Health and Safety & COSWP

Question 1

What is the Merchant Shipping Health and Safety at work act?

Answer 1

• Health and safety at work act was an EU directive that was implemented into UK Shipping Law as an SI in 1997. It is the framework for the health and safety on board UK flagged ships. COSWP is the guidance for this framework.
• MGN636 explains this act

Question 2

What are the Key Points of Health and Safety at Work Act?

Answer 2

Responsibilities

• Shipowners must provide support so the Master can carry out their duties on board
• Master is responsible for implementing the shipowner’s health and safety policy and creating a safety culture onboard
• Seafarers and Workers must co-operate in implementing the health and safety policy and promote a safety culture onboard

Risk Assessment

• Created for all tasks onboard
• Procedures put in place to remove highlighted risks or reduce them to a minimum

Health and Safety Policy

• A written statement of what it is and how it is implemented
• All seafarers/workers must be made aware of it

Health Surveillance
- Any risks found (in the risk assessment) with tasks, areas or equipment must be clearly identified to the seafarers/workers

Capabilities and Training

• All crew - including temporary workers - shall have adequate training and be capable of carrying out the task
• Company’s duty is to ensure all contractors are familiar with ships health and safety policy and risk assessments

Safety Officer and Consultation
- Every ship >5 seafarers must have a Safety Officer as well as a Safety Committee

Safety Officer Duties

• Key an eye out for potential hazards (safety rounds),
• Promote a safety culture
• Ensure all crew have a safety induction
• Promote safety through posters, booklets and inform the crew of new legislation
• Option to receive feedback and ideas

Safety Committee

• One representative from each department and the Master and Safety Officer
• Discuss concerns and ideas

All PPE must be free

Question 3

What is COSWP?

Answer 3

• The Code of Safe Working Practices the guidance on how to comply with the health and safety policy onboard the ship
• It should be readily available to all workers and seafarers
  Key Chapters
• CH 1 Managing Occupational Health & Safety- includes risk assessments
• CH 2 Safety Induction
• CH 4 Emergency Drills + Procedures
• CH 5 Fire Precautions
• CH 8 PPE
• CH 14 Permits to Work
• CH 15 Enclosed spaces
• CH 17 Working at Height
• CH 22 Boarding Arrangements
• CH 26 Anchoring/mooring/towing