Code of Safe Working Practices
Note: This is an attempt to simplify the code for Pre-sea level cadets (BSc and DNS) to cover their syllabus. Read, Understand and Apply Safety code to your day to day activities. You need to pay full attention when you are in Seamanship Lab doing practical’s. For additional details read COSWP publication.
This is the most important publication for a seafarer. This deals with Safe working practices (related to your work) to keep you safe. There has been a long history of accidents on ships where people got hurt, maimed and many died. After a lot of discussions and research, this book was published for the first time to make seafarer aware of dangers. This book is updated as required.
You should be reading original publication when you are ready for the bigger role. Presently I am keeping it simple for you to understand the basics of safety.
A ship is a place owned by a company and you work there. The company as an employer has a responsibility to provide you with a safe place, tools, and equipment for living and work. You have the responsibility of using environment, equipment, and tools in proper SAFE manner.
Idea is to avoid accidents or near misses (When you narrowly miss an accident). What is an accident? It is an unplanned or unexpected event where things go bad for everyone. You cannot turn back the clock to avoid it. Regrets cannot bring back lost limbs or life.
If you get a tiny scratch on you while working, you have been working in an unsafe manner. That’s the standard we must follow to avoid injuries.
Risks involved can be of many natures and must be identified before starting a job. Ignorance cannot be accepted.
To provide you with a safe environment, normally employers ensure that certain standards are followed. Classification societies are watchdogs of ensuring ships are safe in design and maintained in a safe manner. This makes us responsible for following safe practices to make this “Marriage” successful.
The Company is also responsible for ensuring that seafarers have the appropriate information, training and instruction to enable them to work safely, making arrangements for consultation with seafarers about health and safety matters, and having systems for recording and investigating safety incidents and accidents on board.
The Master (Captain) is the representative of the Company.
Duties of seafarers
Seafarers are required to:
· take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others on board who are affected by their acts or omissions;
· cooperate with anyone else carrying out health and safety duties,
· report any identified serious hazards or deficiencies immediately to the appropriate officer or another responsible person; and
· Make proper use of plant and machinery, and treat any hazard to health or safety (such as a dangerous substance) with due caution.
· It is also an offense for any person intentionally or recklessly to interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health and safety.