3.6 Permit-to-Work
3.6.1 Definitions
3.6.2 Work Activities that Require a Permit-to-Work
3.6.3 Records (SORB)
3.7 Tools
3.14 Smoking
The Company recognizes its duty and takes reasonable and practicable steps to safeguard
the health and safety aboard ship of all employees and other persons who may be affected
by the Company’s acts or omissions. All vessels must prominently display the Company’s
Safety and Environment Protection Policy statement.
This regulation also requires all employees to take reasonable care for the health and
safety of themselves and other persons, and to co-operate with the Company. All persons
are prohibited from interfering with or misusing anything provided in the interest of
health or safety. Any employees found to contravene this regulation may be subject to
disciplinary action by the Company.
The Company takes all reasonable and practicable steps to safeguard the health
and safety of all personnel on board ship by:
a) The provision and maintenance of plant, machinery and equipment and work
procedures that are considered to be safe and without risk to health.
b) Ensuring that cargoes and stores can be handled and stowed safely and without
risk to health.
d) Maintaining all places of work in the ship in a condition that is safe and
without risk to health.
e) The provision and maintenance of an environment for persons aboard ship that
is, safe and without risk to health.
All electrical equipment and installations must be installed, operated and maintained
in such a manner as to protect all persons against electrical hazards.
Regular inspections of electrical equipment shall be made to ensure that all electric
connections are tight and have not been affected by vibration and that all equipment
is effectively earthed.
Any person on board working with electronic equipment must be aware of the
health hazard associated with handling of certain components such as power
transistors, diodes and thyristors and be guided by the manufacturers instructions.
Heads of Department and supervisors in charge of any work activity are responsible for
ensuring that the safe working practices and procedures contained in the CSWPMS are
implemented at all times. They are also responsible for ensuring that each employee given
a designated task understands the procedures to be followed and is familiar with any
equipment to be used.
It is Company policy for the guidance and advice contained in the CSWPMS to be followed
as closely as possible by all personnel engaged in any work activity on board the vessel. It is
a line management responsibility, both ashore and afloat, to ensure that the principles of the
CSWPMS are understood by personnel under their supervision and enforced.
All references to the CSWPMS in Company publications include reference to any M. Notice
amending same. All Company vessels are supplied with complete libraries of M. Notices
for reference purposes.
SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
IRANIAN OFFSHORE ENGINEERING
AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
The Master is required to ensure that a copy of the CSWPMS is available to all
sea-going personnel for reference purposes.
■ Master
■ Chief Engineer.
Additional copies may also be kept by other senior officers and in officers’ and
crews’ mess rooms.
The misuse of the CSWPMS, or failure to observe the Company’s health and safety
regulations will be considered to be a breach of contract resulting in disciplinary
action or dismissal.
SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
IRANIAN OFFSHORE ENGINEERING
AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
3.6 Permit-to-Work
The permit-to-work system simply sets out the precautions to be taken prior to
commencement of any potentially hazardous work activity.
It is an organized and predetermined safety procedure and forms a clear picture of the
foreseeable hazards in advance and the appropriate precautions to be taken, showing the
correct sequence of operations.
a) A permit-to-work does not make the job safe but acts as a guide and outlines a set
procedure.
b) The permit is to specify the period of validity. This period must NOT exceed twenty-
four hours.
d) Before signing the permit the Responsible Officer shall check that all the measures
specified have in fact been taken and that all appropriate safety arrangements are
maintained until the permit is cancelled.
e) Anyone who takes over from the Responsible Officer as of routine or in an emergency
shall assume full responsibility until the permit is cancelled or he hands over to another
nominated person who is fully conversant with the situation. These persons must
countersign the permit.
Important:
Should any checklist contain an entry with a negative answer, work is not to be
undertaken until the Master has made a full appraisal of the situation. In this situation,
only the Master can decide whether it is safe for a work activity to commence.
SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
IRANIAN OFFSHORE ENGINEERING
AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
3.6.1 Definitions
a) Competent Person
b) Responsible Officer
c) Responsible Person
The Responsible Person can be an Officer, Senior Rating or a qualified shore person.
■ Working overside
■ Working aloft
Masters, Officers and Ratings shall take note of the information and guidance
contained in CSWPMS and issue a Permit-to-Work in all cases where deemed
necessary.
All completed Permits-to-Work shall be kept in the Safety Officer’s Record Book
(SORB)-Section 5. Copies of all completed Permits-to-Work must be forwarded to
the Company for inclusion in the Company’s duplicate copy of the vessel’s SORB.
3.7 Tools
All tools must be properly maintained, used in the correct manner and returned to the
designated store after use, reference should be made to CSWPMS.
SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
IRANIAN OFFSHORE ENGINEERING
AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
The Master and any person carrying out the obligations contained in this regulation shall
take full account of the principles and guidance in the CSWPMS.
3.8.1 Hatches
The Master shall ensure that any hatch covering is of sound construction and of
adequate strength for the purpose for which it is used, free from defect and
properly maintained.
■ A hatch covering is not used unless it can be removed and replaced, whether
manually or with mechanical power, without endangering any person.
■ Work should not be carried out in holds where cargo operations are taking place.
■ Any opening through which a person might fall should be fitted with secure
guards or fencing or adequate design and construction.
The Master shall ensure that any cargo access hatch is not used unless the hatch
coveting has been completely removed, or if not completely removed, is properly
secured.
SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
IRANIAN OFFSHORE ENGINEERING
AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
Only well maintained equipment should be used for lifting. Lifting plant shall only
be operated by trained and competent personnel authorized in accordance with
Company instructions by a responsible Officer. The CSWPMS shall be complied
with. The Master shall ensure that all of the vessel’s lifting plant is of good design,
of sound construction and material, of adequate strength for the purpose for which
it is used, free from defect, properly installed or assembled, properly maintained
and clearly marked with SWL.
The Master shall ensure that any pallet or similar piece of equipment for supporting
loads or lifting attachment which forms an integral part of the load or one-trip sling
or pre-slung cargo sling is not used on board unless it is of good construction, or
adequate strength for the purpose for which it is used and free from patent defect.
The Master shall ensure that lifting plant is not used other than in a safe and
proper manner.
The Master shall ensure that, except for the purpose of carrying out a test as detailed
below, the lifting plant is not loaded in excess of its safe working load.
No person shall operate any lifting plant unless he is trained and competent to do
so and has been authorized by a responsible ship’s Officer.
■ After any repair or modification which is likely to alter the safe working load
or affect the lifting plant’s strength or stability.
■ Load handling equipment should always be manned when controls are in the
"on" position.
SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
IRANIAN OFFSHORE ENGINEERING
AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
■ When not in operation it should be turned "off" and safety locks or devices should
be put in place.
■ Persons operating equipment should have a clear view. If this is not possible, a
signaler should be placed at a point clearly visible to the equipment operator
and from the area of work.
The Master shall ensure that all lifting plant is clearly and legibly marked with its
safe working load and a means of identification.
The Master shall ensure that any crane whose safe working load varies with its
operating radius is fitted with an accurate indicator, clearly visible to the driver/
operator, showing the radius of the load at any time and the safe working load
corresponding to that radius.
The Master shall ensure that each item of lifting gear which weighs a significant
proportion of the safe working load of any lifting plant is clearly marked with its
weight.
The Master shall ensure that a certificate or report is obtained within 28 days
following any test and is kept in a safe place on board the vessel for a period of at
least 2 years from receipt of the certificate. Copies of such reports shall be forwarded
to the Fleet Technical Department.
No lifting plant or lifting gear is to be used until tested and certified by a competent
person, (ref CSWPM). Records of such tests are to be kept in the vessel’s "Register
of Lifting Equipment, Machinery and Chains".
a) No ship’s powered vehicle or powered mobile lifting plant is driven in the course of a
work activity except by a competent person who is authorized to do so. Such persons
shall be fit, trained for the particular appliance, tested and certificated. Appropriate
records shall be maintained.
b) Danger from use or movement of all such vehicles and mobile lifting plant is so far as
is reasonably practicable prevented.
c) All ship’s vehicles and mobile lifting plant are properly maintained.
SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
IRANIAN OFFSHORE ENGINEERING
AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
When manually lifting and carrying heavy or unusual items the proper procedures must be
followed as a matter of course. The recommended procedures are contained in CSWPMS.
b) Be fit to drive.
The advice given in the CSWPMS, is to be followed at all times. In particular, whenever
acid is to be handled, the proper protective clothing shall be worn (goggles, rubber gloves,
protective apron).
An eye-wash kit must be kept to hand in the battery compartment for use on the eyes in
case of accident. IMO approved warning signs must he posted: Sulphuric Acid, Risk of
Explosion, No Smoking etc.
■ Only authorized persons should enter battery rooms and when doing so, they should
ensure that they do not introduce any source of ignition.
■ Battery rooms should be kept clear of any equipment including any other electrical
equipment likely to act as a source of ignition, and should not be used as store room.
SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
IRANIAN OFFSHORE ENGINEERING
AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
All communications promulgated by the Company to the ship through the Master and
Ship’s Safety Officer, in respect of occupational health and safety matters, shall be made
available to the entire ship’s company.
3.14 Smoking
c) Bed.
The access to the safety equipment, must not, under any circumstances be inhibited or
prevented by any means or operation.
The operation of the safety equipment, must not under any circumstances be interfered with
any means or operation.
Maintenance of safety equipment must only be carried out by suitably qualified nominated
personnel, or by a recognized company authorized to do so.
SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
IRANIAN OFFSHORE ENGINEERING
AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
Signs and symbols are a very effective method for warning against hazards and for
presenting information in a non-linguistic form. Safety signs and notices should conform in
shape and color to the requirements of the competent authority.
Various standards exist for the color coding of electrical wiring cores and care should always
be taken to ensure that personnel are aware of the meaning of the core colors on board each
ship. If a replacement is required, it should be in accordance with the coding system.
Gas cylinders should be clearly marked with the name of gas, its chemical formula or
symbol and the body should be colored according to its content. A color coding card
should be provided.
Pipelines should be marked with a color-coding system which indicates their contents.
Replacement pipe should be marked consistently with the color-coding system.
■ Particular attention should be paid to sea and weather conditions and the
possibility of squalls before working aloft or over the side is commenced. In
general, working aloft or over the side should not be permitted if the movement
of a ship in a seaway makes such work hazardous.
■ In coastal waters strong tidal or current rips could cause sudden, unexpected
ship movements which might be hazardous to personnel working aloft.
■ Special consideration should be given to the problems of working near the ship’s
whistle, funnel, radio aerials and radar scanners. All relevant officers should be
informed before work commences and all relevant equipment should be isolated,
shutdown or appropriate procedures adopted. Warning notices should be posted
as appropriate. Officers should be informed when the work is completed.
■ Young or inexperienced persons should not be required to work aloft or over the
side unless accompanied by an experienced seafarer or under adequate supervision.
■ All personnel should wear safety harnesses and safety nets should be rigged
where appropriate. Persons working over the side should ware lifejackets or
other suitable flotation devices. Someone should be in attendance on deck and
a lifebuoy with a line attached should be readily available.
■ Warning notices that "personnel are working aloft" should be posted on deck and
elsewhere as appropriate. Tools should not be carried in pockets but secured in
belt tool carriers and they should be kept secured to the belt with a lanyard or
string during the work. Tools and stores should be sent up and lowered by line
in suitable containers.
■ Lizards and gantlines should be away from, or protected from sharp edges.
■ Cargo handling operations should not take place in the vicinity where personnel
are working aloft.
■ Plank stages should be made from sound wood and materials and should be
free from defect.
■ When personnel working on a stage are required to lower the stage themselves,
all movements of the stage should be small and carefully controlled.
■ A hook should not be used to secure a bosun’s chair unless it is a type which
cannot be accidentally dislodged
■ A chair used with a gantline should be secured with a double sheet bend and
the loose end should be tucked into the rope lay of the standing part.
■ Personnel should be reminded that when securing the hitch in a chair the
practice of holding both parts of the gantline with one hand and making the
lowering hitch with the other is dangerous.
SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
IRANIAN OFFSHORE ENGINEERING
AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
3.17.4 Ropes
■ The safety of personnel working aloft depends to a large extent on the condition
of the ropes used in the operations. Such ropes must be given considerable care
and attention.
■ Ropes should be stowed in a special locker and used for no other purpose than
for working aloft. Nothing else should be stowed in the locker; stores such as
detergents and paints may damage ropes. The locker should be dry and not subject
to excessive heat.
■ All ropes should be thoroughly inspected each time before use and daily when
in use. It should be remembered that although the surface of a rope may
indicate that it is in good condition, it may have deteriorated inside.
■ All ropes (e.g. gantlines, lifelines and lizards) should be load tested before use to
four or five times the weight that they will be expected to carry.
■ Working from ladders, where is a risk of over stretching and falling, should be
discouraged.
■ A safety harness secured above the person should be used when working aloft.
■ The ladder should extend to a height of at least 1 m above the top landing place.
■ The rope ladder should be properly secured but never secured to railings, or to
any other means of support, unless the railings or support will safely take the
weight of a person and the ladder.
■ The rope ladder should either hang fully extended or be pulled up completely: it
should never be left so that slack may suddenly pay out when the ladder is used.
■ The ladder should be rigged and used under the supervision of a responsible person.
■ The person in charge should consider the potential hazards of working at the stern
and near side discharges-and the hazard of strong tides and wash from passing
vessels, etc. All relevant persons should be informed that the work is taking place.
■ A person painting over the side should wear a lifeline and a buoyancy garment.
Someone should be in attendance on deck and a lifebuoy with a line attached
should be readily available.