MID WEST PORTS AUTHORITY 4.

6 WORKING ON, OVER OR NEAR WATER

4.6 WORKING ON, OVER OR NEAR WATER

1.0 INTRODUCTION

This document outlines the requirements for working on, over or near water. For the
purpose of this document, “near” water is defined as working in close proximity to water
where there is a reasonable likelihood of falling in.

SCOPE

This procedure applies to:

 MWPA employees at all times and in all work locations; and
 Contractors working within the commercial harbour area or undertaking work under the
control of MWPA.

1.0 BACKGROUND

1.1 The major hazards associated with working, on, over or near water are: falling into the water,
slips/trips falls and environmental/climatic conditions.

1.2 Activities at the Geraldton Port that require work on water may include pilotage, operation of
water craft, working in a work basket suspended by crane, pile driving operations and
working in an elevated work platform (EWP) above water. The relevant manager or
supervisor is to ensure that a procedure or a Job Safety Environment Analysis (JSEA) is in
place for operations on water.

2.0 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

2.1 An automatically inflated personal flotation device (PFD) Level 150 must be worn where
there is a risk of falling into the water. Where the risks associated with wearing a PFD
outweigh the risks of not wearing one, alternate measures can be implemented in lieu of
wearing a PFD provided the person is not working alone. This must be approved by the
supervisor or manager and documented, for example in a JSEA.

2.2 A yellow delineation line is painted on the ground on all berths. If personnel are working on
the water side of the the yellow line then they are required to wear a PFD unless section 4.1
applies. For brief visual inspections near the wharf edge, where there is little to no risk of
falling into the water, a PFD is not required, provided the person is not working alone.

2.3 A rescue buoy (life ring) should be available not more than 25m from the location of work.
Other appropriate equipment to facilitate water retrieval is to be available based on the risks
of the job and the location.

2.4 Where maintenance work is conducted over water, the following hierarchy of controls
applies:
a. Where possible, the risk of falling into the water is to be eliminated or at least
minimised by conducting the work on land and then installing in position over water.
b. Where work must proceed on or near water edge, fall protection will be used where
possible.

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c. Work from a work basket where scaffolding is not feasible or the task is of a short
duration.
d. Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as fall restraint/ fall arrest and PFD, giving
consideration to individual risks associated with the task being performed.

2.5 Under the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996, “Construction work”
undertaken in, over or adjacent to water or other liquids if there is a risk of drowning is
considered to be “high risk construction work” and a Work Method Statement (such as a
JSEA) is mandatory.

2.6 A Work Afloat permit is required for any activities undertaken either over the face of a berth,
under a berth, on the water in the basin or on the water in the channel, and utilising any
vessel, pontoon, floating platform or barge as a means of transport and working platform.
Refer to Procedure 4.1 Permit to Work System.

2.7 When working where there is a risk of falling into the water:
 Job planning is required e.g. procedure, permit to work and/or JSEA.
 A sentry should be present where possible.
 A suitable method of communication (verbal/radio) between personnel working near the
edge and personnel working away from the edge.
 Consider environmental conditions prior to commencing work; where possible work on or
near water should not be conducted in windy or wet conditions, or if there is significant
swell/surge in the harbour.

2.8 When a vessel works inside the Commercial Harbour it is the responsibility of the master of
the vessel to ensure that the “R” flag (positioned at the entry to the Work boat pens) is raised
and locked into the upright position while working afloat. The lockbox cabinet is located at
the base of the flag. The flag is to be raised and locked into the upright position with the use
of the hasps and a padlock. There is to be an information tag placed onto the padlock which
clearly shows the Masters Name, their contact number and the Permit number under which
they are working. If the flag is already raised the master is to ensure that they place an
additional padlock and information tag onto the hasp. The tag must show all of the above
details. The key to the padlock is to be kept by the master of the vessel.

2.9 For works in the Commercial Harbour it is the responsibility of second or subsequent permit
holder Masters to contact parties whose tags are already attached to the raised flag.
Clarification can be sought by contacting the Harbourmasters office on VHF 11 or by calling
9964 0505.

2.10 When works have been completed for the day the master of the vessel is to ensure that the
padlock and information tag are removed from the hasp. If theirs is the last padlock to be
removed they must lower and stow the flag. The padlock, key and Hasp are to be placed
back into the lockout cabinet. If the lock is not removed the master will be contacted and
required to return to the port in order to remove the lock from the hasp.

2.11 The requirements for formal working afloat approval can be expedited for members of the
maintenance team for short duration tasks or short notice working afloat tasks these tasks
are listed in 4.1 The Maintenance Supervisor or acting Maintenance Supervisor can call the
Duty Pilot or Ships Scheduler and verbally request approval for the work afloat. They are to
explain the nature of the task, location and duration. If approval is given they must send an
email to the harbour master’s email address (harbourmasters@midwestports.com.au )
and the Wharf Supervisors are to be copied in to the email
(wharfsupervisors@midwestports.com.au). This email must explain the nature of the task,
location and duration of works. The requirements for the personnel working afloat remain the

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same as is set out in “requirements checklist” of the working afloat / dive permit. Upon this
approval the Maintenance team can proceed with their tasking.

2.12 Short duration working afloat tasks for the maintenance team:

a. Move Barge
b. 60 min tasks
c. Short notice tasks

3.0 WORKING SUSPENDED ABOVE WATER

3.1 MWPA has an exemption from the requirement to wear a harness when working over water
in a work box or EWP. Refer to Procedure 2.33 Working at Heights for details.

4.0 MWPA VESSELS AND LICENCE REQUIREMENTS

4.1 Vessels must be in survey, survey exempt (EX) or registered as survey-exempt (C-survey
exempt).

4.2 Regulation 10A of the WA Marine (Surveys and Certificates of Survey) Regulations 1983
allows for certain class 2 vessels to be survey exempt. These vessels must be less than 8
metres in length, not carry passengers and not operate further than 5 nautical miles off the
mainland. Other conditions also apply including the vessel must be registered and carry
prescribed safety equipment. MWPA has a number of vessels that have been exempted –
refer to class 2E vessels in Table 3.

4.3 ‘Passengers’ are defined under the National Standard for Commercial Vessels as “any
person other than: the master and other members of the crew; a person designed as special
personnel or a child under one year of age.”

4.4 ‘Special personnel’ are defined under the National Standard for Commercial Vessels as: “all
persons who –
(a) have knowledge of safety procedures and handling of safety equipment on board;
(b) are not passengers, or members of the crew, or children under one year of age;
(c) are carried on board in connection with the special purpose of that vessel, or because
of special work being carried out aboard that vessel; and
(d) are able bodied.”

4.5 ‘Smooth Waters’ (sheltered waters) for Geraldton are defined in Schedule 1 of the WA
Marine (Certificates of Competency and Safety Manning) Regulations 1983 as “South of the
West Breakwater and south of the parallel of the East Breakwater Light.” Refer to the
published Department of Transport drawing located at Attachment A.

4.6 All vessels must be fitted with the required safety equipment – refer to the WA Department of
Transport ‘Application for Registration of a Survey Exempt Vessel’ for equipment
requirements. Different equipment requirements apply for smooth waters compared with
unprotected waters.

4.7 Commercial vessels can be classified into four different categories as follows:
Table 1 – Vessel Class
Class 1 Passenger vessels, i.e. vessels carrying more than 12 passengers,
Class 2 Trading vessels, i.e. Tugboats, barges, vessels that may carry up to 12
passengers,
Class 3 Fishing vessels,
Class 4 Hire and drive vessels.

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They are also classified by their area of operation, as follows:

Table 2 – Operational Areas
"A" Area An Unlimited area of operation,
"B" Area Offshore operations to 200 nautical miles of the coast,
"C" Area Restricted offshore operations within a range of 30 nautical miles from "D"
area waters or mainland coast,
"D" Area Operations within gazetted partially smooth waters,
"E" Area Operations within gazetted smooth waters (generally inland waters).

4.8 Table 3 lists the minimum licence requirements to operate MWPA vessels:
Table 3 – Vessel Licence/Competency Requirements
Permitted to operate this vessel if:
Vessel Restricted Coxswain Master
MWPA Vessel Class
Length Coxswain Class 5
Trading
Pilot Boat 1 No No Yes
Pile Driving Barge Currently 18 m No Yes
(Thor) out of
service
Enviro Boat 2E 7.10 m Yes with Yes
conditions –
see clause
4.10 below
Flat Bottom Punt 2E 5.45 m Yes with Yes only
Flat Bottom Punt 2E 4.85 m conditions – within 15nm
Rigid Inflatable 2E 4.28 m see clause of the
Barges 2E 6.0 m 4.11 below mainland
coast

4.9 A Restricted Coxswain certificate of competency legally entitles the holder to operate a
Survey Exempt vessel of less than 8 metres in length, less than 5 nautical miles from the
mainland without passengers. However, the MWPA Harbour Master has determined for
safety reasons that the restrictions outlined in Table 3 apply.
4.10 Enviro Boat Conditions: Unless otherwise exempted in writing, the following additional
limitations apply to operation of the Enviro Boat by the holder of a Restricted Coxswain:
(a) enviro boat may only be operated within the area shown on drawing at Attachment B;
(b) sea state must be less than 2 metres measured on the AWAC;
(c) wind must not be over 20 knots;
(d) work may only be conducted within hours of daylight; and
(e) work must not involve diving or other work where personnel are required to enter the
water.

4.11 Punts and barges may only be operated within Geraldton smooth waters unless otherwise
exempted by the Harbourmaster in writing, for example in special one off circumstances
such as working on a navigation beacon. In this case it may be that another vessel escorts
or tows the punt to its location. Punts and barges must have a Marine Band VHF radio on
channel 11 when moving between the Main Harbour and the FBH.

4.12 At any time during a dive operation being conducted from a MWPA vessel, unless at the
discretion of the Harbour Master, a Master Class 5 is the minimum required certification.
Dive operations being solely conducted by contracted companies on behalf of the MWPA
are required to meet the minimum DoT vessel skipper requirements.

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5.0 PERSONAL FLOATATION DEVICE

5.1 It is the responsibility of the user to inspect the device for signs of wear and deterioration and
remove the device from service if appropriate as per training requirements.

5.2 It is the responsibility of the user to ensure the device is within the annual service date.

5.3 It is the responsibility of user’s manager/supervisor to arrange for the device to be serviced
annually. Servicing of the PFD is to be carried out by a Manufacturer approved service
agent.

6.0 EMERGENCY RESPONSE

6.1 In the event of person/s falling into the water:

 Make sure that the person is conscious and that their PFD has inflated.
 If conscious assist the person to the nearest man overboard ladder and/or throw them a
life buoy if required.
 If person has fallen overboard during a vessel movement advise Pilot, tugs and Pilot
Boat. If there is a risk of injury from vessels the Pilot may have to take action to prevent
it.
 If unconscious consider having someone enter the water to provide assistance (ensure
the rescuer has a PFD on and is a capable swimmer).
 Consider deploying dinghy or similar to assist.
 Provide first aid assistance and if necessary call for ambulance on 000.
 Raise the alarm verbally, by radio or port emergency number as necessary.
 Report the incident to the Harbour Master and enter into STEMS.

7.0 ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS

Form F4.1 Work afloat & Dive Permit

Form F1.7L Job Safety & Environment Analysis
Procedure 2.33 Working at Heights
Procedure 3.30 Wharfside Man Overboard Procedure
Procedure 4.1 Permit to Work System

8.0 REFERENCES

Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984

Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 2005
Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 2005
AS4758.1-2008 Personal flotation devices – General requirements
AS2261 – 1990 Rescue Buoys
AS2259 – 1996 General requirements for buoyancy aids
Department of Planning - Australian Maritime Training Centre
WA Marine (Certificates of Competency and Safety Manning) Regulations 1983
WA Marine (Life Saving Applicants, Fire Appliances and Miscellaneous Equipment) Regulations
1983
WA Marine (Surveys and Certificates of Survey) Regulations 1983
National Standard for Commercial Vessels – Part B General Requirements

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9.0 ADMINISTRATION

Custodian: HSEQ Manager and Harbour Master

Approved: Peter Klein

Chief Executive Officer
30 May 2016

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ATTACHMENT A

As published on Department of Transport website 6 March 2005

http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine/19128.asp#GeographicalLimitsEArea

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ATTACHMENT B

Green Turning Buoy

Enviro Boat area with
Coxswain Restricted

Enviro Boat area with

Coxswain Restricted

Main Channel - Bn 8

Enviro Boat area with

Coxswain Restricted

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Declaration
I have read and understood “4.6 Working on, over or near water” Procedure

Date Name Signature

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