Frequent occurrence of incidents by working on deck during heavy weather arise public’s concern. Unless the work is a must, otherwise, it’s better to avoid in preventing incidents from happening. However, once the work proves to be necessary, the followings should be carried out to make safety:
- Continuous forecasts of weather and prevailing sea conditions
- Ample warning should be given in allowing ships staff to secure the vessel & move to a safe area before heavy weather
- Radio contact for the person in charge with the bridge for regular updates and assistance once there’s incident
- Careful planning of rescue efforts once there’s incident
- The crew should only proceed on deck only after risk assessment and precaution is taken
Before on deck work is carried out, the following should be complying with:
- A full risk assessment must be done by referencing to the company ISM work procedures
- Issuance of work permit
- Express permission should be obtained from the Master
Things to be considered when conducting A Risk assessment for heavy weather working according to the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seaman:
- Necessity of work (i.e. can it wait until daylight, next port, do the risks outweigh the benefits?)
- Availability of rescue & emergency medical care if things go wrong
- Use of stabilising fins (if fitted) to reduce rolling
- Adjust vessel course & speed
- Permit to work & company checklist completed
- Rigging Lifelines
- Lifejacket with Safety harness
- Adequate PPE (including full head protection that will reduce exposure to the elements)
- Using head mounted torches
- Using waterproof worksuits with reflective tape fitted
- Deck illumination
- Visual contact from bridge
- Working in [at least] pairs
- Water resistant [proof] portable radios for communications with bridge
- Use of bridge searchlight or radar in restricted visibility or darkness area to determine predominant wave direction at night.
- Be aware that even in a regular wave pattern “rogue” waves can exist which can vary in direction and size from the regular wave pattern being experienced
- ALWAYS plan for, and expect the unexpected
If the vessel has sheltered passageways, it’s prudent to arrange a whistle signal with the bridge in allowing warning sounding when there’s large wave.
恶劣天气情况下甲板上作业——全球适用
由于在恶劣天气情况下在甲板上作业的事故經常发生，因此在此種情況下，应仔細考虑有關危险和步骤。除非该甲板上作业是必要的，否則該推迟作业，待天气转好或海面较平静之后再进行。如果必须在甲板上作业，则应持续监察天气预报和当时海况，对船员进行充分警告，使之能保护船舶及將船舶转移至安全区域。如果进行甲板上作业，负责人应通过无线电与驾驶台保持联系，以便经常和定期更新信息，并在事故发生时及时要求协助。
在开始甲板上作业之前，须完成一份完整的风险评估，包括公司安全管理系统操作流程的参考数据和出一份作业许可，并且获得船长明示许可的情况下才能进行。
《商船海员安全工作手册》提供了恶劣天气下甲板上作业进行风险评估时应该考虑到项目如下：
- 作业必要性 （如：是否可以等到白天、下一个港口再进行作业？进行作业的风险大于它所带来的好处？）
- 出现问题时紧急救援和医疗服务的可用性
- 使用稳定鳍（若适用）减轻船舶摇晃
- 调整船舶航向及航速
- 填写作业许可和公司检查表
- 装备救生索
- 附有安全吊带的救生衣
- 充分的个人防护装备（包括减少接触的头部保护装置）
- 使用头盔式电筒
- 使用配备反光带的防水工作服
- 甲板照明
- 驾驶台目视
- （至少）两人进行作业
- 与驾驶台交流使用防水无线对讲机
- 在夜间使用驾驶台探照灯或在能见度受限或黑暗状态下使用雷达确定主要波向
- 应注意，即使波型规则，诡浪也可能存在，其方向和大小和之前遇到的规则波型不同
- 时刻准备和预防发生任何意外
若发生事故，应谨慎计划救助行动，在没有考虑相关风险及确保预防措施准备就绪之前，船员不得冒险冲上甲板作业。如果船舶装备有防护通道，则应使用防护通道，与驾驶台安排发出汽笛信号，以在大浪逼近时使船员收听到警报，从而获得足够的时间进入遮蔽处或船内避险。
