Merchant Shipping (Code of Safe Working Practices) Regulations

Statutory Instrument 1998 No. 1838

COSWOP

GeneralThe introduction gives the regulatory framework for health and safety and overall safety responsibilities.

Section 1 is largely concerned with safety management and the statutory duties underlying the advice in the remainder of the Code.

All working on board should be aware of these duties and of the principles governing the guidance on safe practice.

Section 2 begins with a chapter setting out the areas that should be covered in introducing a new recruit to the safety procedures on board.

It goes on to explain what individuals can do to improve their personal health and safety.

Section 3 is concerned with various working practices common to all ships.

Section 4 covers safety for specialist ship operations.

IntroductionEvery person on board has a responsibility for safety.

• The Company is responsible for ensuring the overall safety of the ship and that safety on board is properly organised and co-ordinated.

• The master has the day to day responsibility for the safe operation of the ship and the safety of those on board.

• Each employer is responsible for the health and safety of his workers.

• Heads of department are responsible for health and safety in their own department.

• Each officer/manager is responsible for health and safety for those they supervise and others affected.

• Each individual worker is responsible for his own health and safety and that of anyone affected by what he does or fails to do.

COSWOPCOSWOP

SECTION 1Chapters 1-2 Safety Management & Risk Assessment

Chapter 3 Safety Officials

Chapter 4 Personal protective equipmentEmployer dutiesWorker duties

Chapter 6 Means of access and safe movementMeans of AccessSafe MovementEntry into dangerous spaces

Chapter 7 Work equipment

SECTION 2 PERSONAL HEALTH AND SAFETYChapter 8 Safety Induction

Chapter 9 Fire precautions

Chapter 10 Emergency procedures

Chapter 11 Security on board (SSO(SSO)

Chapter 12 Living on board

SECTION 3 WORK ACTIVITIES

Chapter 15 Safe systems of workWorking aloft and outboard

Chapter 16 Permit to work systems•Work in Unmanned Machinery Spaces•Entry into Enclosed or Confined Space•Machinery or Equipment•Hot Work•Working Aloft/Overside•General Electrical (Under 1000 Volts)•Electrical High Voltage (Over 1000 Volts)

Chapter 17 Entering enclosed or confined spaces

CHAPTER 18BOARDING ARRANGEMENTS

CHAPTER 22MAINTENANCE

CHAPTER 23HOT WORK

CHAPTER 24PAINTING

CHAPTER 25ANCHORING, MOORING AND TOWING OPERATIONS

1.10 Risk assessment pro-forma1.10.1 Employers may wish to use a simple pro-forma to record the findings of an assessment, covering, for example:

(a)work activity;

(b) hazard(s);

(c) controls in place;

(d) personnel at risk;

(e) likelihood of harm;

(f) severity of harm;

(g) risk levels (sometimes called “risk factor”);

(h) action to be taken following the assessment;

1.2 Key termsa) A hazard is a source of potential harm or damage or a situation withpotential for harm or damage;

b) risk has two elements:• the likelihood that a hazard may occur;• the consequences of the hazardous even

25.3 Making Fast and Casting Off5.3.1 During mooring and un-mooring operations a sufficient number of (Trained) sufficient number of (Trained) personnel personnel should always be available at each end of the vessel to ensure a safe operation. A responsible officer should be in charge of each of the mooring parties, and a suitable means of communication

All personnel involved in such operations should wear suitable protective clothing

25.3.3 Areas where mooring operations are to be undertaken should be clutter free as far as possible. Decks should have anti-slip surfaces provided by fixed treads or anti-slip paint coating, and the whole working area should be adequately lit

25.3.4 All equipment used in mooring operations should be regularly inspected for defects and well maintained

25.3.5 Mooring ropes, wires and stoppers that are to be used in the operation should be in good condition,

25.3.8 Careful thought should be given to the layout of moorings, so that leads are those most suited without creating sharp angles, and ropes and wires are not fed through the same leads or bollards.

Pre-planning of such operations is recommended and a risk assessment of the operation should be completed

25.3.9 Personnel should not in any circumstances stand in a bight of rope or wire. Operation of winches should preferably be undertaken by competent personnel

25.3.10 When moorings are under strain all personnel in the vicinity should remain in positions of safety, i.e. avoiding all ‘Snap-Back’ Zones

OTHERS

LOTS OF BITES

SAFETY OFFICIALSSAFETY OFFICER

The appointment, by the shipowner, should be recorded in the OLB. It is the safety officer’s duty to use his best endeavours to:

•Improve the standard of safety consciousness among the crew and that Safety Regulations and COSWP are complied with;

•Investigate; every accident involving death, major or serious injury and make recommendations to the master to prevent their recurrence. He must also;

•Ensure that health and safety inspections

•Make representations and where appropriate, recommendations to the master

•Maintain a record of every accident; and

•Stop any work which he considers may cause an accident.

SAFETY COMMITTE – SAFETY COMMITTE – MASTER - MASTER - SAFETY OFFICER - SAFETY REPRESENTATIVESSAFETY OFFICER - SAFETY REPRESENTATIVES

SAFETY COMMITTEE

The company must appoint a safety committee (SC), which must include the master as chairman, the SO and every SR.

The secretary should preferably not be one of the safety officials

other persons necessary for the proper conduct of business, e.g. Heads of Departments

The committee should meet every 4 to 6 weeks

CASE REPORTS OF FATAL INCIDENTS

Case #1 - (FATALITIES = 1 WORKER + 1 RESCUER)

Case #2 - (FATALITIES = 1 WORKER + 1 RESCUER)

Case #3 - (FATALITIES = 2 RESCUERS)

Case #4 - (FATALITIES = 1 WORKER + 1 RESCUER)

Case #5 - (FATALITIES = 1 WORKER + 1 RESCUER)

Case #6 - (FATALITY = 1 RESCUER)

Case #7 - (FATALITY = 1 WORKER)

Case #8 - (FATALITIES = 1 WORKER + 3 RESCUERS)

ENTRY – ENCLOSED SPACES

17.5 Preparing and Securing the Space for Entry

17.6 Testing

17.7 Use of Control systems17.7.1 Entry into a dangerous space should be planned in advance and use should preferably be made of a ‘permit-to-‘permit-to-work’ system. work’ system.

17.8 Procedures and Arrangements Before Entry

17.9 Procedures and Arrangements During Entry

17.10 Procedures on completion