22.1.1 The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997 No. 2962), as amended, apply wherever “workers”
are employed on ships. Further Guidance can be found in MGN 20 (M+F)6 and MGN 175 (M+F)7. This Code does not aim to provide definitive guidance on these Regulations, and it is the duty of the owner/manager and skipper to ensure that they are familiar with the requirements which include risk assessments.
22.1.2 Other Merchant Shipping regulations apply similar principles in the context of particular areas of risk to both workers and others onboard. It is the responsibility of the rescue boat organisation and helmsman to ensure that they are familiar with the requirements of those regulations. These regulations are similar to land based legislation but are separately provided for under Merchant Shipping legislation. Such regulations include, but may not be limited to:
.1 control of noise at work8;
.2 control of vibration at work910 (particularly with regard seat design);
.3 provision and use of work equipment11; .4 lifting operations and lifting equipment12; .5 working at height13;
.6 manual handling14;
.7 personal protective equipment15;
6 MGN 20 (M+F) – “Implementation of EC Directive 89/391. Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997”.
7 MGN 175 (M+F) – “Health and Safety Regulations for Ships: Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessel (Health and Safety at Work) (Amendment) Regulations”.
8 MGN 352 (M+F) – “The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Control of Noise at Work) Regulations 2007”.
9 MGN 353 (M+F) – “The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Control of Vibration at Work) Regulations 2007”
10 MGN 436 (M+F) – ‘WHOLE-BODY VIBRATION: Guidance on mitigating against the effects of shocks and impacts on small vessels’.
11 MGN 331 (M+F) – “The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Provision and Use of Work Equipment) Regulations 2006”.
12 MGN 332 (M+F) – “The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment) Regulations 2006”.
13 MGN 410 (M+F) – “The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) (Work at Height) Regulations 2010”.
14 MGN 90 (M+F) – “Implementation of EC Directive 90/269/EC Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Manual Handling Operations) Regulations 1998”.
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.8 entry into dangerous spaces16; .9 safe movement onboard17;
.10 working with carcinogens and mutagens18; .11 working with biological agents19;
.12 working with chemical agents20; .13 safe means of access21;
.14 employment of young persons22; and .15 new and expectant mothers23;
.16 artificial optical radiation24; and .17 asbestos25
22.1.3 There should be a provision for a complaints procedure.
22.1.4 Much of the Health and Safety Legislation relates to workers, however it is recommended that, for the purposes of this Code, Rescue Boat Organisations should aim to treat “volunteers“ as “workers”.
22.2 All aspects of the boat should be designed to minimise the risk to all persons on board during operation, including survivors, up to the operational limit of the boat.
22.2.1 The provision, specification, positioning and attachment of the following should reflect this:
• Seating
• Bulwarks
15 MSN 1731 (M+F) - The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 1999 - SI 1999/2205”.
16 MGN 423 (M+F) – “Entry into Dangerous Spaces”.
17 SI 1988 No. 1641 The Merchant Shipping (Safe Movement on Board Ship) Regulations 1998, as amended.
18 MGN 356 (M+F) – “The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) (Carcinogens and Mutagens) Regulations 2007”.
19 MGN 408 (M+F) – “The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) (Biological Agents) Regulations 2010”.
20 MGN 409 (M+F) – “The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) (Chemical Agents) Regulations 2010”.
21 MGN 337 (M+F) – “Provision of Safe Means of Access to Fishing and Other Small Vessels”
22 MGN 88 (M+F) – “The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) (Employment of Young Persons) Regulations 1998”.
23 MGN 112 (M+F) – “New and expectant mothers: Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997 and Merchant Shipping (Medical
Examinations) Regulations 1983”
24 MGN 428 (M+F) – “The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) (Artificial Optical Radiation) Regulations 2010”.
25 MGN 429 (M+F) – “The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) (Asbestos) Regulations 2010”.
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• Guard rails (if fitted)
• Hand-holds
• Foot-holds
• Padding
• Hazard signs
• Lighting
• Rounded edges
• Appropriate recovery access for survivors
• Personal protective equipment etc.
22.2.2 Personnel protection measures should have minimal interference with the operation of the boat, both routinely and following capsize.
22.2.2.1 Guard rails etc. should not present a hazard of the crew becoming entangled following capsize.
22.2.3 Grab handles or lifelines should be provided to allow the crew to move fully around the perimeter of the boat when capsized.
22.2.4 The provision of restraints and harnesses should be on the basis of a local risk assessment.
22.2.4.1 In a harness risk assessment, the following should be addressed:
• MoB
• Level of PPE worn by the crew
• Crews are to be fully trained in MoB procedure (both as the rescuer and the MoB)
• There is a risk of propeller injury if MoB is wearing a harness
• There is a risk of entanglement if the boat capsizes and crew are attached
22.2.4.2 In certain cases it may be judged more hazardous to suffer MoB with a harness than without.
22.2.5 The boat should be designed to minimise the risk of a MoB.
22.2.6 All surfaces that may be stepped on should be designed to reduce slipping.
See also 4.6.7.
22.2.6.1 The following should be addressed:
• Areas where hydraulic fluid or fuel may leak or be spilled
• The surface finish of hatch covers on a working deck
• If the boat is righted through the crew standing on the upturned hull, non- slip patches should be considered
• The provision of non-slip boots
• The upper surface of an inflated buoyancy tube should be provided with a non-slip finish
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• Areas where engines may be hand-started
22.2.7 The location of any recesses should minimise the risk of tripping.
22.2.8 The boat should be designed such that the ergonomics of operating the boat minimizes any potential chronic and acute crew injury risks. Seating and posture should be addressed. Issues associated with buoyancy tube riding or riding within the boat should be investigated where relevant.
22.2.9 The boat should be designed to minimise manual handling risks at all time, particularly during survivor recovery.
22.2.9.1 The boat should be designed to avoid injury to survivors and crew whilst recovering people from the water.
22.2.10 The boat is to be designed to minimise danger to persons during normal movement about the boat, with due regard being paid to moving parts, hot surfaces and other hazards. Snags and hooks where PPE webbing can catch are to be avoided.
22.2.11 Machinery should be suitably guarded to prevent injury.