CIRCULARS / HSQE BULLETINS T0: APPLICABLE FOR: MASTER ALL VESSELS CHIEF ENGINEER TANKER VESSELS TANK FARM DOCUMENT TYPE: SAFETY BULLETIN DOCUMENT NO. 03 ENVIRONMENTAL BULLETIN ISSUE DATE (dd/mm/yy) 10/03/2010 HEALTH & HYGIENE BULLETIN SUPERSEDES EXISTING DOCUMENT? YES NO TECHNICAL BULLETIN If YES state PREVIOUS DOCUMENT NO. N/A CASUALTY REPORT REVISION NO. N/A REVISION DATE N/A CIRCULAR LETTER SUBJECT: HEALTH AWARENESS CAMPAIGN: SLIPS, TRIPS, FALLS Company s 2010 Health Awareness Campaign with title SLIPS, TRIPS, FALLS, is hereby announced. 1 / 4
The campaign will last from 1st April 2010 until 30th of September 2010 and will be conducted in conjunction with : a) shipboard Safety Committee Meetings; b) routine shipboard visits by Company s personnel; c) identification of unsafe acts and suggestions for improvement. The purpose of the campaign is to PROMOTE healthy habits within workplace. 2 / 4
In this respect the Master and Company s designated personnel boarding the vessels, during Safety Committee Meetings, must emphasize to the following : You could be responsible for a workplace hazard that is simple and easy to prevent. Over 10,000 employees suffered a major injury as a result of a slip or trip at work in 2008/2009. Over 4,000 employees suffered a major injury as a result of a fall from height in 2008/2009. IF YOU SEE A SPILL, GET IT CLEANED UP PROMPTLY IF YOU SPOT A TRIP HAZARD MAKE IT SAFE WEAR SHOES WITH GOOD GRIP, SO YOU DON T SLIP HELP TO KEEP YOUR WORKPLACE CLEAN AND TIDY IF YOU HAVE TO WORK AT HEIGHT, USE THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT FOR THE JOB AND USE IT SAFELY. IF YOU THINK A LADDER IS MOST SUITABLE FOR THE WORK, CHECK IT S SET UP AND SECURED PROPERLY. ALWAYS ASSESS WORKING ENVIRONMENT PRIOR COMMENCEMENT OF THE JOB : Lighting should enable people to see obstructions, potentially slippery areas etc, so they can work safely. Replace, repair or clean lights before levels become too low for safe work. Floors need to be checked for loose finishes, holes and cracks, worn rugs and mats etc. Take care in the choice of floor if it is likely to become wet or dusty due to work processes. Seek specialist advice when choosing a floor for difficult conditions. Obstructions and objects left lying around can easily go unnoticed and cause a trip. Try to keep work areas tidy and if obstructions can t be removed, warn people using signs or barriers. Cardboard should not be used to absorb spillages as this itself presents a tripping hazard. Footwear can play an important part in preventing slips and trips. This is especially important where floors can t be kept dry. Your footwear supplier should be able to advise on shoes/boots with slip-resistant soles. Employers need to provide footwear, if it is necessary to protect the workers safety. 3 / 4
Furthermore reference to the following documents should be made : 1. Company s Bulletin no. 17/2007 AVOID SLIPS, TRIPS, FALLS ; 2. Relevant procedures and permits as described in SMSM Ch. 7.9 & 7.10 3. BP GOLDEN RULE : Working at heights (as attached) 4. HSE UK Poster no. 35/Feb 2010 : SLIPS Myth (as attached) Wishing you always smooth seas, The DPA REF: www.hse.uk.gov 4 / 4
Great health and safety myths The myth There s nothing you can do about slips and trips and they don t really hurt anyone anyway The reality Most slips and trips are preventable and many happen when spills aren t cleared up or clutter tidied away. Last year, there were four fatalities and more than 10 000 employees were seriously injured when they had a slip or trip at work. This results in broken bones and time off work, costing the economy around 800 million per year. Simple mistakes can shatter lives your actions could help stop them from happening. Don t take things for granted, cut corners or wait for someone else to do it. Clear up! Go to www.hse.gov.uk/myth/ index.htm to find out more No 35 February 2010
The Golden Rule for Working at Heights Working at heights of 2 metres (6 feet) or higher above the ground cannot proceed unless: a fixed platform is used with guard or hand rails, verified by a competent person(s) or fall arrest equipment is used that has: a proper anchor - mounted, preferably overhead full body harness using double latch self locking snap hooks at each connection synthetic fibre lanyards shock absorber fall arrest equipment will limit free fall to 2 metres (6 feet) or less a visual inspection of the fall arrest equipment and system is completed and any equipment that is damaged or has been activated is taken out of service. person(s) are competent to perform the work Know how The Golden Rules of Safety
Suggestions for Daily Discussions: Prior to Working at Heights: Task Risk Assessment Local Procedures Hazardous Task Permit Is this necessary Where else do I need to consider Fall protection/fall Prevention Methods? Gangways When working around other activities Shipyards What else to consider?? Is this work necessary..? Is there an alternative..? Fall arrest in place.? What happens to tools carried aloft, is fall protection/prevention in place for them? What kind of Rescue or Contingency plan for retrieval Know how The Golden Rules of Safety
The Golden Rules for Working at Heights When our HSE went wrong In a shipyard a worker on a another company s vessel was working in a ballast tank when he fell through an opening in the deck and was killed. A similar incident occurred to a BPS superintendent where he stepped into an opening in tank deck while conducting an inspection, fortunately he did not pass through the opening. What type of fall prevention methods are in place aboard your vessel, safety chains, covers, rails.? A number of personnel were instructed to work at different locations in the Engine room. All the locations were at a height. All PPE, including harnesses, were worn and the personnel began work at heights around the engine room carrying out painting. Each worker was carrying out there tasks unsupervised. If they had fallen how could they have been rescued? When discussing the work be aware of the above and always have a rescue plan in place. Know how The Golden Rules of Safety