that a trained mind is the key to achieve an ultimate personal safety environment Having said that, how we know our working practices are absolutely safe or not? ? Calculation of Risk- Includes surety and suspicion Work on Risks before Working on the Job Checking Your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Escape Route Awareness of Surrounding The first and most important step towards personal safety on ships is to be aware of your surroundings Awareness of surroundings includes knowing your working space, risks and hazards present around you, and assessing the amount of efforts the job would require This would allow you to plan your job safety and efficiently Calculation of Risk- Surety Vs Suspicion After having a complete look of your surroundings, including risks/hazards, check the extent of harm any kind of accident in that particular area can cause you This is to calculate the amount of risk involved with the work Always note that the amount of risk involved with any job on ship is always greater than what you would have calculated Also, if you are suspicious that a particular procedure involved in the job might lead to an unfavourable outcome, stop right there Make sure you weigh your doubts properly before commencing the job Work on Risks before Working on the Job It is always better to find out the amount of risk involved with the job before getting into it Eliminate or minimise as many hazards as possible from your working place before carrying out your assigned job Note that it is not possible to make any job cent percent risk free; however, minimizing the number of risks involved would drastically increase your level of personal safety 10 Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus- SCBA Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) is a compressed fresh air supplying device which is used for carrying out operations such as enclosed space entry, fire fighting etc This device is mainly use in places where the air does not have enough oxygen to support natural breathing Every seafarer must know how to operate the self contained breathing apparatus Procedure for donning and using SCBA:  Check the pressure of the bottle to ensure it is full  Check the condition of the mask, its strap, and the back strap of the bottle for any damage 131  Always make sure that the cylinder is full and pressurised before entering any confined or smoke filled space  Ensure that the warning whistle is working fine to give alarm when the level is below critical limit  While climbing or coming down a ladder, never lean towards your back as the added weight of the SCBA can topple you over  While donning the mask, strap it tightly in such a way that it sits perfectly on the head, preventing any kind of air leakage  Ensure you have extra spares kept ready for use when entering any space with SCBA  Don the cylinder with the back strap and tighten the belt  When the alarm sounds, come out of the space immediately to replace the cylinder 132 Life Jacket An important life saving appliance which is used in almost all kinds of emergencies is the life jacket or the life vest The details for construction and operating requirements of life jacket are given in SOLAS chapter II under LSA code, which was amended in July 2010 One of the first things a seafarer should check on joining a ship is the place where his or her life jacket is kept in the cabin Whenever there is an emergency alarm (let it be a drill) take your lifejacket along with you to the muster station Life jackets must be worn while working on lifeboats, gangways, over side of ships, pilot stations etc  Make sure the buckle and straps are in good condition Procedure for donning and using life jacket:  Always check your life jacket for any damage material or torn fabric before using it  After donning the jacket, ensure that it is closed and tightly tied to your body, or else while jumping into the water the jacket might bounce and hit your chin  Check all the accessories such as light and whistle attached to the jacket for correct working condition  Life jackets must be properly stowed  Read the instructions posted at different parts of your ship for wearing life jackets This is because different types of life jackets might have slightly different way of donning 133 134 Thermal Protective Aid Thermal protective aid is a type of device used for avoiding excessive loss of body heat which can lead to hypothermia The thermal protective suit is normally used by those persons who have suffered body heat loss or by those who have been rescued from cold weather conditions The suit has a waterproof polymer coated fabric at the inside The polymer has very low thermal conductivity which helps in reducing heat loss in cold or wet conditions Procedure for donning the suit:  Ensure the TPA is dry from inside  Check the TPA suit is not damaged or torn  Insert legs first and cover the whole body till the head  Tighten the upper portion of the suit such that only the face is out of the TPA  Be sure to keep your head out in order to breath Plastic covering mouth and nose can lead to suffocation 135 136 Immersion Suit An immersion suit is a body covering suit which is worn specifically for the purpose of remaining afloat and dry during emergencies at high seas The immersion suit is also known as survival suit or rescue suit In today’s times, an immersion suit is one of the most important necessities on ships and oil rigs, where a person might need something to protect him or her from the hazards of water This suit also acts as TPA (but is less effective than TPA) as it avoids the contact of body with the water In immersion suit, there are sleeves attached for the arms to carry out actions, whereas there are no arms in TPA Procedure for donning and checking the Immersion suit:  Open storage bag and remove the suit  Step in the suit with legs first Shoes are not required to be removed  Don’t take off any clothing, as additional clothing will help the insulation of the body  Close foot and knee tapes tightly around the legs 137 138  Pull the suit up, and place the left arm into the sleeves of the suit using the free hand Pull the hood of the suit over your head and slip the right arm into the other sleeve  Pull the zipper slowly upwards and make sure not to get any cloth between the two sides of the zipper  If the suit is equipped with an additional arm-zipper, close the zipper before entering the water  Check the water tightness and proper functioning of the zipper  Check general conditions of the suit for any damage and torn fabric  Enter the water with feet first and hold both your arms up, covering your face area 139 140 Fire Fighter’s Suit The Fire-fighter’s suit is a personal protective equipment worn by those crew members who lead the fire fighting operation on ships The suit is made of high temperature resistant materials to protect the fire fighters from radiant heat and high temperature Procedure for donning and checking Fire fighter’s suit:  SCBA is required along with the suit for fighting fire in smoky and confined spaces of the ship Check the SCBA condition as described above  Fire fighter’s suit can be in one or two piece Remove the safety shoes to wear this suit  Wear safety hood, gloves, and boots (made up of rubber or similar non conductive material with upper layer of thermal retarded material)  Ensure you keep your trousers over the boots to avoid ingress of water or debris  Carry fire axe in the slot provided in the suit  Carry a flame safety lamp  Do not wear over or under size suit to avoid trip or fall inside the fire affected compartment  Wear SCBA and hard hat  If life line is provided, wear it around your waist 141 Join Marine Insight on 142 Chapter Miscellaneous Safety Tips & Resources Share This E-book Safety at sea is a vital aspect of any shipping operation because of the involvement of human lives and massive financial investments Though the earlier chapters covered almost everything on personal safety on ships, we want to make sure that nothing is left unsaid as far as safety of ship’s crew is concerned We have compiled a list of important safety tips, articles, and resources which would help seafarers to take the level of their personal safety on ships to all new level Safety Tips 1) Personal hygiene and cleanliness is of utmost important As almost all jobs on ships involve use of chemicals, oils, and grease, make sure you clean yourself properly after coming in contact with them 2) There are several signs boards and symbols posted at different parts of the ship Familiarize yourself with all of them and in case of doubt don’t hesitate to ask your seniors 3) While welding, gas cutting etc never look directly into the welding arc Protect your eyes from all activities on ships that can cause harm 4) Never enter ultra violet chamber (used in fresh water system) with the unit power "ON" This can lead to skin and eye trouble 143 144 5) Know basic rope and knot techniques for use of ropes while working aloft or during securing stores and spares on ship 6) Know your ship’s cargo and all hazards related to it 7) Always refer to MSDS before handling any chemical on ship 8) There can be toxic substances used in making of ship parts Know the hazards related to various toxic materials such as glass wool, asbestos, carcinogens etc 9) Maintain good housekeeping 10) Keep the surrounding dry to avoid attack of viruses/bacteria such as Legionella Bacteria 11) Avoid listening to loud music on headphones You might not hear the emergency alarm 12) Maintain good housekeeping 13) Never surpass any safety methods/procedures 14) Never underestimate any problem or fault Always check and report 15) Obey your seniors on safety issues 16) Do not operate any machinery if you don’t know the procedure 17) Do not panic or lose control of yourself under any condition 18) Do not take short cuts while doing a job 19) While going out for shore leave, always take an ID proof along 20) Do not take any expensive gifts, articles, or more than required cash on shore leave 21) While going out at a jetty or port, beware of working gantry and cranes and loads carried by them 22) Make sure you carry out oil bunkering or transfer procedure with utmost care 145 146 23) If you don’t know how to use any personal protective equipment, learn it as soon as possible 24) Maintain effective communication with other crew members 25) Read and understand important maritime conventions, amendments, and laws 26) Know how to operate CO2 fire extinguishing system and fire extinguishers 27) Never drink sea water 28) Call any senior officer when in emergency situation 29) Make sure lashing of cargo is done properly 30) Check for Stowaway while leaving a port 31) Learn how to tackle a man over board situation 32) Never miss a periodic safety routine 33) Know the fire control plan of your ship 34) Know how all fire protection systems work 35) Understand your muster list to perform your duties efficiently 36) Know how to launch a life raft or life boat 37) Learn about safety features of all machinery systems on ships 38) Know how to start emergency generator 39) Find out what all things are provided in SOPEP locker 40) Learn how to use an oil spill kit if provided on board 147 148 41) Beware of electrical shocks 42) Know what to in rough weather 43) Never neglect any alarm 44) Use the right tool for carrying our any maintenance work 45) Never work in dim light 46) Always wear your helmet while working in engine room or on deck 47) Never work without wearing safety shoes 48) Wear gloves while handling hot substances 49) Don’t roll up your boiler suit’s sleeves while working with hot water, oil, or steam 50) Keep yourself hydrated by drinking water at short interval of time 51) Stay away from drugs and avoid working under the influence of alcohol 52) Exercise regularly to stay physically and mentally fit 53) Stay away from professional politics 54) Never make professional errors that can risk your life and career 55) Always believe in team spirit Join Marine Insight on 149 150 Important Articles on Safety on Ships Basics of fire prevention on board ships The ultimate guide to life jackets Ensuring personal safety during mooring operation Safe container lashing for personal safety Avoiding Carcinogens on Ships Understanding Neil Robertson Stretcher on ships What makes Ro-Ro Ships unsafe? How to rescue a person from a confined space on ships? Harmful effects of drinking sea water How to lift loads properly and avoid back injury? Why STCW course is important for seafarers? What does IMO say about Stowaway? Different types of maritime crimes that can land seafarers in trouble How to ensure personal safety in rough weather? Hypothermia and its effects on seafarers Measures taken to ensure safety of ship’s crew, cargo, and marine environment Classification of Dangerous Goods Different types of non-pyrotechnic marine distress signals 16 fire fighting appliances and preventive measures used on ships 12 types of maritime accidents every seafarer should know What is material safety data sheet (MSDS)? Understanding International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG) How to tackle man overboard situation on ships? What is Basic Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET)? What is inflatable survival rescue stick? Different periodic safety routines on ships Important requirements for fireman’s outfit How to avoid fire in the accommodation area? 151 152 A brief overview of ship’s fire control plan Types of lifeboat release mechanisms Understanding fire safety system (FSS) code on ships Types of lifeboats used on ships A brief introduction to survival radios Understanding oil spill kit on ships SOLAS requirements for Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS) Procedure for entering enclosed space on ships Different types of alarms used on ships Search and rescue transponder (SART) – A general overview Different types of Immersion suits Emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) Understanding different parts of SCABA 10 professional mistakes seafarers should never make Dangers of Asbestos on ships How to break monotony on board ships? Understanding sprinkler system on ship 15 ways to keep mind and body fit on board ships Understanding fire fighting CO2 system for cargo holds Everything you ever wanted to know about sea sickness Important features of muster list on ships How to avoid politics on ships? 10 main personal protective equipment (PPEs) used on ships How to fight stress on ships? Understanding life rafts on ships Safety features on engine room crane one should be aware of 153 154 Further Reading How Information exchange can help enhance safety at sea? Relationship between human error and accidents in shipping industry Understanding formal safety assessment in shipping What ensures occupational safety and health in shipyards? main hazards faced by shipyard workers Essential requirements for unattended machinery space on ships Join Marine Insight on 155 156 Image Credits antarcticsun, assogast bloximages, boatnerd, brodosplit ciscworld, dailymail, dozeninsurance, dvidshub etrust-marine, expedo, extraden flickr, foreignpolicy, foxcrawl samadhisoft , sfgate, Sfita, ship-technology, , smugmug, sphotos, ssmaritime thefreightrateco, thermutech, travelpod, towmasters ussafetycompliance wavesnewsletter, wearecunard, wn, workboatsinternational, 3e garantsafety harrisrebar, healthsafetysoftware, hiphop808, hydro-klean idessinteractive, imhaquality, international-marine jammin.smugmug , japantoday mascotchristianfellowship, marinfo , maritimeaccident, motor-trade-insider, msc.navy, nyk oceanlab pclivesupport, prosafety rakdca, reduceyourworkerscomp, rpmedia 157 158 [...]...Checking Your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Personal protective equipment on ships provides you with tools to enhance your safety on board Ensure that you are using the right personal safety equipment as required by the job It is also imperative that you know the operation and working of all safety tools on board ships In emergency situation, these tools are your lifelines, which... safety along with the safety of the crew, the ship, and the environment 8 Avoid Panic Attacks: It is human to get tensed or 4 Use of PPE: Every person onboard ships must know what nervous in case of an accident However, one should know ways to control emotions, to maintain mental peace, and to act in a quick and smart manner under the pressure of an emergency situation personal protective equipment to be... This is to be read and signed Join Marine Insight on 36 37 10 Steps towards Personal Safety On board Personal safety on board ship is a result of systematic approach to working procedures without compromising on any protective measure To ensure a safe working environment, start every job on ship with safety first” attitude and everything else would fall in to place As first steps towards personal safety, ... climbing the shaky gangway of the ship invokes a kind of realization, which instils the fact that the place he is boarding requires additional awareness to stay safe and secure In fact the words SAFETY FIRST”, stencilled on the bulkhead of the ship in large fonts, would be the first thing anyone would notice as soon as he or she steps on a ship - It is a way of reminding the importance of safety to anyone... follow these few important points Personal Safety Stay Alert Always Clear Communication Inform and Report Stop Others if Unsafe Avoid Unsafe Practices Know your duties Safety Circulars Safety Videos Safety Meetings Safety drills 38 1 2 3 39 Do the Drill: Safety drills on various scenarios are performed every fortnight onboard most of the ships Don’t attend these drills as formality, instead get totally... carrying out a job on ships Shipping companies are extremely cautious when it comes to these forms and checklists It is therefore imperative for every seafarer to learn about these important procedures to enhance their own personal safety Technically, there are several of these checklists and forms on ships which are to be referred and filled before carrying out different operations Each of these procedures... 24 to 48hrs of joining the ship When signed by the new seafarer, this form is a written proof that an officer of the vessel has provided familiarization of different parts and safety systems of the ship, including muster station, lifeboats, and life raft location Personal Duty Form: A personal duty from is provided to the seafarer stating general duties onboard ship according to the rank, duties to. .. trapped policy as per the rules of SOLAS (ISM code) It is imperative that seafarers not only understand and follow these safety points but also put them into practice while working on ships in a dangerous situation, help yourself first to get out of the situation, and then help others Don’t try to help others unless you are confident about your own wellbeing This would ensure safety of both you and... mentioned places, there are few other important rooms/ sections on the ship which must be checked during the first few days of joining the ship Do the following: - Check fire station on ship and different equipment and systems provided for the same - Check IMDG locker onboard and safety equipments provided - Check location of CO2 fixed system on ship - Check location of chemical locker on ship, along... emergency situations This would avoid a lot of confusion and eventually increase the level of safety on board ship Join Marine Insight on 42 8 Benefits of Responsible Behaviour On board Ships Responsible behaviour on board ship has several benefits It not only ensures your personal safety but also enhances your overall job performance Some of the main benefits of acting responsible with safety attitude ... Insight on How to Develop the Right Attitude to Attain The Ultimate Personal Safety on Ships? When we talk about personal safety, it is important to understand that just by providing the right safety. .. operates under safety norms, three things (mentioned in the safety triangle) rank at the top of their priority lists: Personal Safety Personal safety or safety of life at sea comes at the top of priority... Content Why personal safety should be the first priority on ships? (Page no.: – 24) Personal safety- Your first step on ship (Page no.: 25 – 50) Personal safety in every part of the ship (Page