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Safety and health in shipbuilding and ship repair
a) advise management and other persons responsible for OSH,

especially on:
i) the planning and installation of plant, and of welfare
and sanitary facilities;
ii) the acquisition of working equipment and the intro-
duction of work processes; Contents
iii) the selection of PPE;

iv) the organization of workshops, the methods of work
and the working environment; and
v) the daily measurement of oxygen in confined spaces as
well as other general preventive and protective meas-
ures described in chapter 7 of this code.
b) make appropriate safety inspections of working installations
and technical devices, especially before they are put into
service, and of processes, especially before they are brought
into operation;
c) exercise surveillance of OSH measures, and for that purpose:
i) visit workplaces at regular intervals and report any defi-
ciencies to the employer or to other persons responsible
for OSH, and propose measures for remedying such
deficiencies;
ii) observe whether PPE is being used;
iii) investigate the causes of accidents and compile reports on
the causes and circumstances of every lost-time accident,
minor accident and dangerous occurrence, the statistics
produced to be such as to ensure their comparability with
those of other shipbuilding and ship repair facilities;
iv) compile and evaluate the results of investigations and
propose to management measures to prevent the occur-
rence and recurrence of accidents;
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6. Safety and health organization
v) exercise surveillance over the execution of specific acci-

dent prevention measures; and
vi) ensure that official regulations, instructions and other
nationally and internationally recognized instruments
relating to safety and hygiene are complied with;
d) assist workers to comply with the requirements of OSH, Contents
and especially instruct them in the occupational hazards to

which they are exposed and in the equipment and measures
for preventing these hazards, and cooperate and participate
in the periodic training of first-aid workers;
e) if necessary to prevent danger, report to the official occu-
pational health services any unsatisfactory conditions as
regards safety and health that the employer fails to remedy
within a reasonable time; and
f) work in close collaboration with the members of the safety
and health committee and worker safety representatives,
and inform them of all important occurrences and all pro-
posals made.
6.3. Safety and health committees
1. Employers should establish safety and health committees
with representatives of workers and management or make other
suitable arrangements consistent with national laws and regula-
tions for the participation of workers in ensuring safe working
conditions. Representatives of workers and management should
meet regularly, and whenever necessary, to discuss all aspects of
safety and health at the shipbuilding and ship repair facility.
2. The employer should provide the safety and health
committee with the facilities, training and assistance neces-
sary to perform its functions, including all necessary safety and
health information required for committee representatives.
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3. The employer should notify the safety and health

committee:
a) as soon as practicable, of any occupational accident, occupa-
tional disease or dangerous occurrences at the shipbuilding
and ship repair facility; and
b) in good time of any inspection or investigation by the com- Contents
petent authority at the shipbuilding and ship repair facility

regarding which the employer has received advance notice.
4. National laws or regulations should specify the powers
and functions of safety and health committees.
6.4. Worker safety and health representatives
1. Workers have the right to collectively select safety and
health representatives.
2. The safety and health representatives have the following
rights:
a) to represent workers in all matters bearing on safety and
health in the shipbuilding and ship repair facility;
b) to participate in inspections and investigations conducted
by the employer and by the competent authority at the
workplace and monitor and investigate OSH matters;
c) to have recourse to advisers and independent experts;
d) to consult with the employer in a timely fashion on OSH
matters, including policies and procedures;
e) to consult with the competent authority; and
f) to receive, relevant to the area for which they have been
selected, notice of accidents and dangerous occurrences.
3. Workers and safety and health representatives are
entitled to exercise their rights without discrimination or
retaliation.
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6. Safety and health organization
4. Worker safety and health representatives should receive

adequate periodic training in all OSH aspects of the work
during paid working hours.
Contents
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7. General preventive and
protective measures
7.1. General provisions Contents
1. All appropriate precautions should be taken:

a) to ensure that all workplaces are safe through the elimina-
tion or control of hazards to minimize risks to the safety
and health of workers; and
b) to protect persons present at, or in the vicinity of, a ship-
building and ship repair facility from all risks which may
arise from the site or associated shipbuilding and ship repair
operations.
7.2. Means of access and egress
1. Adequate and safe means of access and egress should
be provided for all workplaces during all shipbuilding and ship
repair operations on- and offshore. These means of access and
egress should be maintained in a safe condition.
2. Means of access to vessels should be:
a) where practical, the ship’s accommodation ladder, a gangway,
a service tower, construction elevator or similar appliance;
b) in other cases, ladders, stairs, or, if necessary, adequate step-
ladders or similar appliances; or
c) approved lifting cages.
3. Where portable stairs are used as a means of access to
sections that are being fabricated or outfitted, they should be
equipped with handrails and mid-rails if the height is above
1 m. Portable stairs should have a platform.
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4. Means of access should be:

a) kept free from obstructions;
b) protected against falling objects if they pass under work-
places; and
c) as far as practicable, so installed that no loads pass over Contents
them. In any event, loads should not be passed over the
means of access while workers are on it.
5. Hatches, openings or any other means of access to holds,
ships’ decks or between decks should be provided with safety
barriers. If it is not practicable to provide fixed hold ladders,
portable metal ladders or appropriate wooden ones should be
provided. All ladders should be secured before being used. They
should be used in accordance with section 7.11 of this code.
7.3. Prevention of unauthorized entry
1. Visitors should not be allowed access to shipbuilding
and ship repair facilities or ships, as appropriate, unless accom-
panied by or authorized by a responsible and competent person
and provided with the appropriate PPE and made aware of
emergency procedures and all risks they might be exposed to.
2. Appropriate arrangements concerning access by worker
representatives should be established in accordance with
the provisions of national laws and regulations or collective
agreements.
7.4. Roadways, quays, yards and other places
1. Roadways, quays, yards and other places where persons
or vehicles move or are stationed should be so constructed and
maintained as to be safe for the traffic that they have to carry.
2. To the extent possible vehicular traffic should be physi-
cally separated from pedestrian or bicycle traffic.
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7. General preventive andprotective measures
3. Yards and other places that are surrounded by fencing

should have separate gates for pedestrians and vehicles.
4. Warehouses and workshops should have separate
doors for pedestrians and vehicles or other means of effective
separation.
5. Dedicated travel lines for pedestrians and cyclists Contents
should be established and marked to separate them from

vehicle traffic or crane operation areas. This should be done by
physical barriers, crosswalks and stop signs, and the painting of
yellow lines on the ground of the facility and on the decks of
ships under construction or repair.
6. Dangerous crossings where transport of heavy objects
is carried out should be protected by automatic signals or gates,
whenever possible, or be guarded by watchpersons. Speed limits
should be established for forklift trucks or other heavy traffic,
and all drivers should be trained.
7. Delivery times and/or no-driving periods should be
scheduled to avoid or reduce the need for interaction between
pedestrians and vehicles.
7.5. Transport of workers by water
1. Boats used to transport workers by water should comply
with the requirement of the competent authority. In particular:
a) the boats should be appropriately staffed by a competent
team;
b) the maximum number of persons transported should not be
greater than safety allows, and this number should be dis-
played in a conspicuous place;
c) suitable and adequate life-saving and firefighting appliances
should be provided and properly placed and maintained;
and
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d) boats carrying persons should have a valid certificate issued

by the competent authority.
2. Workers should be embarked and disembarked only at
suitable and safe landing places. Pontoons and landing places
should be provided with sufficiently strong and well-secured
bollards or cleats to which boats can be made fast. They should Contents
be provided with sufficient suitable life-saving appliances.

3. Rafts for work on water should be:
a) sufficiently stable, strong and adapted for their purpose;
b) their capacity and buoyancy should be displayed;
c) be securely moored or anchored;
d) have suitable life-saving equipment; and
e) not be overloaded.
4. If trestle scaffolds are used on rafts, adequate precau-
tions should be taken to prevent the overturn of scaffolds or
rafts.
7.6. Multiple people carriers
1. Before using multiple people carriers such as buses and
aircraft to transport workers to and from a remote shipbuilding
or ship repair facility, or using helicopters to transport workers
to and from a ship requiring repair, consideration should be
given to:
a) whether the transport is absolutely necessary;
b) whether the same purpose could be achieved by another
means (for example, by accommodating workers closer to
the site);
c) the safest mode of transport available (for example, is the
time saved on a notoriously dangerous flight route justified,
compared with road transport or other safer means);
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d) reducing exposure by transporting fewer people, or using

multiple vehicles (for example, conduct a number of flights
to transport key personnel, or use of more and smaller
buses); and
e) whether the weather is safe for transport, particularly in the
case of travel by helicopter. Contents
2. Multiple people carriers should comply with the

requirement of the competent authority. They should be fitted
with seatbelts for drivers or pilots and passengers, and the use
of these belts should be ensured.
3. In the case of aircraft, all workers should be given a pre-
flight safety briefing.
4. Workers should only approach the helicopter when
they have the approval of the pilot to do so. When approaching
or leaving a helicopter with blades rotating, all workers should
remain in full view of the pilot, keep in a crouched position
and stay away from the rear of the helicopter. Anyone entering
a helicopter should have received suitable training, wear a safety
suit and there should be no loose items inside the helicopter.
5. The age and the mechanical and design integrity of
the multiple people carrier should be assessed by a competent
person to ensure that the transport is fit for purpose. There
should be regular inspection and maintenance of critical con-
trols (for example, braking and steering systems).
6. Only reputable and licensed transport providers should
be used, and their credentials and past performance should be
checked.
7. The operator of the multiple people carrier (driver,
pilot) should be licenced and have an acceptable level of com-
petence (qualifications, skill and experience), and his or her
licences and past performance should be checked.
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7.7. Heating, cooling and ventilation

7.7.1. Heating and cooling
1. Where necessary to prevent danger or preserve health
and to provide adequate comfort, workplaces indoors and
enclosed spaces on board should be:
Contents
a) adequately heated in cold weather; and
b) adequately cooled by ventilation in hot weather.
7.7.2. Ventilation
1. Whenever natural ventilation does not ensure safe and
healthy conditions with regard to temperature and the composi-
tion of the atmosphere, artificial ventilation should be provided.
2. If necessary to prevent danger, local exhaust ventilation
should be provided at places where dust, gas, vapour, steam,
mist or fumes are formed.
3. If it is not practicable to ventilate workplaces sufficiently
to ensure safe and healthy conditions, the workers should be
provided with suitable respirators. In accordance with section
7.9, whenever there is the potential for an unsafe atmosphere to
accumulate, such as a confined space, the air should be tested
for oxygen level and for the presence of flammable, explosive
or toxic substances and the area made safe before any person is
allowed to enter.
4. Compressed air should not be used for ventilation
unless supplied by unit approved for the delivery of respirable
air and the air has been cleaned, temperature controlled and
pressure regulated to safe levels.
5. Oxygen should never be used for ventilation.
6. Polluted or stale air should be so led off that it cannot
cause any risk of fire, explosion or illness.
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7.8. Housekeeping
1. A suitable housekeeping programme should be estab-
lished and continuously implemented on each shipbuilding
and ship repair facility and on each ship under construction or
repair. It should include provisions for:
a) the proper storage of materials and equipment; and Contents
b) the removal, at appropriate intervals, of scrap, waste and

debris.
2. Loose materials which are not required for immediate
use should not be placed or allowed to accumulate on the site
so as to dangerously obstruct means of access to and egress
from workplaces and passageways.
3. Workplaces and passageways that are slippery owing to
oil or other causes should be cleaned up or strewn with sand,
sawdust, ash or the like.
4. Tools, bolts, nuts and other objects should not be left
lying about where they could create a tripping hazard.
5. Scrap, waste, rubbish and dirt should not be allowed to
accumulate at workplaces or in passageways.
6. Rubbish, dirt and refuse should not be thrown over-
board and should be removed in an environmentally sus-
tainable manner according to internationally recognized
instruments.
7.9. Dangerous atmospheres and confined spaces
1. Where workers are required to enter any area in which
a toxic or harmful substance may be present, or may have been
present, or in which there may be an oxygen deficiency or a
flammable atmosphere, adequate measures should be taken to
guard against danger.
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2. The measures to be taken regarding dangerous atmos-

pheres should be prescribed by the competent authority in
conformity with the IMO recommendations for entering
enclosed spaces aboard ships (Appendix 5 to IMO Resolution
A.962(23)) and should include prior permission from a com-
petent person, or in conformity with any other system by Contents
which entry into any area in which a dangerous atmosphere

may be present can be made, only after completing specified
procedures.
3. Confined spaces should have signs to prevent inad-
vertent entry.
4. Inside a confined space or area, no naked light or flame
or hot work should be permitted unless the level of flammable
or explosive gas is lower than the level specified in national
regulation, and it has been tested and found safe by a compe-
tent person. Only explosion-proof lights, and tools should be
used inside such confined space or area for initial inspection,
cleaning or other work required to be done for making the area
safe. Any gas used in production should be removed from the
space at the end of the shift.
5. While a worker is in a confined space:
a) adequate facilities and equipment, including breathing
apparatus, first-aid kit, resuscitation apparatus and oxygen,
should be readily available for rescue purposes;
b) a fully trained attendant(s) should be stationed at or near
the opening and should have no other assignments;
c) suitable means of communication should be maintained
between the worker and the attendant(s); and
d) means should be available for the attendant(s) to effect
rescue from the confined space without the necessity of they
themselves entering it.
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7.10. Scaffolds
7.10.1. General
1. Where work cannot safely be done on or from the
ground, or from part of a ship or other permanent structure,
a safe and suitable scaffold, or other equally safe and suitable
provision, should be provided and maintained. Contents
2. The competent authority should establish and enforce

laws and regulations and other nationally and internationally
recognized instruments covering detailed technical provisions
for the design, construction, erection, use, maintenance, dis-
mantling and inspection of the different kinds of scaffolds and
ladders used.
3. Scaffolds should be provided with safe means of access,
such as gangways, stairways or ladders. Ladders should be
secured against inadvertent movement.
4. Every scaffold and part thereof should be:
a) designed so as to prevent hazards for workers and collapse
or accidental displacement when properly used;
b) designed so that guard rails and other protective devices,
platforms, putlogs, rakers, transoms, ladders, stairs or ramps,
as appropriate, can be easily put together; and
c) of adequate size and strength for the purpose for which it is
to be used and maintained in a proper condition.
5. Scaffolds over the height specified by national regula-
tions should not be erected, substantially altered or dismantled
except by or under the supervision of a competent person, and
properly signed.
7.10.2. Materials
1. Sufficient suitable and sound material should be pro-
vided and used in the construction of scaffolds.
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2. Materials used in the construction of scaffolds should

be stored under good conditions and apart from any material
unsuitable for scaffolds.
3. All tubes, couplers and fittings used in metal tubular
scaffolding should be of a standard and type approved by the
competent authority or certifying body. All couplers and fit- Contents
tings should be free from damage and distortion, and should

be maintained in a clean and operable condition.
4. Couplers should not cause deformation in tubes.
Couplers should be made of drop-forged steel or equivalent
material.
5. Tubes should be free from cracks, splits and excessive
corrosion and be straight to the eye, and tube ends cut cleanly
square with the tube axis.
6. No rope which is defective, whether through contact
with acids or other corrosive substances or otherwise, should be
used on scaffolds.
7.10.3. Design and construction
1. Scaffolds should be designed for their maximum load
and with a safety factor of at least four, or as prescribed by the
competent authority.
2. Scaffolds should be adequately braced.
3. Scaffolds which are not designed to be independent
should be rigidly connected to the vessel at suitable vertical and
horizontal distances.
4. Anchoring is needed if the scaffold is higher than 10 m.
5. A scaffold should never extend above the highest
anchorage to an extent which might endanger its stability and
strength.
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6. All scaffolds and appliances used as supports for

working platforms should be of sound construction, have a
firm footing, and be adequately strutted and braced to main-
tain their stability.
7. Drain pipes, ladder rungs or other unsuitable mate-
rial should not be used for the construction or support of Contents
scaffolding.
8. When necessary to prevent danger from falling objects,
working platforms, gangways and stairways of scaffolds should
be provided with overhead screens of adequate strength and
dimensions.
9. Nails should be driven full length, and not driven part
way and then bent over, and should not be subject to direct
pull.
10. Metal scaffolds should not be erected in closer prox-
imity than 5 m to overhead electricity transmission lines equip-
ment except in accordance with safety distances laid down by
the competent authority or after the electrical transmission line
or equipment has been rendered electrically dead.
11. As far as practicable, every part of a working platform,
gangway or stairway of a scaffold from which a person is liable
to fall a distance of 2 m or as prescribed in the national laws or
regulations, should be provided with guard rails and toe boards
complying with the relevant nationally and internationally rec-
ognized instruments.
7.10.4. Prefabricated scaffolds
1. In the case of prefabricated scaffold systems the
instructions provided by the manufacturers or suppliers should
be strictly adhered to. Prefabricated scaffolds should have ade-
quate arrangements for fixing bracing.
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2. Frames of different types should not be intermingled in

a single scaffold.
7.10.5. Use of scaffolds
1. The employer should provide competent supervision to
ensure that all scaffolds are used appropriately and only for the Contents
purpose for which they are designed or erected.
2. In transferring heavy loads on or to a scaffold a sudden
shock should not be transmitted to the scaffold.
3. When necessary to prevent danger, loads being hoisted
on or to scaffolds should be controlled, that is by a hand rope
(tag line), so that they cannot strike against the scaffold.
4. The load on the scaffold should be evenly distributed,
as far as practicable, and in any case should be so distributed as
to avoid disturbance of the stability of the scaffold.
5. During the use of a scaffold, care should constantly be
taken that it is not overloaded or otherwise misused.
6. Scaffolds should not be used for the storage of material
except that required for immediate use.
7. Platforms on scaffolds should be of adequate dimension,
especially in width, for the tasks performed from the scaffold.
8. Scaffolds should be covered in order to prevent rain or
winds affecting welding or other hot work.
9. Workers should not be employed on external scaffolds
in weather conditions that threaten their safety.
7.10.6. Lifting appliances on scaffolds
1. When a lifting appliance is to be used on a scaffold:
a) the parts of the scaffold should be carefully inspected by
a competent person to determine the additional strength-
ening and other safety measures required;
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b) any movement of the putlogs should be prevented;

c) if practicable, the uprights should be rigidly connected to a
solid part of the vessel at the place where the lifting appli-
ance is erected.
7.10.7. Inspection and maintenance Contents
1. Scaffolds, as prescribed by national laws and regulations

or other nationally and internationally recognized instruments,
should be inspected, and the results recorded by a competent
person:
a) before being taken into use;
b) at periodic intervals thereafter as prescribed for different
types of scaffolds; and
c) after any alteration, interruption in use, exposure to weather
or seismic conditions or any other occurrence likely to have
affected their strength or stability.
2. Inspection by the competent person should more par-
ticularly ascertain that:
a) the scaffold is of suitable type and adequate for the job;
b) materials used in its construction are sound and of sufficient
strength;
c) it is of sound construction and stable; and
d) that the required safeguards are in position.
3. Every scaffold should be maintained in good and proper
condition, and every part should be kept fixed or secured so
that no part can be displaced in consequence of normal use.
7.10.8. Dismantling
1. Scaffolding materials should not be thrown from scaf-
folds or from heights. Other materials should only be thrown
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from scaffolds or heights where the landing area has been des-
ignated, protected, appropriate notices displayed, and is under
the supervision of a person on the landing level.
2. Sufficient putlogs and transoms should remain in posi-
tion and securely fastened to the ledgers, uprights or standards,
to ensure the stability of the scaffold until it is finally dismantled. Contents
3. No scaffold should be partly dismantled and left so that

it is capable of being used, unless it continues to be safe for use.
7.10.9. Suspended scaffolds
1. In addition to the requirements for scaffolds in general
as regards soundness, stability and protection against the risk
of falls, suspended scaffolds should meet the following specific
requirements in so far as such requirements are applicable:
a) platforms should be designed and built with dimensions
that are compatible with the stability of the structure as a
whole, especially the length;
b) the number of anchorages should be compatible with the
dimensions of the platform;
c) the safety of workers should be safeguarded by an extra rope
having a point of attachment independent of the anchorage
arrangements of the scaffold;
d) the anchorages and other elements of support of the scaffold
should be designed and built in such a way as to ensure suf-
ficient strength;
e) the ropes, electric motors, winches, pulleys or pulley blocks
should be designed, assembled, used and maintained
according to the requirements established for lifting gear
adapted to the lifting of persons according to national laws
and regulations, or other nationally and internationally rec-
ognized instruments; and
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f) before use, the whole structure should be checked by a com-

petent person.
7.10.10. Platforms attached to lifting appliances
and mobile elevated working platforms
1. If necessary to prevent danger when a working platform Contents
is attached to a lifting appliance, the lifting appliance should be
provided with means of positively locking the supports so as to
prevent inadvertent movement of the platform.
2. If necessary to prevent danger, the lifting appliance
operator should remain at the controls while the platform is in
use.
3. If the platform is suspended, adequate precautions
should be taken against swinging and spinning.
4. Lifting bridles of working platforms suspended from
cranes should:
a) have four legs such that the stability of the platform is
ensured; and
b) be attached to the crane rope by safety hooks, shackles or
other means that effectively prevent them from disengaging
from the crane rope.
5. If the platform is rigidly attached to the lifting appli-
ance, adequate precautions should be taken to prevent it from
tilting during raising and lowering.
6. While the platform is in use the lifting appliance should
not be moved on any surface. The lifting appliance should be
so installed and fixed that its position cannot be changed by
either the load or by any other influence.
7. All lifting appliances used with working platforms
should be fitted with over-hoisting limit switches.
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7.10.11. Mobile scaffolding

1. Scaffolding supported on wheels should be adequately
braced and stiffened to prevent dangerous distortion in use
and, if necessary for stability, be adequately weighted at the
base.
2. Mobile scaffolding should be used only on a firm, level Contents
surface.
3. The height of mobile scaffolding should not exceed four
times the lesser base dimension.
4. Ladders giving access to mobile scaffolding should be
secured to the structure.
5. When mobile scaffolding is in use the castors or wheels
should be adequately blocked.
6. No person, material or tool should be on scaffolding
that is being moved.
7.11. Ladders
1. Ladders are not designed to replace working platforms.
2. Leaning ladders should be used only as a temporary way
to access points of work. The angle should be approximately 75
degrees or a 1:4 ratio.
3. Workers should inspect ladders prior to use. If the
ladder is damaged, it must be removed from service and tagged
until repaired or discarded.
4. Rungs, cleats and steps of ladders must not be spaced
less than 25 cm apart, nor more than 36 cm apart, along the
ladder’s side rails.
5. Labels and markings on the ladder should be read and
followed. Ladders and appropriate accessories (for example ladder
levellers, jacks or hooks) should be used only for their designed
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purpose. Ladders must not be used beyond their maximum

intended load nor beyond their manufacturer’s rated capacity.
6. Ladders should be maintained free of oil, grease and
other slipping hazards. Rungs of metal ladders should be corru-
gated or treated to prevent slipping.
7. Unless secured to prevent accidental movement, ladders Contents
should be used only on stable and level surfaces. They should

not be used on slippery surfaces unless secured or provided
with slip-resistant feet to prevent accidental movement.
8. When placed in areas such as passageways, doorways or
driveways, or where they can be displaced by workplace activi-
ties, ladders should be secured to prevent accidental movement,
or a barricade should be used to keep traffic or activity away
from the ladder.
9. Hand ladders for access should extend at least 1 m
beyond the platform.
10. Areas around the top and bottom of ladders should be
kept clear.
11. Before using the ladder, workers should check overhead
and avoid using it near power lines or exposed energized elec-
trical equipment. Metal ladders should not be used in prox-
imity of electrical equipment.
12. Rope ladders should be used only as supplementary
means of access to holds.
13. Workers using ladders should:
a) leave both hands free for climbing up and down;
b) face the ladder;
c) avoid wearing slippery boots or shoes; and
d) avoid carrying heavy or bulky loads that could cause loss of
balance and falling.
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14. Ladders should not be moved while a person or equip-

ment is on the ladder.
15. If objects have to be carried on ladders, belts or other
suitable means should be provided and used for the purpose.
16. If a task requires staying up for more than 30 minutes
at a time, the use of scaffolds should be considered. Contents
17. Painted wooden ladders and improvised hand ladders

should not be used.
18. To ensure effective inspection ladders should never
be painted or coated in any way that could conceal defects or
cover up the manufacturers’ specifications or capacity labels.
7.12. Precautions against the fall of persons and materials
1. The competent authority should establish regulations,
specifying requirements for fall prevention or work at height.
This should include the requirements for preventing falls from
height; the certification, inspection, testing and use of fall-pre-
vention and fall-protection equipment; and the required con-
trols to prevent falling objects striking a person.
2. The employer should perform a risk assessment to iden-
tify and assess tasks that involve a risk of a person falling from
height. Based on the risk assessment, there should be a fall-pre-
vention programme developed. The programme should include:
a) procedures for working at height;
b) a process for preparing, testing and implementing emer-
gency rescue procedures for fall scenarios; and
c) the certification, provision, use inspection, testing and main-
tenance of fall-prevention and fall-protection equipment.
3. The employer should perform a risk assessment to
identify and assess the situations, tasks or equipment where
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there could be an unplanned release from height of any

object, equipment, component, material, among other things.
Particular attention should be paid to work, either routine or
non-routine, where persons are working above other persons.
Based on the assessment, each shipbuilding and ship repair
facility should develop control strategies for the prevention of Contents
falling objects or protecting persons from the risk of falling

objects.
4. Elimination of the risk of a fall from height is a pri-
ority and there should be processes in place to assess the work
and minimize the need for working at any height, including
bringing components to ground level to perform maintenance,
among other things.
5. In any case, where there is a risk of falling, greater than
the height specified by national regulations, either fall preven-
tion or fall protection equipment should be used.
6. Where work at height occurs, the employer should
develop work at heights procedures and a permitting process.
This should include a process for preparing, testing and imple-
menting emergency rescue procedures for fall scenarios.
7. The employer should develop a procedure to define
barricading requirements where there is a risk of falling over
an unprotected edge and barricading or protective covers
where there is a risk of falling through an opening. The pro-
cedures should also address the control measures required to
prevent or protect a person from falling through a brittle sur-
face, for example, working on or accessing roofs among other
things.
8. Where elimination of the fall risk is not possible,
there should be a process to reduce the risk of falling by using
fall-prevention measures that include:
75
a) fixed and temporary work platforms, access ways, barriers,

and so forth, including scaffolding, mobile work platforms,
among other things; and
b) fall restraint, which should only be used when elimination
of the fall risk, the use of work platforms or hard barri-
cading cannot be used. Fall restraint should prevent a person Contents
reaching a position at which there is a risk of a fall and con-

sist of a harness, connected by a lanyard to an anchorage
point or static line.
9. Fall-prevention measures should be designed, installed,
maintained and certified in accordance with national laws and
by competent, authorized persons. There should be processes
and procedures for the inspection, maintenance, testing and
certification of these.
10. Wherever practical, a safe working area should be pro-
vided by means of work platforms or scaffolds that have com-
plete floors, guardrails, toe-boards, and safe access and egress.
11. Where mobile work platforms are used for fall preven-
tion, there should be a process for ensuring these are compliant
with national laws and regulations or nationally and interna-
tionally recognized instruments and that they are inspected
to manufacturers’ pre-operational check requirements prior to
use. When operating a mobile work platform:
a) a competent and authorized person should be designated to
control the mobile work platform and that person should be
inside the basket; and
b) every person in the mobile work platform basket should be
attached to an approved anchorage point at all times.
12. Where the above fall-prevention strategies cannot be
used, fall protection or fall arrest systems should be used. A
fall-arrest system should only be used where a person:
76
a) can reach a position where a fall is possible;

b) has a lanyard, adjustable in length, so the unprotected edge
can be reached; and
c) is working on a surface that may not hold their weight.
13. The fall-arrest system should consist of:
a) an approved body harness; Contents
b) a shock-absorbing lanyard, where the potential to fall is

greater than 4 m or a short restraining lanyard, where the
potential to fall is less than 4 m;
c) double or triple action snap hooks (or karabiner type rings);
and
d) secure anchorage points or static lines.
14. There should be a process for ensuring that arrest equip-
ment, including harnesses, shock-absorbing lanyards, hooks
or rings are tested and certified for use; inspected by the user
before use; and destroyed after a fall or where inspection shows
evidence of excessive wear or mechanical malfunction.
15. Permanent anchorage points should be designed and
rated to take the required load and be periodically inspected
by a competent person. Temporary anchorage points must be
assessed by a competent person prior to use to ensure they can
support the required load.
16. Work from portable ladders should be minimized.
If required, it should be carried out in accordance with an
approved procedure. Portable ladders should be safely stored,
inspected before use and maintained. A person may climb or
descend a ladder without fall protection provided that they are
able to use both hands and legs to do so; facing the ladder, and
using one step at a time. Where a person could fall more than 6
m, or as specified by national regulations, a fixed ladder instal-
lation should be fitted with a side screen, or a ladder cage.
77
17. Where overhead work is being conducted, barricading

should be erected around the work area to prevent people
accessing the drop zone and there should be controls in place
to prevent tools, equipment or other objects from falling.
18. Waste materials or objects should not be thrown down
from heights. If material and objects cannot be safely lowered Contents
from heights, adequate precautions should be taken, such as the

provision of fencing or barriers.
19. Loose articles should not be left lying about in places
where they could fall on persons underneath.
20. Workers employed at elevated workplaces should be
provided with containers for screws, bolts, nuts and the like.
21. There should be training and competency assessment in
accordance with national laws and regulations or other nation-
ally and internationally recognized instruments so that rele-
vant persons are trained and deemed competent to:
a) work at heights;
b) issue working at heights permits;
c) design, erect, dismantle, maintain and inspect work plat-
forms and scaffolds;
d) design, install, inspect and maintain anchorage points and
static lines;
e) operate and maintain mobile work platforms; and
f) inspect and maintain scaffolding and working at heights
equipment.
7.13. Fire prevention and firefighting
1. All appropriate measures should be taken by the
employer to:
a) avoid the risk of fire;
78
b) control quickly and efficiently any outbreak of fire; and

c) bring about a quick and safe evacuation of persons.
2. The employer in charge of the shipbuilding and ship
repair facility should provide for the establishment of a team
or teams of trained persons, compatible with the size of the
facility and the number of persons employed, to be deployed in Contents
case of fire.
3. National laws or regulations should establish standards
requiring automatic fire sensor and warning device systems to
be used to actuate deluge-type water systems, foam generator
systems, multipurpose dry-powder systems, or other equivalent
automatic fire suppression systems. Smoke detection and alarm
systems should be installed as early as possible. Alarm system
and evacuation testing should be carried out at least once
during the construction or repair of a ship.
4. Sufficient and secure storage areas should be provided
for flammable liquids and solids and gases, such as liquefied
petroleum gas (LPG) tanks and acetylene cylinders, paints
and other such materials. The storage tanks for flammable
liquids and gases should be earthed to discharge the accumu-
lation of static energy. The trucks loading or unloading fuel
from tanks should also be earthed before connecting to the
tanks.
5. Smoking should be prohibited and “No smoking”
notices prominently displayed in all places containing readily
combustible or flammable materials. Employers should con-
sider introducing a non-smoking policy and enforce it.
6. In confined spaces and other places in which flammable
gases, vapours or dusts can cause danger:
a) only suitably protected electrical installations and equip-
ment, including portable lamps, should be used;
79
b) there should be no naked flames or similar means of

ignition;
c) there should be notices prohibiting smoking;
d) oily rags, waste and clothes or other substances liable to
spontaneous ignition should be removed without delay to a
safe place; Contents
e) adequate ventilation should be provided; and

f) persons wearing clothes likely to cause static electricity or
shoes likely to cause sparks should be excluded.
7. Combustible materials, greasy or oily waste, and scrap
wood or plastics should be kept in closed containers made of
non-combustible material in a safe place.
8. Regular inspections should be made of places where
there are fire risks. These include the vicinity of heating
appliances, electrical installations and conductors, stores of
flammable and combustible materials, welding and cutting
operations.
9. Welding, flame cutting and other hot work should only
be done on the orders of a competent person, after appropriate
precautions are taken, as required, to reduce the risk of fire and
explosion.
10. In accordance with national laws and regulations,
places where the danger of fire has been identified should be
provided with:
a) suitable and sufficient fire-extinguishing equipment, which
should be readily available, and easily visible and accessible;
and
b) an adequate water supply at ample pressure.
11. Fire-extinguishing equipment should be selected and
provided in accordance with the provisions of internationally
80
recognized instruments and national laws and regulations, the

results of the initial hazard identification and risk assessment
and based on the processes identified in the safe workplans.
Equipment deployed should be suitable for, and consistent
with, the following demands and applications:
a) the restricted access, egress and confined spaces inside the Contents
ship;
b) the quantity and characteristics of hazardous, flammable
and explosive substances handled in shipbuilding and ship
repair operations;
c) site transport and storage facilities; and
d) first-stage firefighting purposes (hand-held or trol-
ley-mounted portable firefighting extinguishers).
12. Fire-extinguishing equipment should be properly main-
tained in full working order and inspected and tested at suit-
able intervals by a competent person in accordance with the
manufacturers’ recommendations. Access to fire-extinguishing
equipment, such as hydrants, portable extinguishers and con-
nections for hoses, should be kept clear at all times.
13. Suitable training, instruction and information should
be given to all supervisors and a sufficient number of both men
and women workers about the hazards of fires, the appropriate
precautions to be taken and the use of fire-extinguishing equip-
ment, so that adequate trained personnel are readily available
during all working periods. The training, instruction and
information provided should include, in particular:
a) the circumstances in which workers should not attempt to
deal with a fire themselves, but should evacuate the area and
call in firefighters;
b) when and where to raise the alarm;
81
c) the action to be taken in the event of fire, including the use

of means of escape;
d) the correct use of firefighting and fire-protection equipment,
for workers expected to use it;
e) the toxic nature of the fumes given off and first-aid measures;
f) the proper use of appropriate PPE; and Contents
g) evacuation plans and procedures.

14. Sufficient, suitable and effective means (sight and sound
signals) should be installed to give warning in case of fire. There
should be an effective evacuation plan so that all persons are
evacuated speedily without panic.
15. Notices should be posted at conspicuous places, indi-
cating, if applicable:
a) the nearest fire alarm;
b) the telephone number and address of the nearest emergency
services; and
c) the nearest first-aid post.
7.14. Means of escape in case of fire or other dangers
1. Means of escape should be kept clear at all times.
2. Escape routes should be frequently inspected and con-
tinuously modified on the ship according to the progress of
the construction and repair work. Where appropriate, suitable
visual signs should be provided to indicate clearly the direction
of escape in case of fire.
3. Means of escape should be:
a) provided on the ship and from the ship during all construc-
tion and repair operations;
b) clearly marked; during night work this should be done with
emergency lighting; and
82
c) shown on plans, which should be posted at the access to and

inside the ship and landside facilities, as appropriate.
4. In order to provide adequate emergency access to and
from the ship, there should always be a minimum of two sep-
arate points of access. These should be located as far apart as is
practicable and, where possible, on opposite sides and ends of Contents
the ship.
5. Where there is a large workforce in a confined space
such as an engine room or pump room, consideration should be
given to cutting an access point through the hull to the space.
In any event, a safe clear way should always be maintained from
the lower to the main deck level.
7.15. Signs, notices, colour codes and communication
1. Signs and symbols are a very effective method of
warning against hazards and of presenting information in a
non-linguistic form. Safety signs and notices should conform
in shape and colour to the requirements of the competent
authority. Signs should be posted to ensure that workers are
not unnecessarily exposed to hazards.
2. The contents of portable fire extinguishers should be
indicated by a colour code, in compliance with the requirements
of the competent authority. Each fire extinguisher should have
a label affixed to it providing instructions for its use.
3. Various technical standards exist for the colour coding
of electrical wiring cores and care should always be taken to
ensure that personnel are aware of the meaning of the core col-
ours on board each ship. If a replacement is required, it should
be in accordance with the coding system.
4. Gas cylinders should be clearly marked with the
name and symbol of the gas and the body should be coloured
83
according to its contents. A colour coding card should be

provided.
5. Protocols for communicating via radios or other elec-
tronic means should be established to ensure that the risk of
misunderstanding is minimized, particularly for critical infor-
mation. These protocols should be conveyed to all involved in Contents
such activities and strictly monitored.
84
8. Operational planning
8.1. General requirements

1. Safe ship construction and repair requires facilities Contents
to plan operations in advance and to continually review such
plans as operations are carried out and completed. Shipbuilding
and ship repair facilities should prepare safe workplans for each
operation or task in advance to ensure the safety and health of
workers.
2. By segmenting shipbuilding and ship repair processes
and operations, tasks that are hazardous for the safety and
health of workers can be identified and quantified more easily.
Using this approach, the construction and repair of ships can
be undertaken in a controlled and managed manner and
the safety and health of workers can be protected by elim-
inating or minimizing any risks involved in the work to be
undertaken.
3. Operational planning should also be a means of sys-
tematically improving working conditions. The benefits of the
sound planning of shipbuilding and ship repair operations
include a reduction in the number and severity of occupational
accidents and increased productivity through the adoption of
safe work practices and the associated psychological assurance
borne out of knowing that control is being exercised at the
workplace.
4. Shipbuilding and ship repair facilities should promote
a “safety first” culture and reassure workers through the pro-
vision of health services, workers’ health surveillance (see
Appendix I), surveillance of the working environment (see
Appendix II) and other welfare and social security benefits.
85
8.2. Preparation of safe workplans

1. Safe workplans should be developed by competent per-
sons possessing a thorough knowledge of safe shipbuilding and
ship repair practices and procedures, in consultation with all
workers and their representatives, and should include the nec-
essary precautionary and preventive measures to safeguard the Contents
safety and health of workers.

2. To prepare a safe workplan, the work processes involved
in the specific shipbuilding or ship repair operation, including
surface preparation, painting, welding, work in enclosed spaces
and other key operations, should be examined carefully to iden-
tify the tasks that make up each operation. Each task should
then be analysed to determine the hazards involved, assess the
risks and devise suitable means of performing the task as safely
as possible.
3. When preparing safe workplans, consideration should
be given to:
a) the selection of appropriate and adequate preventive and
protective measures for each operation or task, using infor-
mation on safety and health measures from international
and national sources, as appropriate;
b) consideration of any additional requirements, such as
responsibility, accountability, supervision, competence and
training, and OSH requirements in relation to purchasing,
leasing and contract specifications; and
c) the required PPE or protective clothing that is adapted for
use for both women and men.
4. Model safe plans may be developed with input at the
initial stages from managers, supervisors and workers, and then
adapted to specific ships as information and details are acquired
for each ship to be constructed or repaired. As the plans are
86
developed, input should be sought from specialists and con-

tractors who are likely to become involved in the actual opera-
tion, in accordance with the specific ship to be constructed or
repaired.
5. In the case of ship repair, the shipowner should provide
information on any hazardous substance and the ship’s condi- Contents
tion upon arrival, including specific information on the con-

tents of cargo tanks, before any repair work is carried out in
cargo and ballast tanks, void spaces, pipe tunnels, cofferdams,
pump rooms and empty fuel and lubrication oil tanks. This
should be verified by the employer using suitable detectors to
measure the levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide vapours and toxic
gasses. This information should be used to adapt safe work-
plans, if necessary.
6. Safe workplans applicable to each operation and task
should be readily available to the workers involved in a lan-
guage that they understand. Such plans may include photos for
ease of understanding. Each worker and team should review
the safe workplan for the task before performing it for the first
time, and frequently thereafter.
7. All workers should receive induction and basic safety
training in safe working operations and tasks, and be issued
with relevant PPE and protective clothing, whenever appro-
priate. Trained workers with tested competence and specialized
skills should be used for demanding and hazardous tasks iden-
tified in the safe workplan.
8. All safe workplans should be designed to protect against
fatigue by the provision of reasonable hours of work, rest days
at reasonable intervals, the necessary breaks during working
hours (especially when the work is strenuous, dangerous or
monotonous) and an acceptable workload.
87
9. Regular meetings between the employer, workers, main

contractors and safety and health committee representatives
should be held to update the safe workplans.
8.3. Permit-to-work system
8.3.1. Application Contents
1. This section should apply to the following types of

high-risk work:
a) work which involves the use of any hazardous, volatile, cor-
rosive or flammable chemical, material or solvent in signifi-
cant quantities;
b) work involving entry into any confined space;
c) work at heights;
d) spray painting work;
(e) abrasive blasting work carried out in a confined space;
f) testing or dismantling of any pipe or equipment that con-
tains steam or contains, or had contained, oil or substances
that are flammable, toxic or corrosive;
g) ballasting and de-ballasting of a ship;
h) repair or maintenance work carried out on the hydraulic
system of a ship;
i) bunkering and transferring of fuel oil;
j) radiography work;
k) pressure testing;
l) electrical work;
m) such other work as the competent authority may specify;
and
n) such other work identified as high-risk by the employer.
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8.3.2. Implementation of permit-to-work system

1. Where any high-risk work is or is to be carried out,
it should be the duty of the employer in charge of the ship-
building or ship repair facility to:
a) develop and implement a permit-to-work system; and
b) appoint a workplace safety and health officer or a competent Contents
person to issue a permit to work.

2. The permit-to-work system should provide that:
a) the high-risk work is carried out with due regard to the
safety and health of persons carrying out the work; and
b) such persons are informed of the hazards associated with
the high-risk work and the precautions they have to take.
3. Where any high-risk work is or is to be carried out,
it should be the duty of the employer under whose direction
any person carries out the high-risk work, to ensure that no
such high-risk work is carried out without a permit to work in
respect of that high-risk work.
89
9. Health and safety requirements for the
most common hazardous operations and
tasks in the construction and repair
of ships
Contents
9.1. Docks and docking operations

1. Wet, dry and floating docks should be provided at
approximate places with life-saving equipment such as life-
saving buoys.
2. When a vessel is entering or leaving a dock, only the per-
sons required for the docking or undocking operation should
be on board. During the docking or undocking operation, the
workers should remain on the open deck. The only exceptions
to this rule should be the persons required to operate the vessel.
3. During docking and undocking operations, the dock
should be securely closed so that persons not engaged in the
operation are not exposed to danger. Cranes in floating docks
should always be secured against any inadvertent movement
during docking or undocking operations.
4. Before docking and undocking of the ship, the stability
of the operation should be checked by the dock manager in
cooperation with the competent ship’s officer.
5. Before floating the dock, an inspection of the valves and
draining openings in the bottom and side of the ship should be
carried out to ensure that the openings are closed and properly
secured.
6. Tankers that are carrying or have carried volatile liq-
uids as cargo should not enter a dock unless their cargo tanks,
91
spaces and piping have been emptied, cleaned, ventilated, and

tested for gas, and the master has obtained a certificate from
the competent authority, or its authorised representative, that
there is no fire or explosion hazard connected with the vessel.
7. Before work begins on a vessel in dock it should be
cleared of silt, dirt or ice, and be cleaned; the hull should be Contents
earthed; the propellers and the rudder should be blocked; and

the fire-extinguishing system should be connected to the dock
water mains.
8. Temporary piping, hose or electric cables laid from the
shore to the vessel should be supported on ladders, gangways
or the like. Piping, hose and cables should be kept clear of the
passageway on gangways.
9.2. Hull construction
1. Hulls under construction should be so fixed as to be
incapable of overturning. The safety factor against tipping
should be at least 1.5. Measures to ensure stability should
include:
a) a supporting base of adequate strength;
b) underlying structures of sufficient strength and stability;
c) supports for the hull;
d) stays on the outside of the hull; and
e) anchoring.
2. If there is any danger that the stability of the hull will
be affected as work proceeds, stability should be ensured at each
stage by suitable measures. No structures supporting the vessel
on the slipway, and no part of the hull, should be dismantled or
removed without the permission of the management. Supports,
stays and anchors should be properly secured against sliding,
overturning, falling down and buckling.
92
9. Health and safety requirements for the most common
3. When sternposts, propeller shaft brackets, rudders and

similar structures are being placed in position, use should be
made of props, stays, cages, keel blocks, guy ropes, ropes with
stretching screws or special rigging.
4. When fore and aft and thwartship bulkheads are being
installed they should be secured against falling by means such Contents
as steel wires with stretching screws.

5. When fittings are being placed in position under
decks and secured with bolts, the work should be done from
a safely secured floor footing and not from any suspended
part.
6. When floors of double bottoms, decks, platforms, com-
partments, bridges and the infrastructure of engine and boiler
rooms, corridors and similar spaces are being installed, at the
end of the day or shifts, no extraneous, abandoned or unse-
cured objects should be left behind.
7. Before holes are flame cut or drilled in floors, decks
or bulkheads, the workers on the other side of such structures
should be informed of the risk from the flame or drill.
8. Before temporary partitions are installed or adjusted in
holds, all other work over the hatches of such holds should be
stopped.
9. Steel girders that are being erected should be ade-
quately shored or braced until they are permanently secured in
position.
10. No load-bearing structural member should be danger-
ously weakened by cutting, holing or other means.
11. If harmful substances have to be removed from steel
surfaces, the work should comply with the relevant require-
ments of section 9.3.
93
9.2.1. Prefabricated sections

1. Sections should be assembled only at places intended
for the purpose in the building plans. Assembly work should
not be carried on in passageways.
2. For the storage of finished sections, spaces or places of
adequate dimensions should be provided, and equipped with Contents
transport and lifting appliances that ensure the easy and safe
installation, storage and removal of the sections. Sections taken
into storage should be placed securely in position.
3. Whenever possible, welding, assembly work, fitting or
other work should not be done on sections in storage.
4. Before being taken on board, prefabricated sections
should be:
a) complete, completely finished and ready for placing in
position;
b) provided with adequately dimensioned and placed attach-
ments such as fixed eyes or U‑bolts to facilitate lifting them,
placing them and securing them to supports; any welding
attachment should be done by competent welders and sub-
jected, when necessary, to non-destructive testing by a com-
petent person; and
c) provided with the necessary indications for placing them in
position on the hull.
5. Fitting work for the equipment of sections should
be done in places specially provided for the purpose. Fitting
work should not be done on sections placed on platforms for
transport.
6. Sections should be tilted with the help of special
mechanical equipment and structures. The tilting equipment
should have a locking device that ensures secure control at any
94
angle of tilt. The operations of placing sections in the tilting

equipment, tilting them and removing them should be carried
out under competent supervision.
7. No welding, assembly or other work should be done on
sections until they are placed in position and firmly secured.
Contents
9.2.2. Hoisting
1. While structural members are being moved into place,
the load should not be released from the hoisting rope until the
members are securely fastened in place.
2. Structural members should not be forced into place by
the hoisting machine while any worker is in such a position
that he could be injured by the operation.
3. Open-web steel girders that are hoisted singly should be
directly placed in position and secured against dislodgement.
4. Bundles of girders should be secured against dislodge-
ment after being hoisted.
5. No load should be placed on open-web steel girders
until they have been placed in position and secured.
9.3. Surface preparation and preservation
1. Various methods are used to prepare and preserve sur-
faces at different stages in shipbuilding and ship repair pro-
cesses. These include:
a) toxic cleaning solvents;
b) chemical paint and preservative removers;
c) power tools;
d) flame removal;
e) abrasive blasting; and
f) high-pressure water.
95
2. Each of these operations involves hazards, including

work with acid and heat sources, toxic vapours, fumes and dust,
noise and vibration, electricity and machinery, as well as the
risk of eye injury. Abrasive blasting operations cause high levels
of noise and dust. This dust can be flammable or contain toxic
materials. Contents
9.3.1. Toxic cleaning solvents

1. When toxic solvents are used for surface cleaning:
a) the cleaning operation should be completely enclosed to
prevent the escape of vapour;
b) either natural ventilation or mechanical exhaust ventilation
should be used to remove vapour at source and to dilute the
concentration of vapours to a level that is safe for the entire
work period;
c) workers should be protected against toxic vapours by suit-
able respiratory protective equipment and, where necessary,
against exposure of the skin and eyes to toxic solvents and
their vapours by appropriate PPE; and
d) when flammable solvents are used, precautions should be
taken in accordance with the requirements concerning fire
prevention and firefighting (section 7.13).
9.3.2. Chemical paint and preservative removers
1. Workers should be protected against skin exposure
when handling and applying chemical paint and preservative
removers, and against eye injury by goggles or face shields. In
addition:
a) when using flammable paint and preservative removers,
precautions should be taken in accordance with the
requirements concerning fire prevention and firefighting
(section 7.13);
96
b) when using chemical paint and preservative removers which

contain volatile and toxic solvents, such as benzol, acetone
and amyl acetate, the requirements for toxic cleaning sol-
vents apply;
c) when using paint and rust removers containing strong acids
or alkalis, workers should be protected by suitable face Contents
shields to prevent chemical burns on the face and neck;

d) when steam guns are used, all workers within range of the
blast should be protected by suitable face shields. Metal
parts of the steam gun should be insulated to protect the
operator against heat burns; and
e) when this type of work is conducted, no other worker
should enter the exclusion zone.
9.3.3. Power tools
1. Workers using power or pneumatic tools for the
removal of paints, preservatives, rust or other coatings should
be protected against eye injury by goggles or face shields. In
addition, and as described in section 14.3:
a) all portable rotating tools used for the removal of paints,
preservatives, rusts or other coatings should be adequately
guarded to protect both the operator and nearby workers
from flying particles;
b) portable electric tools which do not have batteries should be
grounded as indicated by the manufacturer’s specifications;
c) in a confined space, mechanical exhaust ventilation suffi-
cient to keep the dust concentration to a minimum should
be used, or workers should be protected by respiratory pro-
tective equipment; and
d) pneumatic tools should have a secure connection between
the tool and the air hose.
97
9.3.4. Flame removal

1. Hardened preservative coatings should not be removed
by flame in enclosed spaces unless the workers exposed to
fumes are protected by airline respirators. Workers engaged
in flame removal in the open air, and those exposed to the
resulting fumes, should be protected by fume filter type respi- Contents
rators. Flame or heat should not be used to remove soft and

greasy preservative coatings.
9.3.5. Abrasive blasting
1. No sand or other substance containing free silica
should be used for abrasive blasting on board ships. Used abra-
sive should not be used again except in closed systems.
2. When this type of work is being conducted, no other
workers should enter the exclusion zone.
3. Where the blasting process may give rise to flammable
dusts, such as those of aluminium or zinc, deposits should not
be allowed to accumulate to such an extent that they give rise
to the risk of secondary dust explosion. Additionally, all dust
separation and collection equipment should be in the open air
and, where necessary, fitted with explosion relief.
4. Abrasive blasting should, if possible, be carried out in a
blasting enclosure, such as a chamber or cabinet, which should
be kept completely closed while blasting is in progress. Every
blasting enclosure should be inspected and tested at suitable
intervals, not exceeding one week in the case of inspections and
one month in the case of tests.
5. Blasting enclosures should be equipped with exhaust
ventilation adequate to remove and safely discharge the dust
produced during blasting. Dust extraction equipment should
not allow dust to escape into places where workers are engaged
98
or pass through. Exhaust ventilation should be in operation

whenever the blasting enclosure is in use, and whenever any
worker is in the enclosure for the purpose of maintenance,
repair and similar operations.
6. Hoses and fittings used for abrasive blasting should
meet the following requirements: Contents
a) hoses of a type to prevent shocks from static electricity

should be used;
b) hose lengths should be joined by metal couplings secured to
the outside of the hose to avoid erosion and weakening of
the couplings;
c) nozzles should be attached to the hose by fittings that pre-
vent the nozzle from unintentionally becoming disengaged.
Nozzle attachments should be of metal and should fit onto
the hose externally; and
d) a dead man control device should be provided at the nozzle
end of the blasting hose, either to provide direct cut-off or
to signal the pot tender by means of a visual and audible
signal to cut off the flow in the event that the blaster loses
control of the hose. The pot tender should be available at all
times to respond immediately to the signal.
7. Hoses and all fittings used for abrasive blasting should
be inspected frequently to ensure timely replacement before an
unsafe amount of wear has occurred.
8. Workers engaged in abrasive blasting should be pro-
vided with suitable PPE, including filter type respirators used
in conjunction with appropriate eye, face, hearing and head
protection, overalls and gloves. When abrasive blasting is car-
ried out in confined spaces, operators should be protected by
hoods and airline respirators, or by air helmets of a positive
pressure type.
99
9. Workers, other than blasters, including machine ten-

ders and those that recover abrasive materials, working in areas
where unsafe concentrations of abrasive materials and dusts are
present, should be protected by eye and respiratory protective
equipment.
10. As surges from drops in pressure in the hose line can be Contents
sufficient to throw the blaster off the staging, the blaster must
be protected by a fall protection system when blasting is being
carried out at heights at which adequate protection against falls
cannot be provided by railings.
11. Persons engaged in abrasive blasting should undergo
periodical medical examinations, including a chest radio-
graphic examination.
9.4. Painting
1. The hazards involved in painting include toxic fumes
or vapours, and the risk of eye injury and irritation of lungs
and skin. Repeated exposure to solvents can have long-term
effects on health, including dermatitis. Painting in confined
spaces where vapours cannot escape is particularly hazardous,
as solvents can displace air and may be poisonous, flammable
or explosive.
2. Every effort should be made to substitute hazardous
substances, especially carcinogens, mutagens and reproduc-
tive toxicity, used in painting operations with less hazardous
paints and solvents that still meet the technical specifications
required. Hazardous substances should only be used if the
workers are informed about the risks of fire, toxicity or other
hazards which may occur in the transport, use or disposal of
such substances and their prevention, and trained in their safe
use or disposal.
100
3. Containers and packages containing hazardous sub-

stances used in painting should:
a) be plainly marked to indicate the contents, using the name
of the chemical and its hazardous nature, and labelled with
the appropriate hazard symbol; and
b) carry or be accompanied by instructions for the safe han- Contents
dling and use of the contents.

4. Approaches to work areas where hazards from toxic
or irritant fumes may exist should be provided with notices or
signs indicating the hazards involved and the prevention meas-
ures to be taken.
5. The preparation and mixing of hazardous substances
for painting should be carried out in special preparation prem-
ises, separated from other workplaces and well ventilated. All
operations involving any handling of hazardous substances,
whether liquid or solid, such as transfer from one container to
another, should only be carried out in premises equipped with
exhaust ventilation and using tools and appliances that prevent
the spillage of such substances.
6. In spaces in which work is carried out using paints,
adhesives, resins and similar preparations containing volatile,
flammable or otherwise harmful substances:
a) adequate ventilation, whether general or local, should be
provided;
b) smoking, open flames, arcs and spark-producing equipment
should be prohibited in the area;
c) only explosion-proof lights should be used;
d) a competent person should inspect all power and lighting
cables to ensure that: the insulation is in excellent condi-
tion and free of any cracks or worn spots; there are no
101
connections within 15 m of the operation; and lines are not

overloaded and are suspended with sufficient slack to pre-
vent undue stress or chafing;
e) the metallic parts of air moving devices, including fans,
blowers and jet-type air movers, and all duct work, should
be electrically bonded to the structure of the vessel; Contents
f) ventilation should be such as to keep the concentration of

flammable vapours below 10 per cent of their lower explo-
sive limit; frequent tests should be made by a competent
person to ascertain the concentration;
g) suitable fire-extinguishing equipment must be immediately
available in the work area and be maintained in a state of
readiness for instant use;
h) if necessary to prevent danger, workers should wear respira-
tory protective equipment that operates independently of
the surrounding atmosphere; and
i) when paint is being applied in parts of the interior of a
vessel, no other work should be carried out in such parts,
either during that time or for a certain period afterwards,
until it is safe.
9.4.1. Spray painting
1. Spray painting should not be carried out using any toxic
material, such as lead, carbon bisulphide, carbon tetrachloride,
mercury, antimony, arsenic, arsenic compounds or methanol, or
a mixture containing more than 1 per cent of benzene, unless
the workers wear adequate airline breathing apparatus.
2. All other hazards associated with this work, such as
noise and manual handling, should be controlled.
3. Any place in which spray painting is being carried out
should be ventilated by either natural or mechanical means.
102
Workers should be so protected by adequate airline breathing

apparatus that the solvent concentration they inhale is kept
within safe limits.
4. Spray painting of internal surfaces, such as those of cis-
terns, tanks and compartments, should only be allowed when:
a) airline breathing apparatus is supplied and used, the air to Contents
be pre-warmed if necessary;
b) the workers are provided with PPE; and
c) no other work is carried out in the area.
5. A sufficient number of fire extinguishers of the foam or
another suitable type should be maintained at the place where
any material having a nitrocellulose or other flammable content
is being used.
6. No person should smoke, or have any fire, naked flame
or other source of ignition in any place in which spray painting
is being carried out, or in its vicinity.
7. All metal parts of equipment and appliances used for
spray painting, and also metal articles to be spray painted,
should be electrically bonded and earthed. The proper condi-
tion of the earthing system, conductors, earthing connections,
equipment and appliances should be verified at least once a
month.
8. Painting appliances working under pressure, such as oil
separators and oil pump tanks, should be equipped with the
necessary fittings: a valve for reducing the pressure of the air
entering the appliance and a tested and sealed pressure gauge.
The gauge dial should be marked with a red line indicating the
maximum permissible working pressure. Connections in the
air hose should be firmly secured so as to prevent them from
being impaired by the pressure of the compressed air.
103
9. Spray-gun operators should:

a) adjust the atomization pressure of the gun so as not to create
excessive mist;
b) use the gun so that neither they nor any other workers
remain between the gun and any ventilation fan;
Contents
c) not test the gun by spraying it indiscriminately; and
d) when the outside of vessels is being spray painted, pay due
regard to the direction of the wind and paint downwind.
10. Workers employed in spray painting should be provided
with:
a) overalls, head and face coverings, hearing protection, respi-
rators and gloves; and
b) a sufficient quantity of material capable of removing the
paint or spraying mixture from the hands and face.
9.4.2. Paints and tank coatings dissolved in highly volatile,
toxic and flammable solvents
1. Work involving organic coatings, adhesives and resins
dissolved in highly toxic, flammable and explosive solvents with
low flash points should only be carried out when all of the fol-
lowing special precautions have been taken:
a) sufficient exhaust ventilation is provided to keep the con-
centration of solvent vapours below 10 per cent of the lower
explosive limit. Frequent tests should be made by a compe-
tent person to ascertain the concentration;
b) if the ventilation fails, or if the concentration of solvent
vapours reaches or exceeds 10 per cent of the lower explosive
limit, painting must be stopped and the compartment evac-
uated until the concentration again falls below 10 per cent
of the lower explosive limit. If the concentration does not
104
fall when painting is stopped, additional ventilation should

be provided to bring the concentration below 10 per cent of
the lower explosive limit;
c) ventilation should be continued after the completion of
painting until the space or compartment is gas free. The
final determination as to whether the space or compartment Contents
is gas free should be made after the ventilation equipment

has been shut off for at least ten minutes;
d) exhaust ducts should discharge clear of working areas and
away from sources of possible ignition. Periodic tests should
be made to ensure that the vapours removed are not accu-
mulating in other areas within or around the vessel or
facility;
e) all motors and control equipment must be of the explo-
sion-proof type in accordance with nationally and inter-
nationally recognized instruments covering explosion
protection. All motors and associated control equipment
should be properly maintained and grounded;
f) only non-sparking paint buckets, spray guns and tools
should be used. Metal parts of paint brushes and rollers
should be insulated. Staging should be erected in a manner
which ensures that it is non-sparking;
g) only explosion-proof lights should be used;
h) a competent person should inspect all power and lighting
cables to ensure that the insulation is in excellent condition,
free of all cracks and worn spots, that there are no connec-
tions within an unsafe distance of the operation, that lines
are not overloaded, and that they are suspended with suffi-
cient slack to prevent undue stress or chafing;
i) the face, eyes, head, hands and all other exposed parts of
the bodies of operators handling highly volatile paints must
105
be protected. All footwear should be non-sparking, such as

rubbers, rubber boots or rubber-soled shoes without nails.
Coveralls or other outer clothing should be of cotton.
Rubber, rather than plastic, gloves should be used because
of the danger of static sparks;
j) no matches, lighted cigarettes, cigars or pipes, and no ciga- Contents
rette lighters or ferrous articles should be taken into the area

where work is being undertaken;
k) all solvent drums taken into the compartment should be
placed on non-ferrous surfaces and grounded to the vessel.
Metallic contact should be maintained between containers
and drums when materials are being transferred from one
to another;
l) spray guns, paint pots and metallic parts of connecting
tubing should be electrically bonded, and the bonded
assembly should be grounded to the vessel;
m) all workers continuously in a compartment in which such
painting is being undertaken must be protected by airline
respirators and suitable protective clothing, and the atmos-
phere should be monitored as set out in section 10.3;
n) workers entering such compartments for a limited time
should be protected by filter cartridge respirators; and
o) all workers engaged in exterior paint spraying with such
paints should be protected by suitable filter cartridge respi-
rators and suitable protective clothing.
9.4.3. Drying
1. Painted articles should not be dried without local
exhaust ventilation.
2. Artificial drying of painted objects should be car-
ried out in specially equipped chambers with reliable thermal
106
insulation and ventilation that prevent the formation of explo-

sive concentrations of solvent vapour.
9.4.4. Other provisions
1. Paints and other coating materials accidentally sprayed
or spilled on the floor or other surfaces should be immediately Contents
cleaned up and removed.
2. Used wiping materials and rags should be kept in metal
containers with self-closing lids. At the end of the shift, used
wiping materials should be removed from the workplace and
stored in a safe place.
3. When not in use, packages containing paints, varnishes,
lacquers and other combustible or volatile substances should be:
a) kept tightly closed; and
b) kept away from sparks, flames, sources of heat and the sun’s
rays.
4. At the close of work:
a) the remains of adhesives, lacquers, solvents, thinners and
insulating materials should be kept in closed containers; and
b) brushes, spray guns, hoses and other equipment should be
cleaned of residues of paint, lacquer and adhesive outside the
ship and be kept in a cupboard in tightly closed containers.
5. Empty containers for painting and other coating mate-
rials should be taken to a special storeplace equipped with
exhaust ventilation or to a special place set aside for the pur-
pose at an appropriate distance from the vessel. Empty con-
tainers should not be kept at the workplace.
6. Workers exposed to toxic or irritating substances
should promptly report any physical complaints to the medical
services, first-aid post or a supervisor.
107
9.5. Welding, flame-cutting and hot work

1. Common hazards associated with welding, cutting and
heating include: electric shocks, radiation, fumes (particularly
when working in confined spaces), fire, radiation, noise and
vibration.
Contents
9.5.1. General
1. No welding or steel cutting should be carried out on
board a vessel except on the orders of a competent supervisor.
2. Before any local heating, welding or flame-cutting or
other hot work is begun, it should be ascertained that the place
and the surfaces inside and outside to be treated are free from
flammable substances, including gases, coatings and materials.
3. Where reasonably practicable, the paint should be
removed over a width of at least 20 cm, that is 10 cm on each
side of the cut or seam to be made.
4. Heating of surfaces in isolated or confined spaces
should be allowed only if an exhaust ventilation system is
provided that will maintain the atmospheric concentration of
toxic gases or other toxic substances generated by the process at
a level below the relevant permissible limits and that will carry
the dangerous airborne substances to the outside air. Where
that is not practicable, the operator should be equipped with
adequate airline breathing apparatus.
5. When welding, cutting or heating is being carried out
on materials containing zinc, lead, cadmium, chromium, beryl-
lium, copper, nickel, manganese or other toxic or harmful sub-
stances, precautions should be taken to protect workers from
the fumes by the provision of an effective ventilation system
which includes:
a) clean respirable air;
108
b) cartridge respirators, depending on what the exposure risk

is;
c) effective local exhaust ventilation; or
d) airline respirators.
6. In addition: Contents
a) the fume concentration of the working environment should
be assessed; and
b) the workers should undergo special medical examinations.
7. Other workers exposed to the same atmosphere as
welders or burners should be protected in the same manner as
the welder or burner. Adequate precautions should be taken
to protect persons working or passing near welding operations
from dangerous sparks and radiation.
8. A suitable fire extinguisher should be kept ready for
immediate use at a reasonable distance from any place where
hot work is being undertaken.
9. Floors of places at which welding is being carried out
should be kept free from pools of water.
10. In no circumstances should oxygen be used to ventilate,
cool or blow dust off clothing.
11. Welders should wear suitable PPE, such as fire-resistant
gauntlets and aprons, helmets and goggles with suitable filter
lenses. Welders should wear clothing that is free from grease,
oil and other flammable material.
12. Workers engaged in the removal of excess metal or slag,
or in other similar operations, should:
a) wear gloves and goggles or a face screen;
b) chip away from the body; and
c) ensure that other persons are not struck by chips.
109
9.5.2. Welding at places with fire risks

1. As far as practicable, objects to be welded, cut by
flame or heated should be taken to a place free from fire
risks.
2. If objects cannot be taken to a safe place, all combus-
tible waste and other combustible material should be at a safe Contents
distance from welding, flame or heating.

3. If these measures cannot be adopted, precautions
should be taken to prevent the dispersion of slag, sparks and
heat and to protect combustible material in the vicinity by
effective means. The work should in all instances be authorized
by a competent person.
4. Before any welding, cutting or heating is undertaken
on any surface covered with a preservative coating of unknown
flammability, the flammability should be tested by a competent
person.
5. While surfaces that have been covered by highly flam-
mable preservative coatings are being heated, suitable fire-ex-
tinguishing equipment, such as a hose, should be kept ready for
use at the workplace.
6. If hydrocarbons exist in the welding area, positive pres-
sure should be created around the area where welding is due to
take place. Controls must be continuously kept in place during
the hot work.
9.5.3. Heating in confined spaces
1. Welding, cutting and heating operations in confined
spaces should comply with the relevant requirements of sec-
tion 7.9.
2. When sufficient ventilation cannot be obtained without
blocking the means of access, workers in the confined space
110
should be protected by airline respirators, and a person on the

outside of the confined space should be assigned to maintain
communication with those working within the space and to
aid them in an emergency.
3. Before welding, cutting or heating is commenced in
enclosed spaces on metals covered by soft and greasy preserva- Contents
tives, the following precautions should be taken:

a) the atmosphere in the space should be tested by a compe-
tent person to ensure that it does not contain explosive
vapours, as there is a possibility that some soft and greasy
preservatives may have flash points below temperatures
that may be expected to occur naturally. If the presence
of such vapours is determined, no hot work should be
commenced until precautions have been taken to ensure
that the welding, cutting or heating can be performed in
safety; and
b) the preservative coatings should be removed for a sufficient
distance from the area to be heated to ensure that the tem-
perature of the unstripped metal is not raised appreciably.
Artificial cooling of the metal surrounding the heated area
may be used to limit the size of the area that needs to be
cleaned.
4. Immediately after welding, cutting or heating is com-
menced in enclosed spaces on metal covered by soft and greasy
preservatives, and at frequent intervals thereafter, it is neces-
sary for a competent person to make tests to ensure that no
flammable vapours are being produced by the coatings. If the
presence of such vapours is determined, the operation must be
stopped immediately and not be resumed until the necessary
additional precautions have been taken to ensure that the oper-
ation can be resumed safely.
111
9.5.4. Welding on containers for explosive

or flammable substances
1. Welding or cutting operations on containers in which
there are explosive or flammable substances is not allowed.
2. Welding or cutting operations on any container that
has held explosive or flammable substances, or in which flam- Contents
mable gas may have been generated, should be undertaken only

after:
a) the container has been thoroughly cleaned by steam or other
effective means and found by air tests to be completely free
from combustible gases and vapours; or
b) an inert gas has been substituted for the air in the container.
3. If an inert gas is used for this purpose, after the con-
tainer has been filled, the gas should be allowed to continue to
flow slowly into it throughout the welding or cutting operation.
4. Before starting any welding operations on, or otherwise
applying heat to, closed or jacketed containers or other hollow
parts, such containers or parts should be adequately vented in
a suitable manner to ensure the release of any pressure built up
during the application of heat.
5. Before any welding, cutting or heating is undertaken
on hollow structures, such as skegs, bilge keels, fairwaters,
masts, booms, stanchions or railings, a competent person
should inspect the structure, and if necessary test it, for flam-
mable liquids and vapours, and certify it as safe for the work
to be done.
9.5.5. Gas welding and cutting
1. The oxygen pressure for welding should always be high
enough to prevent acetylene from flowing back into the oxygen
line.
112
2. Acetylene should not be used for welding at a pressure

exceeding 1 atm gauge.
3. At the close of work for the day and before any lengthier
interruption of work:
a) supply valves of cylinders, acetylene generators and gas
mains should be safely closed; and Contents
b) blowpipes and movable pipes or hoses for flammable or oxi-

dizing gas should be taken to the topmost completed deck
or to another safe place that is adequately ventilated and
supervised to prevent any dangerous concentration of gas
or fumes, unless adequate testing for explosive concentra-
tions of gas or oxygen is made by a competent person before
torches are relighted.
4. Cylinders used for gas welding and cutting should be
transported, moved and stored in accordance with the provi-
sions of section 14.6.
9.5.5.1. Use of fuel gas
1. The employer should thoroughly instruct workers in
the safe use of fuel gas, as follows:
a) in ships under construction, temporary piping for oxygen,
acetylene, inert gas and pressurised air should be tested by
pressure test after assembly or modification before starting
the work;
b) where gas cylinders are used, welders should not tamper
with, or attempt to repair, safety devices and valves on gas
cylinders. No damaged or defective cylinder should be used;
c) cylinders should be kept far enough away from the actual
welding or cutting operation so that sparks, hot slag or
flames do not reach them. When this is impractical, fire
resistant shields should be provided;
113
d) cylinders should be placed where they cannot become part

of an electrical circuit. Electrodes should not be struck
against a cylinder to strike an arc;
e) fuel gas cylinders should be placed with the valve end up
whenever they are in use. They must not be placed in a loca-
tion where they would be subject to open flame, hot metal Contents
or other sources of artificial heat;

f) cylinders containing oxygen or acetylene or other fuel gas
must not be taken into confined spaces;
g) cylinder valves, pressure-reducing valves and torches should
be kept free from grease, oil, dust and dirt;
h) before connecting a regulator to a cylinder valve, the valve
should be opened slightly and closed immediately. This
action is generally termed “cracking” and is intended to
clear the valve of dust or dirt that might otherwise enter
the regulator. The person cracking the valve should stand
to one side of the outlet, not in front of it. The valve of a
fuel gas cylinder should not be cracked where the gas would
reach welding work, sparks, flame or other possible sources
of ignition;
i) the cylinder valve should always be opened slowly to prevent
damage to the regulator. To permit quick closing, valves on
fuel gas cylinders should not be opened more than one-and-
a-half turns. When a special wrench is required, it should be
left in position on the stem of the valve while the cylinder
is in use so that the fuel gas flow can be shut off quickly in
case of an emergency. In the case of manifolded or coupled
cylinders, at least one such wrench should always be avail-
able for immediate use. Nothing should be placed on top
of a fuel gas cylinder, when in use, which may damage the
safety device or interfere with the quick closing of the valve;
114
j) fuel gas should not be used from cylinders through torches

or other devices that are equipped with shut-off valves
without reducing the pressure through a suitable regulator
attached to the cylinder valve or manifold;
k) when acetylene cylinders are coupled, flash arrestors should
be installed between each cylinder and the coupler block, Contents
or between the coupler block and the regulator. Only acet-

ylene cylinders of approximately equal pressure should be
coupled;
l) before a regulator is removed from a cylinder valve, the
cylinder valve should always be closed and the gas released
from the regulator;
m) if, when the valve on a fuel gas cylinder is opened, there is
found to be a leak around the valve stem, the valve must be
closed and the gland nut tightened. If this action does not
stop the leak, it is necessary to discontinue the use of the
cylinder, which should be properly tagged and removed. In
the event that fuel gas leaks from the cylinder valve rather
than from the valve stem and the gas cannot be shut off,
the cylinder should be properly tagged and removed. If a
regulator attached to a cylinder valve will effectively stop
a leak through the valve seat, the cylinder need not be
removed;
n) if a leak develops at a fuse plug or other safety device, the
cylinder must be removed; and
o) cylinders found to have leaks that cannot be stopped by
closing the valve should be taken into the open away from
any source of heat and slowly drained of gas.
9.5.5.2. Manifolds
1. Manifolds should be clearly marked to show the sub-
stance that they contain.
115
2. Manifolds should be placed only in safe and accessible

positions in the open air. Manifold hose connections, including
inlet and outlet connections, should be such that the hose
cannot be interchanged between fuel gas and oxygen manifolds
and headers. Adaptors should not be used to permit the inter-
change of hose. Connections should be kept free from grease Contents
and oil.
3. When not in use, manifold and header hose connec-
tions should be capped.
4. Nothing should be placed on a manifold that might
damage it or impede the quick closing of the valves.
9.5.5.3. Hose
1. Only hose specially designed for welding and cutting
operations should be used to connect an oxyacetylene torch to
gas outlets.
2. All hose carrying acetylene, oxygen, natural or man-
ufactured fuel gas, or any gas or substance that may ignite or
enter into combustion or be in any way harmful to workers,
should be inspected at the beginning of each shift. Defective
hose should be removed from service.
3. An efficient back pressure valve and flame arrestor
should be provided in the acetylene supply line between each
burner or blowpipe and the source of supply as near as practi-
cable to the burner or blowpipe.
4. Hose lines for oxygen and for acetylene should be of
different colours, or otherwise equally clearly and appropri-
ately identified. Oxygen and fuel gas hoses should not be
interchangeable.
5. Hose connections should be sufficiently tight to with-
stand without leakage twice the maximum delivery pressure
of the pressure regulators in the system. They should be of the
116
type that cannot be unlocked or disconnected by means of a

straight pull without rotary motion.
6. Care should be taken to ensure that hoses are always
laid in good order so as not to become kinked or tangled,
stepped on, run over or otherwise damaged. Hoses laid in pas-
sageways should be completely protected with covers. Hangers Contents
should be provided to hang the hoses.

7. Hose which has been subjected to flashback or which
shows evidence of severe wear or damage should be tested to
twice the normal pressure to which it is subject, but in no case
less than 13.6 atm. Defective hose or hose in doubtful condi-
tion should not be used.
8. No hose with more than one gas passage should be
used.
9. Compressed air should not be used to clean any hose
that may contain oil residues from the compressor. An inert gas
may be used for this purpose.
10. Open-end fuel-gas and oxygen hoses should be removed
from confined spaces as soon as they are disconnected from the
torch. The connections between hose and torch and between
hoses should be securely fixed with metal fittings, such as hose
bands. Valves or cocks at the gas and oxygen inlet of hoses
should have identification numbers of users.
11. All hoses should be inspected at least every four months
by competent persons. Any repair should be carried out by a
competent person.
9.5.5.4. Torches
1. Torches should be inspected at the beginning of each
shift for leaking shut-off valves, hose couplings and tip connec-
tions. Defective torches should not be used.
117
2. Clogged torch-tip openings should be cleaned with

suitable cleaning wires, drills or other devices designed for that
purpose.
3. When torches are being changed, the gases should
be shut off at the pressure-reducing regulators, and not by
crimping the hose. Contents
4. Torches should be lit with friction lighters, stationary

pilot flames or by other safe means. They should not be lit with
matches or from hot work.
5. The operating valves of torches should be so constructed
or protected that they cannot be opened accidentally.
6. All torches should be inspected at least every four
months by competent persons. Any repair should be carried
out by a competent person.
9.5.6. Electric arc welding
1. A welding machine should be controlled by a switch
mounted on or near the machine framework. When opened,
the switch should immediately cut off the power from all con-
ductors supplying the machine.
2. Welding circuits should be supplied only through gener-
ating or converting equipment or a double-wound transformer.
The maximum open-circuit no-load voltage should be in accord-
ance with nationally and internationally recognized instruments.
9.5.6.1. Manual electrode holders
1. Only manual electrode holders should be used that are
specifically designed for arc welding and cutting and are of a
capacity capable of safely handling the maximum rated current
required by the electrodes.
2. Any current carrying parts passing through the portion
of the holder that arc welders or cutters grip in their hands,
118
and the outer surfaces of the jaws of the holder, should be fully
insulated against the maximum voltage encountered to ground.
9.5.6.2. Welding cables and connectors
1. All arc welding and cutting cables must be completely
insulated, flexible and capable of handling the maximum cur-
rent requirements of the work in progress, taking into account Contents
the duty cycle under which the arc welders or cutters are
working.
2. Only cable free from repair or splices for a minimum
distance of 3 m from the cable end to which the electrode
holder is connected should be used, although cables with
standard insulated connectors or with splices whose insulating
quality is equal to that of the cable may be permitted.
3. When it becomes necessary to connect or splice lengths
of cable, substantial insulated connectors of a capacity at least
equivalent to that of the cable should be used. If connections
are effected by means of cable lugs, they should be securely fas-
tened together to give good electrical contact, and the exposed
metal parts of the lugs should be completely insulated.
4. Cables in poor repair should not be used. When a cable
becomes worn to the extent of exposing bare conductors, the
portion thus exposed should be protected by means of rubber
and friction tapes or other equivalent insulation.
9.5.6.3. Ground returns and machine grounding
1. Ground return cables should have a safe current car-
rying capacity equal to or exceeding the specified maximum
output capacity of the arc welding or cutting unit that they
service. When a single ground return cable services more than
one unit, its safe current carrying capacity should be equal to,
or exceed, the total specified maximum output capacities of all
the units that it services.
119
2. Structures or pipelines, except pipelines containing

gases of flammable liquids or conduits containing electrical cir-
cuits, may be used as part of the ground return circuit.
3. When a structure or pipeline is employed as a ground
return circuit, it should be determined that the required elec-
trical contact exists at all joints. The generation of an arc, sparks Contents
or heat at any point should cause rejection of the structure as a

ground circuit.
4. When a structure or pipeline is continuously employed
as a ground return circuit, all joints should be bonded and peri-
odic inspections conducted to ensure that no condition of elec-
trolysis or fire hazard exists by virtue of such use.
5. The frames of all arc welding and cutting machines
should be grounded, either through a third wire in the cable
containing the circuit conductor, or through a separate wire
grounded at the source of the current. Grounding circuits, other
than by means of the vessel’s structure, should be checked to
ensure that the circuit between the ground and the grounded
power conductor has resistance low enough to permit sufficient
current to flow to cause the fuse or circuit breaker to interrupt
the current.
6. All ground connections should be inspected to ensure
that they are mechanically strong and electrically adequate for
the required current.
9.5.6.4. Operations
1. When arc welding is carried out in damp or otherwise
conductive confined spaces:
a) the electrode holders should be completely insulated; and
b) the welding machine should be either outside the confined
space, or equipped with a voltage-reducing device in the case
of arc welding with alternating current.
120
2. Adequate precautions should be taken to prevent:

a) damage to fibre ropes from heat, sparks, slag or hot metal;
b) fires started by sparks, slag or hot metal; and
c) penetration into the working area of flammable vapours and
substances. Contents
3. Electric arc welders should not stand on wet ground or

have wet hands or gloves.
4. Welders should take adequate precautions to prevent:
a) any part of their body from completing an electric circuit;
b) any part of their body coming into contact with the exposed
part of the electrode or electrode holder when they are in
contact with metal; and
c) wet or damaged clothing, gloves and boots from touching
any live part.
5. Hot electrode holders should not be dipped in water, as
doing so may expose the arc welder or cutter to electric shock.
Live parts of electrode holders that are not in use should not be
allowed to come into contact with metallic objects.
6. Welding circuits should have identification numbers
of users when in use, and should be switched off when not in
use.
7. When electrode holders are to be left unattended, the
electrodes should be removed and the holders so placed or pro-
tected that they cannot make electrical contact with workers or
conducting objects.
8. When inserting electrodes in the holder, a means of
insulation, such as insulating gloves, should always be used.
9. Electrode and return leads should be adequately pro-
tected against damage.
121
10. Whenever necessary, electrode stubs should be depos-

ited in a fire-resistant container.
11. Electric arc welding equipment should not be left unat-
tended with the current switched on.
12. Any faulty or defective equipment should be reported
to the supervisor. Contents
9.5.7. Gas metal arc welding

1. Since the inert-gas metal-arc welding process involves
the production of ultraviolet radiation of intensities of five to
30 times that produced during shielded metal-arc welding, the
decomposition of chlorinated solvents by ultraviolet rays, and
the liberation of toxic fumes and gases, workers should not be
permitted to engage in, or be exposed to the process until the
following special precautions have been taken:
a) the use of chlorinated solvents should be kept at least 60
m from the exposed arc, and surfaces prepared with chlo-
rinated solvents should be thoroughly dry before welding is
permitted on such surfaces;
b) other workers in the area who are not protected from the
arc by screening should be protected by appropriate filter
lenses. When two or more welders are exposed to each oth-
er’s arc, filter lens goggles of a suitable type should be worn
under welding helmets or hand shields to protect the welder
against flashes and radiant energy when either the helmet is
lifted or the shield is removed;
c) welders and other workers who are exposed to radiation
should be suitably protected so that the skin is covered com-
pletely to prevent burns and other damage by ultraviolet
rays. Welding helmets and hand shields should be free of
leaks and openings, and free of highly reflective surfaces;
122
d) when inert-gas metal-arc welding is performed on stainless

steel, measures should be taken to protect against dangerous
concentrations of chromium, nitrogen dioxide and inert
gases; and
e) when inert-gas metal-arc welding is performed on alu-
minium, measures should be taken to protect against dan- Contents
gerous concentrations of ozone and inert gasses.

2. Safe working procedures for workers using inert gas in
confined spaces should be implemented to prevent suffocation
through:
a) ensuring a safe way of connecting gas hoses;
b) applying permit-to-work system in accordance with section
8.3 of this code; and
c) ensuring sufficient ventilation or providing airline respi-
rators.
9.5.8. Protective clothing and equipment
1. Welders should be supplied with and wear garments of
leather or equivalent material, and should avoid wearing highly
flammable clothing, such as untreated cotton or greasy gar-
ments. Protective clothing should cover as much of the skin as
practicable.
2. When welding, welders should be protected by a
welding helmet, face shield or hand shield made of heat-re-
sisting and electrically insulating material and fitted with a
window that filters infrared and ultraviolet radiation, as well as
visible radiations.
3. Where persons other than the welders are likely to
be exposed to harmful radiations or sparks from electric arc
welding, they should be protected by non-combustible or
flame-proof screens or other effective means.
123
4. Workers, such as crane drivers, who cannot be pro-

tected from radiations by screens, should wear suitable tinted
goggles.
5. Welders should be protected by gloves, sleeves, aprons,
leggings and spats against burns from metal splashes and elec-
trode stubs. Contents
6. Workers using pneumatic hammers or chisels to remove

slag from welds should wear suitable goggles.
9.6. Installation or repair of boilers, piping
and ship machinery
9.6.1. Boilers
1. Boilers should comply with national laws and regula-
tions, or other nationally and internationally recognized instru-
ments as regards materials, design, construction, inspection and
testing. Only competent persons should operate boilers. Boiler
operators and attendants should be trained and certified.
2. The space around a boiler should be kept clear of
obstructions and rubbish. Safety valves should operate freely at
all times.
3. Boilers should be blown off into a sump or pit, or other
effective precautions should be taken to avoid scalding persons.
4. Every boiler, whether separate or part of a range, should
be provided with:
a) a suitable safety valve;
b) a suitable steam gauge and a suitable water gauge to show
respectively the pressure of steam and the height of the
water in that boiler; and
c) an effective guard or other protection for the gauges pro-
vided on each boiler.
124
5. The maximum pressure at which steam should be gen-

erated, and the blow-off pressure should be marked on each
steam gauge, and each boiler attendant should be made familiar
with this arrangement.
6. All working parts of steam boilers such as valves, cocks,
injectors and pumps should be frequently inspected by the oper- Contents
ator. Each boiler attendant should receive adequate instruction

and training for the duties they have to perform.
7. Boilers should be repaired only by competent persons,
after all pressure and heat has been removed.
8. Before work is performed in the fire, steam, or water
spaces of a boiler where workers may be subject to injury from
the direct escape of a high-temperature medium such as steam,
or water, oil, or other medium at a high temperature entering
from an interconnecting system, the employer should ensure
that the following steps are taken:
a) the isolation and shut-off valves connecting the dead boiler
with the live system or systems should be secured, blanked, and
then locked and tagged to indicate that workers are working
on the boiler. This lock and tag and blank of the valves should
only be removed by those persons who installed them or by
authorized personnel only after it is verified that this may be
done without creating a hazard to the workers. When valves
are welded instead of bolted, at least two isolation and shut-off
valves connecting the dead boiler with the live system or sys-
tems should be secured, and then locked and tagged;
b) drain connections to atmosphere on all of the dead inter-
connecting systems should be opened for visual observation
of drainage; and
c) a warning sign calling attention to the fact that workers
are working in the boilers should be hung in a conspicuous
125
location in the engine room. This sign should not be

removed until it is determined that the work is completed
and all workers are out of the boilers.
9.6.2. Piping
1. Before work is performed on a valve, fitting, or section Contents
of piping in a piping system where workers may be subject to
injury from the direct escape of steam, or water, oil, or other
medium at a high temperature, the employer should ensure
a) the isolation and shut-off valves connecting the dead system
with the live system or systems should be secured, blanked,
and then locked and tagged, indicating that workers are
working on the systems. The lock and tag and blank of
the valves should only be removed by those persons who
installed them or by authorized personnel only after it is
verified that this may be done without creating a hazard to
the workers. When valves are welded instead of bolted, at
least two isolation and shut-off valves connecting the dead
system with the live system or systems should be secured,
and then locked and tagged; and
b) drain connections to the atmosphere on all of the dead
interconnecting systems should be opened for visual obser-
vation of drainage.
2. If a steam hose from a steam source outside the vessel
is connected to the vessel’s steam piping, the employer should
ensure that the vessel’s steam piping system, including hoses,
is designed to safely handle the working pressure prior to sup-
plying steam from an outside source. The employer should
obtain a written or oral determination from a responsible
vessel’s representative, a contractor, or any other person who
is qualified by training, knowledge, or experience to make
126
such determination that the working pressure of the vessel’s

steam piping system is safe. The employer should ensure that
each outside steam supply connected to a vessel’s steam piping
system meets the following requirements:
a) a pressure gauge and a relief valve are installed at the point
where the temporary steam hose joins the vessel’s steam Contents
piping system;
b) each relief valve is set to relieve excess steam at, and is
capable of relieving steam at, a pressure that does not
exceed the safe working pressure of the system in its
present condition;
c) there are no means of inadvertently disconnecting any relief
valve from the system that it protects;
d) each pressure gauge and relief valve is legible and located so
it is visible and readily accessible; and
e) each relief valve is positioned so it is not likely to cause
injury if steam is released.
3. Steam hose and piping should be shielded or insulated
if necessary to prevent accidental contact with workers.
4. When pressure testing a vessel’s piping system, the pipes
concerned should be clearly marked. Valves should be closed
and locked or tagged, indicating that workers are working on
the systems. The testing should be carried out by a competent
person.
9.6.3. Propulsion machinery
1. Before work is performed on the main engine, reduc-
tion gear, or connecting accessories, the employer should ensure
a) the jacking gear should be engaged to prevent the main
engine from turning over. A sign should be posted at the
127
throttle indicating that the jacking gear is engaged. This

sign should not be removed until the jacking gear can be
safely disengaged;
b) if the jacking gear is steam driven, the employer should
ensure that the stop valves to the jacking gear are secured,
and then locked and tagged; and Contents
c) if the jacking gear is electrically driven, the circuit con-

trolling the jacking gear should be de-energized by tripping
the circuit breaker, opening the switch, or removing the
fuse, whichever is appropriate, and then locked and tagged.
2. Locks and tags indicated in subparagraphs (b) and (c)
above should only be removed by those persons who installed
them or by authorized personnel only after it is verified that
this may be done without creating a hazard to the workers.
3. Before the jacking engine is operated, the following
precautions should be taken:
a) a check should be made to ensure that all workers, equip-
ment, and tools are clear of the engine, reduction gear, and
its connecting accessories;
b) a check should be made to ensure that all workers, equip-
ment and tools are free of the propeller;
c) before work is started on, or in the immediate vicinity of,
the propeller, a warning sign calling attention to the fact
that workers are working in that area should be hung in a
conspicuous location in the engine room. This sign should
not be removed until it is determined that the work is com-
pleted and all workers are free of the propeller; and
d) before the main engine is turned over (for example, when
warming up before departure or testing after an overhaul)
a check should be made to ensure that all workers, equip-
ment, and tools are free of the propeller.
128
9.6.4. Deck machinery

1. Before work is performed on the anchor windlass or
any of its attached accessories, the employer should ensure that
the following steps are taken:
a) the devil claws (also known as chain stoppers) should be
made fast to the anchor chains; Contents
b) the riding pawls should be in the engaged position; and

c) in the absence of devil claws and riding pawls, the anchor
chains should be secured to a suitable fixed structure of the
vessel.
129
10. Hazardous substances
10.1. General provisions

1. As a basis for eliminating or controlling exposure to Contents
hazardous substances (including dusts, fumes and gases), the

provisions of the ILO code of practice on ambient factors in
the workplace (2001) should be consulted. Where workers are
exposed to hazardous chemicals, the provisions of the ILO
code of practice on safety in the use of chemicals at work
(1993), the Occupational Cancer Convention, 1974 (No. 139),
and Occupational Cancer Recommendation, 1974 (No. 147),
should apply.
2. The competent authority should ensure that criteria
are established governing the measures to be adopted for safety
and health, in particular in respect of:
a) the handling, storage and transport of hazardous substances;
and
b) the disposal and treatment of hazardous chemicals and haz-
ardous waste products, consistent with national laws and
regulations, or other nationally and internationally recog-
nized instruments.
3. The employer should prepare, if not already available,
an inventory of hazardous substances involved in shipbuilding
or ship repair, and require from contractors and subcontractors
an inventory of hazardous substances used in their project. This
list should highlight those substances which are mutagens, car-
cinogens and reproductive toxins.
4. In the case of ship repair, the employer should ensure
that each ship for repair is in a safe condition, has the necessary
131
certifications and licences, and meets the conditions for repair

in accordance with nationally and internationally recognized
instruments, and particularly that:
a) hazardous substances have been removed and recycled in an
environmentally sustainable manner;
b) the ship and its tanks are gas free; and Contents
c) the ship has an asbestos register to ensure that the ship

repair facility can take preventative measures.
5. In the case of ship repair, the employer should also
require or prepare, if not already available, an inventory of
hazardous substances on the ship. The inventory should be
used especially for identifying hazardous substances present
that are listed in Appendices 1 and 2 of the IMO Hong Kong
International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally
Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009, on board ships and their loca-
tions and quantities, if applicable.
6. As prescribed by national laws and regulations,
employers should ensure that workers are not exposed to haz-
ardous substances to an extent that exceeds exposure limits
or other exposure criteria for the evaluation and control of
the working environment. They should identify whether haz-
ardous substances are present in the workplace and monitor
and record the exposure of workers to ensure their safety and
health. Based on the monitoring data, employers should assess
the exposure of workers to hazardous substances.
7. Employers should ensure that all chemicals handled,
stored and transported or otherwise used are marked, giving
their relevant characteristics and instructions on their use, in
accordance with the provisions of:
a) the ILO code of practice on safety in the use of chemicals at
work (1993); and
132
10. Hazardous substances
b) the chemical safety data sheets provided by the supplier.

8. Chemicals which have not been marked or are not pro-
vided with chemical safety data sheets should not be handled
and stored until similar relevant information has been obtained
by the employer and has been made available to workers and
their representatives. Contents
9. Where necessary in order to minimize the risk to

workers, written instructions should be prepared specifying the
correct procedure to be observed in these circumstances. The
necessary steps should also be taken to inform all workers of
possible hazards and the precautions to be taken when haz-
ardous substances are likely to be encountered at the workplace,
including evacuation procedures.
10.2. Assessment
1. Based on the inventory of hazardous substances, the
workplace should regularly be inspected and information
obtained on:
a) hazardous substances that are present or likely to occur,
along with other hazardous ambient factors; and
b) hazardous activities and processes.
2. In the case of identified chemicals, the employer should
obtain information on the intrinsic hazards of the substances or
products according to the physical state (for example solid, liquid,
gas) in which they are provided by suppliers and the inventory
of hazardous materials, if available. Where this is not practicable,
employers should obtain information provided by other bodies
such as the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC),
the World Health Organization (WHO), the International
Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS), the European Union
and other competent international and national institutions.
133
3. Where the expected risk is from exposure to min-

eral or synthetic fibres, mineral dusts and vegetable dusts,
employers should consider, in particular, the provisions in
the Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162), and the Asbestos
Recommendation, 1986 (No. 172), the ILO codes of practice
on occupational exposure to airborne substances harmful to Contents
health (1980), safety in the use of asbestos (1984), and safety in

the use of synthetic vitreous fibre insulation wools (glass wool,
rock wool, slag wool) (2001); and the ILO guide on Dust con-
trol in the working environment (silicosis) (Occupational Safety
and Health Series No. 36, 1977).
4. When obtaining information for assessment, employers
should take account of specific work situations where workers
are likely to be exposed, for example, to:
a) hazardous fumes as by-products (for example welding);
b) hazardous substances and oxygen deficiency in confined
spaces;
c) prolonged periods (such as during overtime) with the risk of
accumulation of higher doses;
d) higher concentrations due to fluctuations in ambient condi-
tions (for example hot environments where vapour pressures
of hazardous substances may be elevated);
e) absorption through multiple routes (inhalation, ingestion,
absorption through the skin); and
f) hazardous substances that may be present even in concentra-
tions below exposure limits while performing arduous tasks.
5. In the situations listed in the paragraph above, the expo-
sure limits specified by the competent authority for normal work
situations would in some cases not reflect the workers’ exposures.
Employers should accordingly obtain practical information from
134

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Safety and health in shipbuilding and ship repair

a) advise management and other persons responsible for OSH,

iii) the selection of PPE;

v) exercise surveillance over the execution of specific acci-

and especially instruct them in the occupational hazards to

3. The employer should notify the safety and health

petent authority at the shipbuilding and ship repair facility

4. Worker safety and health representatives should receive

7.1. General provisions Contents

1. All appropriate precautions should be taken:

4. Means of access should be:

3. Yards and other places that are surrounded by fencing

should be established and marked to separate them from

d) boats carrying persons should have a valid certificate issued

be provided with sufficient suitable life-saving appliances.

d) reducing exposure by transporting fewer people, or using

2. Multiple people carriers should comply with the

7.7. Heating, cooling and ventilation

b) the removal, at appropriate intervals, of scrap, waste and

2. The measures to be taken regarding dangerous atmos-

which entry into any area in which a dangerous atmosphere

2. The competent authority should establish and enforce

2. Materials used in the construction of scaffolds should

tings should be free from damage and distortion, and should

6. All scaffolds and appliances used as supports for

2. Frames of different types should not be intermingled in

b) any movement of the putlogs should be prevented;

1. Scaffolds, as prescribed by national laws and regulations

3. No scaffold should be partly dismantled and left so that

f) before use, the whole structure should be checked by a com-

7.10.11. Mobile scaffolding

purpose. Ladders must not be used beyond their maximum

should be used only on stable and level surfaces. They should

14. Ladders should not be moved while a person or equip-

17. Painted wooden ladders and improvised hand ladders

there could be an unplanned release from height of any

falling objects or protecting persons from the risk of falling

a) fixed and temporary work platforms, access ways, barriers,

reaching a position at which there is a risk of a fall and con-

a) can reach a position where a fall is possible;

b) a shock-absorbing lanyard, where the potential to fall is

17. Where overhead work is being conducted, barricading

from heights, adequate precautions should be taken, such as the

b) control quickly and efficiently any outbreak of fire; and

b) there should be no naked flames or similar means of

e) adequate ventilation should be provided; and

recognized instruments and national laws and regulations, the

c) the action to be taken in the event of fire, including the use

g) evacuation plans and procedures.

c) shown on plans, which should be posted at the access to and

according to its contents. A colour coding card should be

such activities and strictly monitored.

8.1. General requirements

8.2. Preparation of safe workplans

safety and health of workers.

developed, input should be sought from specialists and con-

tion upon arrival, including specific information on the con-

9. Regular meetings between the employer, workers, main

1. This section should apply to the following types of