1.3 Safe working procedures, tools and instruments

There are various hazards on board a ship.

• Mechanical - hit or be hit by a moving object causing impact injury

• Electrical - come in contact with live electrical circuit causing electrocution

• Thermal - contact with extreme hot or cold objects can cause hot or cold burns

• Chemical - contact with corrosive, poisonous substances can cause burns and allergies

• Inhalation - inhalation of asphyxiating and toxic gases could lead to sudden loss of consciousness and death

• Noise and vibration

• The appropriate Personal Protective equipment (PPE) when worn correctly provides a barrier between the hazard and the body, preventing serious injuries. Code of safe working practices (B2) for merchant seafarers may be referred to.

• The trainee should be made aware of that for certain areas of work, working permit may be needed prior to commencement of the work.

• Before any repair or maintenance work is commenced, care should be taken to ensure that all measures and precautions necessary for the safety of those concerned have been taken.

• No maintenance work or repair which might affect the supply of water to the fire main or sprinkler system should be started without the prior permission of the Master and Chief Engineer.

• No alarm system should be isolated without the permission of the Chief Engineer.

• Before machinery is serviced or repaired, measures should be taken to prevent turning or inadvertent starting as may occur with automatic or remote control systems.

• Electrically-operated machinery should be isolated from the power supply.

• Steam-operated machinery should have both steam and exhaust valves securely closed and, where possible, locked off.

• In all cases, warning notices should be posted at or near the controls giving warning that the machinery concerned is not to be used.

• When valves or filter covers have to be removed or similar operations have to be performed on pressurized systems that part of the system should be isolated by closing the appropriate valves. Drain cocks should be opened to ensure that pressure is off the system.

• When joints of pipes, fittings, etc. are being broken, the fastenings should not be completely removed until the joint has been broken and it has been established that no pressure remains within.

• Before a section of the steam pipe system is opened to the steam supply, all drains should be opened. Steam should be admitted very slowly and the drains kept open until all the water has been expelled.

• The officer in charge should give careful consideration to the hazards involved before allowing maintenance or repairs to, or immediately adjacent to, moving machinery. This should be permitted only in circumstances where no danger exists or where it is impracticable for the machinery to be stopped.

• When guards or other safety devices have been removed from machinery to facilitate the overhaul, they should be replaced immediately the work is completed and before the machinery or equipment is tested.

• An approved safety lamp should always be used for illuminating spaces where oil or oil vapor is present. Vapor should be dispersed by ventilation before any work is commenced.

• A marine spike, steel rod, or other suitable device should be used to align holes in machinery being reassembled or mounted; fingers should never be used.

• On board ship various categories of hand tools and machine tools are being used.

• There are cutting and smoothing tools which includes hack saws, chisels and files.

• There are driving tools like hammers and screwdrivers.

• There are measuring and marking out tools like Vernier calipers, micrometers, steel rules, tapes and marking tools.

• There are gripping and twisting tools like pliers and wrenches or spanners.

• There are holding tools like vises and clamps.

• There are tools like drills and grinders which could be portable hand-held or as machine tools which are secured to a floor stand.

• Monitoring all the parameters of the main propulsion plant and auxiliary power plant machineries.

• During rough weather warning, all the spares in the engine room are to be stowed and lashed properly.

• In bad weather, propeller will come in and out of water and will fluctuate the main engine load. Hence rpm is to be monitored.

• Make sure for correct sump level of all the machineries as during rough sea ship will roll, resulting in false level alarm which can even trip the running machine and lead to dangerous situation in bad weather.

• Water tight doors in the machinery spaces to be closed.

• Sky light and other opening are to be closed.

• Never use oil or grease in any point of assembly of gas.

• No Inflammable materials should be kept near the cutting or welding area.

• Always wear fire resistant clothes, gloves (leather), apron, and goggles and filter lens during welding and cutting.

• Rectify leakage noticed immediately, as even a small leakage can cause serious accidents.

• Always keep the fire extinguisher nearby and ready.

• Close all valves and regulators after use.

Describe the isolation procedures and precautions to be taken before maintenance or repairs on an electrical equipment or system can be started:

• operation of stand by equipment

• power off / removal of fuses

• locking of main breakers (main and local switch boards)

• placing of sign boards/tag out

• checking voltage / apply earthing

• permit to work

• selection of tools/PPE

• Risk assessment to be carried out by a competent officer as enclosed or confined space entry is deficient in oxygen, making it a potential life hazard.

• Potential hazards are to be identified such as presence of toxic gases.

• Opening and securing hatches is to be done and precaution should be taken to check if the opening of enclosed space is pressurized or not.

• All fire hazard possibilities should be minimized if hot work is to be carried out. This can be done by emptying the fuel tank or chemical tank nearby the hot work place.

• The confined space has to be well ventilated before entering.

• The space has to be checked for oxygen content and other gas content with the help of oxygen analyzer and gas detector.

The oxygen content should be read 21% by volume. A percentage less than that is not acceptable and more time for ventilation should be given in such circumstances.

• Enough lighting and illumination should be present in the enclosed space before entering.

• A proper permit to work has to be filled out and checklist to be checked so as to prevent any accident which can endanger life.

• Permit to work is to be valid only for a certain time period. If time period expires then again new permit has to be issued and checklist is to be filled out.

• Permit to work is to be checked and permitted by the Master of the ship in order to work in confined space.

• Proper signs and Men at work sign boards should be provided at required places so that person should not start any equipment, machinery or any operation in the confined space endangering life of the people working.

• Duty officer has to be informed before entering the enclosed space.

• The checklist has to be signed by the person involved in entry and also by a competent officer.

• One person always has to be kept standby to communicate with the person inside the space.

• The person may also carry a life line with him inside.

• The person should carry oxygen analyzer with him inside the enclosed space and it should be on all the time to monitor the oxygen content. As soon as level drops, the analyzer should sound alarm and the space should be evacuated quickly without any delay.

• No source of ignition has to be taken inside unless the Master or competent officer is satisfied.

• The number of persons entering should be constrained to the adequate number of persons who are actually needed inside for work.

• The rescue and resuscitation equipment are to be present outside the confined space. Rescue equipment includes breathing air apparatus and spare charge bottles.

• Means of hoisting an incapacitated person should be available.

• After finishing the work and when the person is out of the enclosed space, the after work checklist has to be filled.

• The permit to work has to be closed after this.

• Firefighting equipment ready at all times.

• Fire detectors and fire alarm in good working condition.

• CO2 total flooding system door is locked to prevent accidental actuation.

• Safety gear worn while working- safety shoes, helmet, overalls, safety goggles, ear mufflers, and gloves.

• Escape routes should be clearly marked.

• Proper working permits obtained before carrying any work on board; e.g. hot work permit, enclosed space entry permit.

• All lifting gears checked to be in good working condition.

• Co-ordination of work, so no chemical cleaning and hot work around boiler area is done at the same time.

• No transfer of oil carried out in dry dock.

• No boiler blow downs; in emergency, necessary notice given.

• Acetylene and oxygen bottles are properly stored and secured.

• Cleaning of bilge wells

• Ability to correctly measure and report tank levels

• Demonstrates to measure and report bilge and holding tank levels during and on completion of the operation correctly

• Understand the importance of keeping the engine room floor plates clean and free of oil.

• Know the importance of segregation of garbage and the colour coding used for garbage segregation.

• Know the procedure to burn garbage in an incinerator.

• Know the materials that are prohibited in an incinerator.

• Know the dangers associated with sewage treatment plant cleaning.

• Understand the importance of segregation of oil and water in the machinery space.

• Know the precautions in operation of an oily water separator

• Understand the function of bilge system.

• Understand the help of a drawing the piping diagrams of the bilge system

• Understand the operation of the pump used in a bilge system

• Understand the safe operation operation procedure for operation the bilge system

• Understand the valve and pumps in order to employ a bilge system

• Action to be taken in case an incidents

• Understand Ballasting & De ballasting system & Bunkering procedures

• Understand the safe operation procedure for operation the ballast system

• Understand the valves and pumps in order to transfer ballast 

• Correct measure and report tank levels during and completion of the operation

• Action to be taken in case of an accidents

• Assist in maintenance tasks on auxiliary diesel engines, heat exchangers, pumps

• Clean diesel engine components such as pistons, piston rings, bearings,

• Clean components using diesel oil, chemicals.