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Code of Safe Working Practices

Code of Safe Working Practices

Legal Safety RequirementsLegal Safety Requirements

Two main documents exist under U.K. law andare therefore applicable to all seafarers sailing onBritish flag vessels:-

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997

Health & Safety at WorkHealth & Safety at Work

The Health and Safety at Work legislation covers allemployees including seafarers.

The main points are that the employer:

must provide a written safety policy; must create a safety management organisation

(safety officer, committee etc); must as far as practicable ensure the health, safety

and welfare of all employees and provide safe systems of work;

must as far as practical ensure that persons not in his employment are not exposed to risk.


It shall also be the duty of every employeeaboard ship to:-

take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of others who may be affected by his acts or omissions;

co-operate with his employer and other persons, so far as is necessary, to enable the employer and others to comply with their statutory duties;


not use any machinery etc other than in accordance with relevant training or instructions and should not interfere with any safety equipment;

inform management (master, safety officer or other competent person) of any situation or matter which concerns safety.


The company must adopt specialresponsibilities for health and safety inconsultation with workers including:-

protective and prevention services;

appointment and duties of safety officers;

election and powers of safety representatives;

duties of the company and master.

C.O.S.W.P.C.O.S.W.P.

The Code of Safe Working Practices for MerchantSeamen is a document issued by the Maritime andCoastguard Agency, it:-

is aimed at merchant seamen and more specifically those employed on United Kingdom registered ships;

covers all aspects of ship operation and the various dangers posed to ship’s personnel;

reflects the requirements of health & safety legislation.


Copies must be carried on all UK registered ships other then fishing and leisure vessels so that generally the master, chief officer, chief engineer, safety officer and any safety representatives must have a personal copy, leaving at least one other copy for access by the crew.


The Code is arranged in sections:-

Introduction – gives the regulations framework for health and safety on board ship.

Section 1 – Safety responsibilities and ship board management.

Section 2 – Personal health and safety.

Section 3 – Work activities.

Section 4 – Specialist ship operation.

There are also two annexes.

C.O.S.W.P. - Section 1C.O.S.W.P. - Section 1

Safety Responsibilities and Shipboard Management.

Chapters 1 - 6

Section 1 - Chapter 1Section 1 - Chapter 1

Outlines the principles of risk assessment under thefollowing headings:-

principles of risk assessment; risk assessment in practice; what should be assessed; who has to carry out the assessment; how thorough should the assessment be; when to assess; recording risk assessment; elements of risk assessment.


Monitoring of employees for health problemscaused by occupational hazards under the followingheadings:-

purpose of health surveillance; application; how to carry out health surveillance.


Defines a company’s corporate and employeesindividual responsibility for safety.It defines the role and duties of:-

the safety officer; safety representatives; the safety committee.

The chapter also outlines the requirements foraccident investigation.


Outlines corporate responsibility in supplying and maintaining personal protective equipment.

Outlines individual’s responsibilities in the use of p.p.e.


Categories of p.p.e.

head helmets, bump caps, hair nets;

hearing ear muffs and plugs; face & eyes goggles, face masks; breathing dust masks, respirators; hands and feet gloves, safety shoes; body harnesses, belts, clothing; drowning buoyancy aids; hypothermia immersion suits.


Concerns signs permanently erected for the purpose of giving health & safety information and instruction:-

It defines the colour and symbol standards and the corporate and individual’s role with respect to signs.


Prohibition Hazard Assistance Instruction

Stop High voltage First aid Wear ear protection


Includes details of means of access to thevessel, including:-

pilot access; safe movement about the vessel; entry into dangerous spaces is mentioned.

(Links to Section 2 Chapters.17 & 18.)


Refers to requirements for the safe use of equipmentincluding:-

guarding of machinery; the safety of electrical equipment; hatch covers; lifting equipment, including definitions, design

and certification.

(Links to Section 3 Chapters.21 & 26)


Personal Health and Safety.

Chapters 8 - 14


Refers to requirements for the safety induction ofnew people joining a vessel, including instructionin:-

emergency procedures and fire precautions; accidents and medical emergencies; health and hygiene; good housekeeping; environmental responsibilities; occupational health and safety; employer and worker responsibilities; consultation process.


Refers to recommendations on reducing the risk offire under the following headings:-

smoking; electrical and associated appliances; spontaneous combustion; machinery spaces.


Recommends actions to be taken to deal with thefollowing emergencies:-

fire, including musters and drills; survival craft drills; rescue from dangerous spaces; assisting a casualty; spillage of dangerous goods.


Recommends actions to be taken to enhance onboard security in the event of the following:-

ship security plans; security levels; terrorism; stowaways; piracy; drug smuggling.

The link with the International Ship and PortSecurity (ISPS) Code is important.


Recommendations regarding personal health, safetyand responsibility:-

health and hygiene; medication; hot climates; working clothes; housekeeping; substances hazardous to health; avoiding and dealing with common personal

injuries; misuse of tools; manual handling.


Recommendations regarding safe movement aboutthe vessel:-

general advice to prevent tripping, slipping etc; drainage of decks; marking of transit areas on decks; lighting levels; guarding of temporary openings; watertight doors; use of vehicles on board.


Dangers associated with food handlingincluding:-

hygiene; slips and trips in galleys; safe use of cooking appliances; safe use of LPG; deep fat frying; microwave ovens; catering equipment - especially sharp instruments; refrigeration.


Work Activities.

Chapters 15 - 28


Protection of personnel in dangerous worksituations:-

working aloft and overside; use of portable ladders; cradles, stages and bosun’s chair; working from punts; working in machinery spaces; boilers; unmanned machinery spaces; refrigeration machinery.


Suggestions and check lists for issuing permits to work.

The purpose of the permit to work system is to identify and eliminate or control any risks or hazards associated with any particular task. This is to ensure the safety of the personnel carrying out the task as well as other crew members and shore personnel.


Defining an enclosed space and detailing the safetyprecautions to be undertaken before entering andduring work within the space:-

precautions on entering an enclosed space; personal responsibilities; identifying hazards; testing the atmosphere; additional requirements for entering a space with a

dangerous atmosphere; use of breathing apparatus.


General safe access to the vessel, including:-

position of boarding equipment; lighting and safe movement around the vessel; portable and rope ladders; maintenance; special circumstances; pilot ladders and hoists;


Eliminating personal injury caused by the manual handling of heavy weights.


Safe use of hand and power tools:-

general use of tools and equipment; hand tools; portable power operated tools; workshop and bench machines (lathes & drilling

machines abrasive wheels); high pressure hydraulic/pneumatic/and jetting

equipment; ropes; computer vdu’s; lifts; laundry equipment.


Requirements for the testing and use of lifting plant.

Lifting plant includes all tackles, chain blocks, cranes, derricks, winches, vehicles (e.g. fork lifts) as well as slings, strops, wires, hooks, shackles and eye bolts.


Details of safe maintenance procedures:-

access for maintenance; isolation; boilers; auxiliary machinery; main engines; refrigeration; steering gear; hydraulic and pneumatic equipment.


Details of safe maintenance procedures:-

electrical equipment; switchboards; high voltage systems (> 1 kV) batteries; electronic equipment.


Precautions to be taken when carrying outwelding and flame cutting operationsincluding:-

personal protective equipment; equipment checks; precautions against fire and explosion; electric welding equipment; gas cylinders; gas welding and cutting;


General precautions to be taken when painting.


General precautions for anchoring, mooring and towing operations.


This section lays out the responsibilities of the employer and the master to ensure that the construction, operation and maintenance of all hatch coverings is adequate for the intended purpose.


Precautions to be taken when handling hazardous substances of which the most important are probably asbestos and oils.


Lists the requirements for marking of electrical wiring, gas cylinders, pipelines and fire extinguishers.


Sea Water

Steam

Heavy Oil

Air

Other

Fresh Water Fire Main

Diesel Oil Lub Oil

Pipe markings.


Water Foam Dry Powder CO2 Vapourising

Fire extinguishers.


Gas bottles

Oxygen/CO2

Air Nitrogen Acetylene Propane ButaneBreathing

Air


Specialist Ships

C.O.S.W.P. - Appendix’s 1 &2C.O.S.W.P. - Appendix’s 1 &2

These give details of all relevant standards and publications referred to in the Code.

coswp

Documents

safety responsibilities

safety inconsultation

concerns safety

written safety

statutory dutieshealth

workthe health

personal health

fishing vessels health