10 Golden Safety Rules for seafarers to live by

ALWAYS

• Check if a Permit is required; obtain authorisation and comply.
• Verify that the atmosphere has been tested and made safe and confirm what and when re-testing is required.
• Challenge the testing: ask when and where it was completed, by whom, and what materials / substances were in the space.
• Confirm that all energy, machinery and fluids and gases have been isolated and locked-out.
• Verify that the atmosphere of the space will not be affected by adjacent activities/compartments or spaces.
• Agree an appropriate rescue plan with co-workers before entry.

NEVER

ALWAYS

• Check if a Permit is required before commencing a task, understand the requirements, and comply with them.
• Maintain three points of contact when climbing or working from a ladder and always hold onto the handrail on stairs.
• Plan my work and agree appropriate safety measures with my co-workers.
• Check the condition of fall arrestors/lines and anchor points.
• Maintain situational awareness of other work being conducted around me.

NEVER

• Start work without a pre-job risk assessment to identify risks and appropriate controls.
• Start work if I think the conditions are unsafe.
• Start work if I am unclear of the safety or emergency procedures.
• Rely only on PPE; it is my last line of defense.

 ALWAYS

• Identify all energy sources (such as electrical, mechanical, gravity, and kinetic) before starting a task.
• Check if a Permit is required, obtain authorization, and comply.
• Treat all energy sources as live until they have been safely isolated, de-energized, verified, and locked-out with life-saving equipment such as locks and tags.

NEVER

• Start work without a pre-job risk assessment to identify risks and appropriate controls.
• Start work if conditions are perceived as unsafe.
• Start work if unclear about the safety or emergency procedures.
• Rely only on PPE; it is the last line of defense.

ALWAYS

• Maintain a safe distance from hazards, ensuring to stay outside the ‘line of fire’ and understand the consequences of equipment failure.
• Keep away from suspended loads, unprotected equipment, and moving vehicles.
• Be alert to blasting, welding, grinding, electrical work, and falling objects.
• Maintain a safe distance from lines under tension, such as lifting/mooring lines, towing cables, or suspended loads – consider Snap-back areas.
• Make use of pedestrian walkways and safe zones where provided.

NEVER

• Enter an unauthorized area.
• Bypass a safety barrier or enter an exclusion zone.
• Attempt a task that I am not trained or competent to do.

ALWAYS

• Look out of the window.
• Obey collision regulations.
• Comply with work/rest hours.
• Maintain a safe distance from land and shallow water.
• Supplement navigation aids with visual/manual checks.
• Execute passage as per plan.
• Calculate enough Under Keel Clearance, including dynamic factors such as Squat.

NEVER

• Allow incidents caused by fatigue.
• Accept ECDIS/AIS tracking information without independent checking.
• Proceed at unsafe speed in heavy traffic or restricted visibility.
• Allow oneself to be distracted (see GSR 10 on page 15).
• Use or have available personal mobile phones, tablets, or laptops while on duty.

ALWAYS

• Ensure the boat is fully secured (gripes; harbor pins; lashings) before entering for maintenance.
• Conduct toolbox talks covering dangers, release mechanisms, roles, and operational procedures.
• Have fully trained colleagues conducting maintenance of boats, winches, brakes, davits, and associated safety systems.
• Remove winch handles before launching.
• Ensure adequate supervision and means of communication.
• Avoid the unintended operation of on-load release mechanisms.

NEVER

• Have anyone inside a boat when only testing the operation of the davit or crane.
• Have more people inside the boat than the minimum critical crew required for safely launching the boat or testing launching apparatus.
• Put crew in danger areas when boats/davits are moving (crushing, etc.).
• Leave hanging off pennants or securing devices in place after maintenance/testing.

ALWAYS

• Ensure all flammable materials are removed from space AND where possible, adjacent spaces.
• Have firefighting equipment available and ready for use.
• Keep watch over adjacent spaces.
• Test for the presence of flammable gases.
• Complete a Risk Assessment.
• Consider alternative work methods/equipment or deferral to refit.

NEVER

• Proceed without a relevant permit.
• Deviate from Risk Assessment/permit.

ALWAYS

• Comply with the company policy on avoiding distractions, such as cell phones, laptops, or tablets, to ensure full focus on safe operations.
• Only conduct activities required for the safe operation of the vessel.
• Plan tasks with care to avoid simultaneous activities (SIMOPS).
• Maintain a professional workplace.
• Ensure that only personnel with immediate ships’ business are permitted access to the bridge, engine room, and cargo areas.
• Ensure the team takes regular breaks, especially where tasks are repetitive.

NEVER

• Use or have a personal mobile phone available while on duty.
• Use or have a personal tablet or laptop available while on duty.
• Engage in personal social media or messaging activity while on duty.
• Be overloaded by electronic communications, including internal and external VHF calls (including those for collision avoidance) – will call the supervisor/Master for backup.
• Allow oneself to be distracted by repetitive alarms, risking alarm fatigue.
• Be disrupted by non-essential activity, such as visitors to the ship and to the bridge (or engine room), including colleagues, shore personnel, contractors, cargo, and other representatives.
• Read or have available to read newspapers, magazines, or other leisure material while on duty or supervising onboard activities.