The Britannia Club has produced a new safety video to raise awareness of safety issues for crew members working at height. This video is the first in a series aimed at addressing the most critical safety issues facing seafarers.
The video delves into the specific locations where these risks arise, the hazards involved, and most importantly, how to effectively mitigate them.
As explained, working at height is defined as working in any location where there is a risk of falling. There are a number of different tasks undertaken on a vessel that fit this description.
They include working on ladders, in tanks, or void spaces alongside an unguarded opening, overboard from scaffolding on cranes or up masts.
According to the video, work at height should only be carried out if there are no reasonable practicable alternatives. If working on height is necessary, the work must be properly planned, supervised and executed safely.
Risk assesement
The first step in the risk assessment process is to identify hazard and their likelihood and severity with particular attention to the following: unsuitable weather conditions, unguarded openings etc.
Preventing measures
As informed, these control measures may include placing permanent or temporary guards around any openings, ensuring the work area has adequate lighting, isolating potentially injuries equipment, securing all tools when a loft and isolating the deck area below the work area, using properly checked, certified and secured equipment.
Permit to work
Once the risk assessment process is finished, a permit to work should also be completed by the person in charge, on completion of the permit to work and before starting the task.
To remind, Britannia P&I Club received the 2021 SAFETY4SEA Initiative Award for its ‘BSafe’ proactive safety campaign, targeted at seafarers on board Britannia’s Members’ ships.
