COSWOP Flashcards
Master Responsibilities
Responsibilities
The ship’s Master should ensure that the shipowner’s health and safety policy and procedures are implemented on board ship and clearly communicated to all those working on board. The Master sets the tone for the safety culture on board, and so it is particularly important that they are seen to prioritise health and safety and to encourage others to do the same. The day- to-day implementation of many of the specific duties set out in this notice will be delegated to the Master. The Master may in turn delegate duties but retains overall responsibility on board.
What’s in the book: coswop
• Safety induction.
• Living on board.
• Emergency drills and procedures.
• PPE.
• Safety officials.
• Permit to work.
• Enclosed space entry.
• Work at height.
• Anchoring, mooring and towing operations.
The Master’s responsibility
• The Master is the representative of the Company.
• The Master has the day-to-day responsibility for the safe operation of the ship and the
safety of those on board.
Safety committee, safety officer and roles, safety committee and the chairmen
Under merchant shipping legislation, specific responsibilities are also given to those with designated roles in ensuring the safety of those on the ship. In this chapter, those with a designated safety role on board are referred to as ‘safety officials’, and this term includes safety officers, safety representatives and other members of safety committees.
Appointment of safety officers
On every seagoing ship on which five or more seafarers are employed, the Company is required to appoint a safety officer. The Master must record the appointment of a safety officer - this should be in the official logbook.
The safety officer is the safety adviser aboard the ship and can provide valuable assistance to the Company and to all on board in meeting the statutory responsibilities for health and safety. Some training may be provided on board, but the safety officer should have attended a suitable safety officer’s training course.
The general principle is that the safety officer takes an independent view of safety on behalf of the Company.
Election of safety representatives
On every ship on which five or more seafarers are working, the Company must make arrangements for the election of safety representatives. The regulations specify that no safety representative may have fewer than two years’ consecutive sea service since attaining the age of 18, which in the case of a safety representative on board a tanker shall include at least six months’ service on such a ship.
The Master must record the election or appointment of every safety representative in writing - this should be either in the official logbook or in the minutes of safety committee meetings
Appointment of a safety committee
The Company is required to appoint a safety committee on every ship with five or more seafarers. The committee must be chaired by the Master, and members will include, as a minimum, the safety officer and any elected safety representatives. If practical, in addition to the Company’s competent person, any competent person appointed by other employers should be invited to attend.
The Master must record the appointment of a safety committee in writing - this should normally be in the official logbook or minutes of the committee’s meetings.
The Company and Master, in cooperation with other employers, must also ensure that safety officials have the necessary resources and means. This will include providing any necessary accommodation and office supplies. They should also allow them sufficient time off from their duties without loss of pay, to enable them to fulfil their functions or undertake any necessary health and safety training.
SAFETY INDUCTION
In addition to any appropriate mandatory STCW-approved courses, before being
assigned to shipboard duties, all persons employed or engaged on a ship, other than passengers, shall receive familiarisation training on board and receive sufficient information and instruction to be able to:
• Communicate with other persons on board on elementary safety matters and understand safety information symbols, signs and alarm signals;
• Know what to do if:
– a person falls overboard;
– fire or smoke is detected; or
– the fire or abandon ship alarm is sounded;
• Identify alarm points, muster and embarkation stations, and emergency escape routes;
• Locate and don lifejackets;
• Have knowledge of the use of portable fire extinguishers;
• Take immediate action upon encountering an accident or other medical emergency
before seeking further medical assistance on board; and
• Close and open the fire, weathertight and watertight doors fitted in the particular ship
other than those for hull openings.
How would I conduct the safety meeting as the chairman
The safety committee is a forum for consultation between the Master, safety officials and others of matters relating to health and safety.
It may be used by individual employers for consultation with the Company and seafarers. Its effectiveness will depend on the commitment of its members, in particular that of the Master. Because of its broad membership, and with the Master as its chairman, the committee has the means to take effective action in all matters which it discusses other than those requiring the authorisation of the Company and individual employers. Safety committee meetings should not be used for the purposes of instruction or training.
The frequency of meetings will be determined by circumstances, but the committee should meet regularly, taking into account the pattern of operation of the ship and the arrangement for manning and with sufficient frequency to ensure continuous improvement in safety. In particular, a meeting should also be held after any serious incident or accident on the ship, if the normal meeting is not due within a week.
An agenda (together with any associated documents and papers, and the minutes of the previous meeting) should be circulated to all committee members in sufficient time to enable them to digest the contents and to prepare for the meeting.
The first item on the agenda should always be the minutes of the previous meeting. This allows any correction to the minutes to be recorded and gives the opportunity to report any follow-up action taken.
The last item but one should be ‘any other business’. This enables last-minute items to be introduced, and prevents the written agenda being a stop on discussion. Any other business should be limited to important issues that have arisen since the agenda was prepared. All other items should be submitted for inclusion in the agenda of the next meeting.
Risk assessment
The risk assessment process identifies hazards present in a work undertaking, analyses the level of risk, considers those in danger and evaluates whether hazards are adequately controlled, taking into account any measures already in place.
Effective risk assessments:
• identify all hazards;
• who may be harmed and how;
• likelihood of harm arising;
• the severity of the harm;
• disregard inconsequential risks;
• Record the significant findings;
• improving control measures; and
• review and updating.
Enclosed space as per COSWP
A dangerous (enclosed) space is defined in the regulations as ‘any enclosed or confined space in which it is foreseeable that the atmosphere may at some stage contain toxic or flammable gases or vapours, or be deficient in oxygen, to the extent that it may endanger the life or health of any person entering that space.’
The Master is required to ensure that all unattended dangerous spaces are secured against entry, except when it is necessary to enter.
The Company must have procedures in place for entering and working in dangerous spaces, and it is the Master’s responsibility to ensure these are followed. No person should enter or remain in a dangerous space unless they are trained to do so, and follow the set procedures.
The normal level of oxygen in the atmosphere is 20.8%. Any variation from that may indicate a problem and should be investigated further. For example, when the oxygen reading is 20%, consideration should be given to further testing for toxic gases, where appropriate, because toxic gases may have displaced some oxygen. Once other risks are discounted, a steady reading of at least 20% oxygen by volume should be obtained before entry is permitted.
Adverse weather
If adverse weather is expected, lifelines should be rigged in appropriate locations on deck.
No seafarers should be on deck in conditions that the Master considers adverse weather unless it is considered necessary for the safety of the ship, passengers and crew, or the safety of life at sea. Where possible, work should be delayed until conditions have improved, e.g. until daylight, or until the next port of call.
The lashings of all deck cargo should be inspected and tightened, as necessary, when rough weather is expected. Anchors should be secured and hawse and spurling pipe covers fitted and sealed when rough weather is expected, regardless of the expected voyage duration.
Work on deck during adverse weather should be authorised by the Master and the bridge watch should be informed. A risk assessment should be undertaken, and a permit to work and a company checklist for work on deck in heavy weather completed.
Any seafarers required to go on deck during adverse weather should wear a lifejacket suitable for working in, a safety harness (which can be attached to lifelines) and waterproof personal protective equipment including full head protection and should be equipped with a water- resistant UHF radio. Head-mounted torches should be considered.
Seafarers should work in pairs or in teams. All seafarers should be under the command of a competent person.
