PROTECTING YOURSELF AND. OTHERS FROM SLIPS, TRIPS & FALLS Advice for all who work on board United Kingdom flagged vessels YOUR SAFETY AT SEA 3Slips, Trips and Falls Over one third of all major accidents reported each year are caused as a result of a SLIP, TRIP or FALL. The trip type accident is the single most common cause of injuries at work and on board ship. In the United Kingdom, whether ashore or afloat, the cost to employers is over £300 million per year in lost production and other employment costs. SLIPS and TRIPS are the most common cause of non-fatal major injuries in all areas of manufacturing and service industries and account for over half of all reported injuries. They also account for some 26% of all “time-lost” accidents at sea. FALLS are the next most common cause accounting for 11% of all “time-lost” accidents at sea. Injuries that cause “three-day” or more time-lost accidents can be also very costly to you, the seafarer. Anyone at work, but particularly you the seafarer, can assist in reducing SLIP, TRIP and FALL HAZARDS through good health ahd safety arrangements and in most cases applying common sense. Effective solutions are very often cheap and simple and can lead to other benefits, such as increased efficiency. Examining Slip, Trip and Fall Risks All seafarers on board should assess the risks to themselves and others who may be affected by their work. This helps to identify what needs to be done to maintain safe working areas. Slip, Trip and Fall Risks on board should be an integral part of the risks examined for working areas on board prior to any job you do.The Maritime and Coastguard Agency recommend a FOUR step approach for the seafarer to follow: Step 1 Look for SLIP. TRIP and FALL HAZARDS around the working areas on board. Step 2 Decide who might be harmed and how. Who enters the work space or deck area? Are these workers or visitors at risk? Step 3 Consider the risks. Are the precautions already being taken enough to deal with the risks? Is there anything that can be done to give a pro-active approach to minimising future risks? Step 4 Report what you find. Report any problems you find to your Line Manager or your Representative on the Health and Safety Committee.1 Why was the tank valve gland left seeping, creating a slip hazard across the deck? 2) Why did the seafarer create a trip hazard at low level? Tray of bread left in the main access alleyway to the galley 3 Dangerous stairway. Common colours - top edge and steps. 4 Why did the seafarer place the bucket at the bottom of the ladder?B Dangerous edge and slippery deck area Slip and Fall hazard. 9 Access ladder into dark area should be identified. Fall hazard. 10 Common colours and varying light conditions and shadows make these trip hazards appear invisible — hazards must be identified!11 Why did the seafarer use the ladder as a storage place for ropes? Slip from height hazard. 12 Why did the Seafarer leave the mooring deck in an untidy condition with dangerous bights n the rope? 13 Hidden trip hazard (common colour door sill} and potential serious electric shock and burns hazard, due to unprotected end to top battery bank.14 Why is the mat not secured to the deck? Slip hazard. 15 Common colours and raised low level trip hazards in an emergency escape route 16 Why was the scaffolding tower not correctly installed with proper safety rails and toe board?17 Why did the Seaiarer leave these chains on the roadway of a Ro-Ro ferry and in front of a crew/passenger access? Trip hazard and potential Vehicle Damage Hazard. 18 Why did the seafarer leave a bucket of diesel oil on the plates? Moveable object hazarel and potential slip hazard. 19 Why did the seafarer leave the ladder access unguarded? Dangerous fall hazard onto vehicle decks. / pipe trip hazard not clearly identified.20 Unguarded walkway and unidentified level change. Fall from height and trip hazard. 21 Moveable object hazard and potential slip hazard. Drum and oil jug should be tied down.Reducing Slip, Trip & Fall Risks There are many simple steps that you can take to reduce slip, trip and fall risks. Here are a few exa ‘SPILLAGES * Clean spill up immediately = Water * Liquids and Gels may be grease or oil based — © Oils ensure a suitable de-greasing cleaning agent is used + Gels * Granules and Powders may be swept and/or eae vacuumed up * After cleaning the deck or floor plates the surface * Powder may be wet or damp for some time © Use appropriate safety signs to indicate !o others on board (crew members / contractors / passengers) the condition of the cleaned area and if necessary rope off the area ‘SLIPPERY SURFACES. © Ensure engine room plates, stairways, laidings and 8! yy’ Bs walkways are free from grease and oil © Assess causes and treat accordingly by using the appropriate chemical or cleaning method SURFACE COVERINGS Ensure that mats are securely fixed and have a IMs appropriate “fiddles” around their edges Ensure mats have an appropriate safe backing, with enough friction to suit the surface on which they are to be laid | Ensure mats, rugs and carpets do not have curling edges © Rugs * Carpet Tiles © Carpets . Position portable equipment in such a manner as to avoid cables and leads crossing deck and floor plate | CABLES AND ROPES | areas and walkways * Electrical cables «Mooring ropes Use cable covers and secure to the surface in such a Heaving lines manner that a slip hazard is not created Temporary hanging safety signs . Do not allow cables or ropes to trail dangerously across decks © Bights must be removed from mooring rope and ropes laid out in a correct and safe mannerGARBAGE Waste bins should be secured in such a manner Piwase bins as to prevent spillage over deck and plate areas in moderate and heavy seas * Miscellaneous rubbish and waste . Miscellaneous waste in plastic bags must be cleared as soon as practicable PLATFORM ACCESS Ensure that safety chains or safety bars, if fitted, and TEMPORARY are always used ‘WORK AT HEIGHTS. Ensure that platform edges and raised lips are appropriately identified to satisfy all light and approach conditions Ensure that platform surfaces are non-slip and that friction pads are fitted where appropriate Ensure that temporary tower platform edges are fitted with toe-boards to prevent loose gear from falling to deck below . Ensure ladders, fixed rungs, stairways and landings are secure and free from oil and grease Ensure that fixed vertical ladders are fitted appropriately with hoops and that these hoops are regularly inspected for damage or deformation Ensure that for any temporary work carried out at height a Permit-To-Work is issued Ensure that for any temporary work carried out at height the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is issued . (CHANGE OF LEVEL Landings and stairways painted in the same or common colour should have their edges identified Carpeted stairways and linoleum stairways should have top landing and steps identified with appropriate high visibility nosing . Metal edges and steps can be identified with edge paint. Use a high visibility paint or contrasting colour (CHANGE FROM DRY © Wear suitable footwear TO WET DECKS and FLOOR PLATE AREAS Warn others of risks by using appropriate safety signs © Locate appropriate doormats where these changes are likely22. Why was the cover plate cavering the hawse pipes not refitted after maintenance? Dangerous fall hazard. 23 Why was the oil jug not secured? This has created a moveable object hazard and a potential slip hazard. 24 Why was the waste bin not secured? Itis a moving object and trip hazard. 25 Why was the cleaning equipment nat cleared away after use? If this equiprnent moved across the deck in moderate to heavy seas, it would create potential rip and slip hazards26 Why is this engine room walkway being used as a storage area? Multiple trip hazards created by this gear compromise the safety of watchkeeping and maintenance personnel. This gear should have been stored in the appropriate safe storage area 2 Ni Why did the seafarer not replace the floor plate after carrying out a bilge inspection? A fall hazard such as this could lead to the serious injury of a seafarer. This area should have been roped off and appropriate temporary safety signs displayed. 28 Why did the seafarer place used inen sacks at the bottom of this important escape route stairway?Get the conditions on board right from the start; it will make dealing with Slip, Trip and Fall Risks easier and could prevent you from having a serious accident. It will also assist greatly ir protecting the safety of your fellow seafarers. * The Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seamen * Statutory Instrument 1997 No. 2962 The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997 * Statutory Instrument 2001 No. 54 - The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) (Amendment) Regulations 2001Further Information Maritime and Coastguard Agency Spring Place 105 Commercial Road SOUTHAMPTON $015 16G Tel: 023 8032 9100 Fax: 023 8032 9298 E-mail: infoline@mega.gov.uk Other enquiries relating to seafarer health and safety should be directed to: Seafarer Health and Safety Branch Maritime and Coastguard Agency Tel: 023 8032 9227 Fax: 023 8032 9251 |: seafarer.h&s@mcga.gov.uk mca => Martie ned Coastguare Agency The leaflet coniains notes on good practice which are not compulsory but which you may find helpful in considering what you need to do. Prepared and published by the Seafarer Health & Safety Branch of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency Published March 2006 MCA/150