Module 1: Safe Working Practices

It very crucial to follow safe working routines and practices at all times to assume both yours
and others safety on board ship. An important elements in the formula for safe working practices
includes good management and good relationships with your co- workers/co officers.

What are the necessary steps towards harmonious relationship on-board? First understanding,
cooperation and respect from both sides. Equal importance is understanding not only what can you
expect from others, but also what others expect from you. Poor working relationship pose a risk to the
safety of the ship and to all persons aboard. The ship will not efficiently functions because crews are not
cooperating. Relationship between co- workers depends upon maintaining a balance of give and take. If
other side feels that they are putting more in than what they are getting back in return (work
delegation), it can lead to an unpleasant working atmosphere resulting in bad performance and
misunderstanding. Disputes must be resolve promptly, respectfully, and amicably. The crew members
must operate as a team. You and your crewmates need to trust each other, both in day-to day running
of ship’s activities, and emergency. You as an officer must make your co- workers that they can rely on
you, they know that you can be relied as well as the crew member who performs their task according to
the master work delegations, proper order, communication and obedience is crucial in the safe
operation of the ship.

Maintaining good relationship onboard a vessel is essential. This can be done by doing the following:

 use of pleasant language that is understandable by the members

 encouraging each other (appreciation of effort/task accomplished is recognized)
 valuing differences (different in language, culture, and values)
 respecting and understanding others (always remember each persons has their own story to
tell)
 recognizing good efforts and performance of others ( a few incentives is not hard to give.)
 helping doing things for them
 promoting a cheerful attitude in others around you ( remember you will always work/see each
other especially if is a long voyage is to be taken)
 being humble( sometime others has better suggestion to make work easier, appraise and
evaluate the suggestion who knows it much better than what you think is his ideas.)

Once the Following has been observe smooth relationship with co -workers is easily achieved. You may
now proceeds working with your team.

For Safe Working Practices this includes

 Safe analysis
 Identifying hazard that might occur
 Making sure the person involved in the work is aware of all its potential dangers
 Preventing accidents.
Shipboard Hazards

1. Slippery surface
Slippery surfaces may cause slips and falls causing injury at sea. Some areas to watch out
for are oiler water spills on decks, and grease spills on galley floors.
2. Unsecured/ Open hatch or manholes
Unfenced ‘tween deck, loose or missing floor granting in the engine rom present the
danger of falls.
3. Stairways/ladders
Steep stairways or ladders present the danger of falls. Stair open deck may be wet, or in
a machinery areas, they may be oily. The motion of the increases the need to take extra
precaution when going through structures. Always hold on to the handrail, when using a ladder,
always use safety harness.
4. Low overheard entrances
Doors, hatches may have over head lower than usual openings. Usually pained white
and red color to get attention. Be careful when passing through it and always wear hard hat to
prevent injury.
5. Moving machinery
Loose clothing, gloves, fingers can be caught in moving machinery. Pay attention to
safety guards and warning signs provided. Never removed or ignore them.
6. Mooring Lines
They are ship’s rope that are dangerous when under tension. A sudden release of
tension on it can throw you or pull you near a capstan. When you are near or working with
mooring lines, be aware of bights or loops, your position in relation to them and how they might
move.
7. Hot surfaces
Steam pipes, machinery, stoves, etc. have hot surfaces that present the danger or burs.
Always use protective clothing.
8. Electrical Hazards
Because deck are made of steel, you can be easily get electrocuted when you touched a
live wire, (you become part of the circuit) Assume all electrical equipment/ wiring potential
hazards. Switch should be put off, and warning signs posted before starting any repair work.
9. Enclosed spaces
An enclosed space is one with restricted access that is not subject to continuous
ventilation and in which atmosphere may be hazardous due to oxygen deficiency or the
presence of toxic flammable gases.
10. Storage areas
Some are reason the ship present particular hazard that requires you take special care in
them. Battery compartments, paints lockers and stores may have high level of toxic and
flammable gases.
11. Safety and Protective Equipment
 There are various safety and protective equipment and devices available to protect
against hazard onboard ship and protective equipment must always be in good condition and be
stored in places where it is easily accessible.

All personnel onboard are obliged to use the protective equipment available onboard. The
safety protective equipment can be divided into the following categories:

Personal safety and protective equipment

 helmet  oiler suits/coverall

 safety boots/safety shoes  safety glasses
 gloves  ear protection(muff/plus)

Job related safety and protective equipment

 lifelines
 fall arrestors
 respiratory protection (dust filter, dusk mask, breathing apparatus)
 Safety harnesses

Hazardous materials present a health hazard when they become in contact with your body.
Hazardous materials can enter your body in three ways:

1. Ingestion
2. Skin absorption
3. Inhalation

Because many substances which are health hazards can become airborne, knowing how to protect
yourself is very important.

Personal Protective Equipment

 Helmet - Your head is very delicate part of your body, injuries to the head are very serious. For
this reason, head protection & safety are very important
 Gloves - It has been estimated that most 20% of all disabling accidents on the job involve hands.
Without your fingers or hands, your ability to work would be greatly reduced.
 Safety boots- At work, heavy objects can fall on your feet. If you work around sharp objects, you
can step on something sharp and puncture your foot. Without your feet and toes, your ability to
work would be greatly reduced.
 Safety glasses (goggles) - Your eyes are very delicate, you can think of the, as the color television
camera for your brain. Unlike a television camera, yours, is made of soft tissues and blood
vessel. Damage to the, is a big trouble, often permanent.
 Ear Protection - Noise is a common problems. Research shows that high levels of noise can
damage hearing. Loosing hearing is a gradual process and is noticeable than other types of
workplace injuries.
 PPE doesn’t eliminate hazard. If the equipment fails or improperly used, exposure can occur, For
reliable protection, make sure PPE is clean, in good condition, fits correctly, and is appropriate for the
materials and equipment you are working with.

 Lifelines - Small-diameter nylon rope that is attached to the safety harness. It can be used to
hoist tools.
 Fall arrestor - A safety equipment which prevent a person from falling but allows him/her to
move away from the blocks.
 Safety harness - is a body harness that is attached to either fall arrestor of lifelines.
 Respiratory Protection - A respiratory or air-filtering face piece, is specially designed to filter out
hazards that may enter the bod through the nose and mouth when a person breathe. Respirator
may at times be required to protect the health of employees when work environment is
contaminated with materials that are hazardous to breathe.

This may include:

 Employee who enter confined spaces

 paint sprayers
 hazardous materials handler
 employees whose exposure level is at above the permissible exposure limit(PEL) of the
contaminant

Entering an Enclosed Space

An enclosed space is one with restricted access which cause little or no natural ventilation.
Smoke or dangerous gases can accumulate. If the gas is heavier than air, it will collect in a layer at the
bottom. If lighter than air, the gas will collect in a layer at the top. It is not safe to enter in an enclosed
space if the oxygen content is below 20%. An atmosphere containing over 21% oxygen is also not safe
for it increases the danger of explosion when combined with flammable vapors.

Types of Enclosed Spaces

 Cargo tanks  sewage tanks

 Top side tanks  duck keels
 Double bottom tanks  water tanks
 Ballast tank  cofferdams
 Slop tanks  -void spaces

Procedure for Entering Enclosed Space

Many fatalities in enclosed spaces have resulted from entering the space without proper
supervision or adherence to agreed procedures. The procedure for entering enclosed spaces and which
safety equipment to use may vary from ship to ship.

Important Questions to ask before entering enclosed space:

1. Has the space been thoroughly ventilated and oxygen level measured?
2. Have arrangements been made for continuous ventilation?
 3. Has an approved entry permit issued and posted at the entrance?
4. Are rescue and resuscitation equipment available for immediate use beside the compartment
entrance?
5. Has a system of communication between a person at the entrance and those in the space been
agreed upon?

Accident Prevention

 Secure objects that will move due to vessel movement

 Do not blocked the passageways
 Do not ignore warning signs and safety guards
 Always follow the procedures and safe working practices
 Wear protective gears and use safety equipment
 Be fire conscious
 Report any safety hazard and near accidents (close calls) to your head, many accidents can be
avoided if near accidents are reported.

Occupational Health Hazard

 Knowledge of occupational hazard in your ship will make you aware of the importance to take
necessary precautions. These are some of the possible hazards
 Various hazardous substances may be used onboard or carried cargo. Ex. Paints, solvents,
cleaning agents are just some of the hazardous chemical used on board. Your safety officer can
provide information about these chemical. The health and safety considerations, handling
precautions, and first aid, firefighting, and emergency response information.
 Cigarette smoking is a fire hazard and health hazard
 Living in the confined quarters of a ship increases the possibility of transmission of infectious
diseases. Conditions of life on board ship, such as noise, temperature extremes, and confined
areas can stress the human immune system. Protect your personal health by eating regularly
and healthily, get enough rest, exercise and have a good personal hygiene.

Module 2: Safe Practices

Safe Practices

General Safety Procedures:

 No smoking in the hazardous areas

 Cleanliness
 Good housekeeping
 Ability to recognize fire hazards and to take the necessary steps to prevent fires.

Safety in the Engine Room:

 Ensuring insulation and lagging are kept in good condition

 Eliminating oil leaks and preventing accumulation of oil
 Taking proper fire precautions when welding or burning is being carried out.
  Checking that caps and cocks for sounding pipes to oil tanks are closed
 Maintaining a clan engine-room, removing oil-soaked rags.

Safety in the Galley:

 Keeping extraction fan and flue-gas duct clean

 Ensuring cooking oils do not spill on top of the stove or overheat in electrical cooking pans.
 Keeping electrical installation well maintained

Safety in the accommodation:

 No smoking in bed
 No unauthorized electrical fittings
 No emptying of ashtrays into wastepaper bins without ensuring all cigarette ends are
extinguished

Safety in the Cargo Area

 Ensuring hatches are correctly cleaned

 Ensuring cargo stowed and ventilated in accordance with the rules
 Prohibition of smoking during cargo-working period
 Securing of Cargo
 Inserting the atmosphere in cargo compartments when required
 Ensure hold/cargo compartment light are switched off and cargo clusters disconnected, and
removed and stored away after use and before closing hatches.

Need For Constant Vigilance:

 Constant Vigilance
 Preparedness
 Fire control
 Proper watch keeping
 Maintenance of equipment

Fire Hazards on Ships:

Most hazards on a ship are fuel source or ignition sources. The air usually provided enough
oxygen for fire.

Fire Hazards in Engine Room:

 Combustible liquids like fuel and lubricating oils

 Oil leaks and oil- soaked insulation
 Hot surface, e.g. welding, cutting by oxy-acetylene torch
 Auto-ignition, e.g. oil dripping on hot surface
Fire Hazards in the Galley:

 Combustible liquids, e.g. Cooking oil, hot fat

 Hot surfaces, e.g. ovens, frying pans, flues
 Defective electrical connections

Fire Hazard from Cargoes:

 Self-heating cargo and spontaneous combustion

 Oxidizing cargoes and organic peroxides
 Compressed flammable gas
 Explosives

Fire Hazards from Smokers and Cigarettes:

 Temperature of a burning cigarette, which is about 500 degree centigrade

 Carelessness with cigarettes and matches, setting fire to bedclothes, wastepaper bin contents
and furnishings

Module 3 - General Principles of First Aid

Definition of First Aid - is the emergency treatment given to the ill or injured before professional
medical services can be obtained. It is given to prevent death or further jury, to counteract shock, and to
relieved pain. Also it included well-selected words of encouragement, evidence of willingness to help
and promotion of confidence by demonstration of competence. Ample knowledge and skills in first aid
can mean the difference between life and death, between temporary and permanent disability, and
between rapid recovery and long hospitalization.

General Principles of First Aid Aboard Ship:

 Restore breathing and heart beat

 Control bleeding
 Remove poison
 Prevent further injury to the patient
 A rapid, emergency evaluation of the patient should be made immediately at the scene of the
injury to determine the type and extent of the trauma. Because every second may count, only
the essential pieces of the patient’s clothing should be removed.
 In the case of an injured limb, get the sound limb out of the clothing first, and then peel the
clothes off injured limb>if necessary, cut clothes to expose the injured part.
 Keep workers from crowing round.
 The patient’s pulse should be taken. If it cannot be felt at the wrist, it should be felt at the
carotid artery at the side of the neck. If there is no pulse, heart compression and artificial
respiration must be started. The patient should be treated for shock if the pulse is weak and
rapid, or the skin is pale, cold, and possibly moist, with an increased rate shallow, irregular
 breathing. Remember that shock can be great danger to life, and its prevention is one of the
main objectives of first aid.
 The patent should be kept in the position that best provided relief from his injuries, usually this
is lying down position, which increases circulation of the blood to the head.
 The patient should be observe for type of breathing and possible bleeding. If he is not breathing,
mouth to mouth or mouth to nose artificial respiration must be given.
 During this time, the patient, if conscious, should be reassured and told that all possible help is
being given. Rescuer should ask about the location of any painful areas.
 The patient should be kept lying position and moved only when absolutely necessary. The
general appearance of the patient must be observed, including any signs symptoms that may
indicate specific injury or illness.
 The patient should not be moved if injuries of the neck and spine are suspected. Fractures
should be splinted before moving a patient.
 The patient should be covered to prevent loss of body heat
 If necessary, protect him from heat, remembering that in the tropic, the open steel decks on
which he may be lying will usually very hot.
 Wounds and most burns should be covered to prevent infection.
 Once life-saving measures have been started or deemed not necessary, the patient should be
examined more thoroughly for other injuries.
 The patient should not be given alcohol in any form.

Note: never consider anyone dead, until you and others agrees that:

 No pulse can be felt and no sounds are heard when examiners ears is put on the chest.
 Breathing stopped
 The eyes are glazed and sunken
 There is progressive cooling of the body (this may not apply if the surrounding temperature is
close to normal body temperature)

Examples of Accidents:

Bleeding - Defined as the scape of blood from a ruptured blood vessel, externally or internally, Either
way, it is potentially dangerous, causing first weakness and if left uncontrolled, eventually shocked and
death. The most common cause of shock after trauma is bleeding.

Management of Bleeding:

1. Direct Pressure
2. Elevation
3. Pressure point
4. Tourniquet

Shock - A conditions resulting from depressed state of many vital body function thus, blood flowing to
tissues become inadequate to meet the oxygen or nutritional needs of the cell. It is not a disease entity
but can threaten life even though the injuries conditions that cause the depression may not other be
fatal. Shock usually follows severe injuries such as extensive burn, major crushing injuries (particularly of
the skull and abdomen), fractures of large bones and others extensive or extremely painful injuries. It
follows the loss of large quantities of blood, allergic reaction, poisoning from drugs, gases and other
chemicals, alcohol intoxication and the rupture of a stomach ulcer. It may also be associated with many
illnesses such as infections, stroke and heart attack.

TYPES AND CAUSES OF SHOCK

1. Hypovolemic Shock-low blood volume safe resulting from any condition in which body fluid is
lost in sufficient amount to reduce the circulating blood or plasma to a point at which same
organs or cells are deprived of oxygen and essential nutrients. It includes hemorrhage, plasma
loss caused by burns and inflammation and essential body fluids lost as a result of diarrhea and
dehydration.
2. Cardiogenic Shock-result I “PUMP FAILURE”-That is the heart is unable to circulate enough
volume of intravascular fluids commonly causing heart failure.
3. Distributive shock-alteration of blood volume.
4. Obstructive shock- when there is obstruction or blockage in the mainstream of blood flow.

Other types of Shock

 Anaphylactic shock- acute systematic allergic reactions that commonly results from insect or
snake venom or from adverse drug reaction
 Septic shock-due to endotoxin released by disease-producing microorganism in the blood
stream
 Neurogenic shock-Spinal shock (cutting across the spinal cord)
 Fainting- sudden loss of consciousness due to inadequate blood flow to the tissues of the
brain.
 Third space syndrome- due to pooling of fluid in a body space which makes it unobtainable
to circulation.

Signs and Symptoms:

 cold, clammy, pale skin

 A chilly feeling or shaking chills
 Perspiration on the forehead and palms of hands
 shallow breathing
 weak rapid pulse
 vomiting
 thirst

EMERGENCY MEASURES

 have casualty lie down

 comfort and reassure. loosen clothing at the neck, chest and waist to assist breathing and blood
circulation
 do not move casualty, it will increase shock
 if breathing stops, begin c p r

Module 4
ROLE OF MANAGEMENT:

SAFETY OF PERSONNEL

Shipboard Procedure shall be establish and maintain to protect and cure the safety of personnel the
following are included as safety measures:

1. Standard of Safe working practices for general shipboard application for specific type of ship,
type of cargo or any other aspects which may be potential hazards:
2. Maintenance procedures to maintain machinery, equipment and fittings in safe working
condition
3. Emergency procedures to ensure that fire and lifesaving appliances are available for immediate
use.
4. Security procedures as appropriate to combat acts of terrorism or sabotage; and
5. Procedures to protect and preserve the health of the crew.

Safety Training

Safety must be learned by combination of experience, training and persuasion. Although experience
only comes with time, the quality of such can be improved with good training and exposure to provide
solid evidence about the importance of safety.

Tools of Safety Training

1. Visual aids 6. Safety bulletin

2. Notices 7. Poster
3. Fire patrols 8. Marine safety cards
4. Accident records 9. maintenance of safety equipment
5. permit to work system 10. Informal talk

Some of the shipboard accidents are attributed to the following:

1. Lack of training

2. Lack of concentration/Inattention

3. Lack of communication

4. Unsafe/unobservant procedures

5. Lack of work planning

Professionalism and the combination of attitude and expertise necessary to get the job well done are
the best proponents in preventing accident and these are gained through shipboard training.

Comprehensive training in a ship’s systems and equipment must be an integral part of the new
employee indoctrination program and should be repeated until knowledge becomes a second nature.

Watch keeping procedures, ship handling, cargo operations and any other type of shipboard operations
must be carefully orchestrated in order to maintain control. Therefore promulgating and providing the
on board training are essential to ensure that shipboard operation procedures are well under stood.
The primary task of running a safe ship cannot be accomplished by rules and regulations alone. Safety
performance is determined by the decisions and actions of those on board and that safety policy is
established on the principle that safety is everyone’s responsibility.

In order to prevent accidents, it is important to apply corrective actions to the present operational
practices on board ships such as:

1. Improved/correct procedures and/or methods of shipboard operations

2. Improved the training of the ship’s personnel
3. Strengthen the team work.

Team Effectiveness:

The success of each team is dependent upon the varying skills and attributes of the individual team
members as well as upon degree of effectiveness in harnessing such skills through realistic simulation of
all forms of emergency. In selecting the members of an emergency team, the following skills and
attributes should be sought.

1. Firefighting (all members) 8. First aid skill

2. Enclosed space entry (all members using 9. Survival skill
(SCBA)
3. Search and rescue technique 10. knowledge of the ship and its equipment
4. Observant and able to communicate 11. Damage control
5. Electrical skill 12. Physical fitness (age may be consideration)
6. Mechanical skill 13. Self- disciplined (respect for authority)
7. Seamanship skill 14. Team spirit

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