Chapter 23
FOOD PREPARATION AND HANDLING IN THE CATERING DEPARTMENT
Not covered in this document.
Chapter 24
HOT WORK
General
Hot work should be the subject of a permit to work.
Operators should be suitably trained, familiar with the equipment to be used and instructed where special precautions need to be taken.
Before welding, flame cutting, angle grinding or other hot work is started, a check should be made that there are no combustible solids, liquids or gases at, below or adjacent to the area of work that might be ignited by heat or sparks from the work. Such work should never be undertaken on surfaces covered with grease, oil or other flammable or combustible materials.
When hot work is to be done in the vicinity of open hatches, suitable screens should be erected to prevent sparks dropping down hatchways or hold ventilators.
Port holes and other openings through which sparks may fall should be closed.
When work is being done close to or at bulkheads, decks or deckheads, the far side(Other side) of the divisions should be checked for materials and substances that may ignite, and for cables, pipelines or other services that may be affected by the heat.
Cargo tanks, fuel tanks, cargo holds, pipelines, pumps and other spaces that have contained flammable substances should be certified as being free of flammable gases before any repair work is commenced. The testing should include, as appropriate, the testing of adjacent spaces, double bottoms and cofferdams. Further tests should be carried out at regular intervals and before hot work is recommenced following any suspension of the work. When carrying out hot work on tankers and similar ships, all tanks, cargo pumps and pipelines should be thoroughly cleaned and particular care taken with the draining and cleaning of pipelines that cannot be directly flushed using the ship’s pumps.
Where portable lights are needed to provide adequate illumination, they should be clamped or otherwise secured in position, not handheld, with leads kept clear of the working area.
Hot work should be properly supervised and kept under regular observation. Suitable fire extinguishers should be kept at hand ready for use during the operation. A person with a suitable extinguisher should also be stationed to keep watch on areas that may be affected that are not visible to the seafarer doing the work.
In view of the risk of delayed fires resulting from the use of burning or welding apparatus, frequent checks should be made for at least two hours after the work has stopped.
Welding and gas cutting
Harmful fumes can be produced from galvanizing paint and other protective materials. Oxygen in the atmosphere can be depleted when using gas-cutting equipment and noxious gases may be produced when welding or cutting. Special care should therefore be taken to provide adequate ventilation when welding and flame cutting in enclosed spaces. The effectiveness of the ventilation should be checked at intervals while the work is in progress and, if appropriate, local exhaust ventilation should be considered.
Personal protective equipment for HOT work
Personal protective equipment complying with the relevant standard must be worn by the operator and by those assisting with the operation to protect them from particles of hot metal and slag, and protect their eyes and skin from ultra-violet and heat radiation.
The operator should normally wear:
· welding shields or welding goggles with appropriate shade of filter lens (goggles are only recommended for gas welding and flame cutting);
· Special leather gloves;
· leather apron (in appropriate circumstances); and
· long-sleeved natural-fibre boiler suit
· Clothing should be free of grease and oil and other flammable substances.
Hot work equipment should be inspected before use by a competent person to ensure that it is in a serviceable condition.