Making Stop Work Authority Work
It is one thing to have a policy posted. It is another to review and explain such a policy to a new crew during their orientation or when they first sign on a vessel. And, finally, it is still another to claim the policy has been effectively implemented. A number of recent maritime incidents have led to âStop Work Authorityâ (SWA) becoming a federally mandated part of a safety management system (SMS) for vessels operating in certain areas and industries. Other sectors, while not federally mandated with respect to this requirement, adopted and implemented SWA years ago, on their own. SWA, far from a new concept, is one that recognizes the importance attached to encouraging any employee on board a vessel (whether licensedâŚ
Ship Operations Cooperative Program Meeting
The Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP) is extending an invitation to maritime industry representatives to attend their spring meeting in Panama City, Panama, March 31 - April 2, 2009. The event will be hosted by the International Maritime University of Panama and the Panama Canal Authority. The agenda includes discussion panels on the comprehensive review of the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention and STCW Code, Piracy and Security issues and solutions, Green Ships and Facilities operations, Panama Canal operations and expansion, and maritime training and educational opportunities in Panama.
Implementing an Effective Personal Protective Equipment Program
Some of the newest OSHA regulations impacting the shipyard industry deal with Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE). When this set of standards was first published, many questioned the need for them - after all, how complicated are hardhats, safety glasses or steel-toe boots? At first glance, a PPE program does not seem very complex or difficult to implement; however, I have found this is a consistently deficient area in the safety audits I have performed. When I visit workplaces, I often find inappropriate PPE is being used or PPE is not being used at all. The identification of the appropriate PPE associated with a particular task or job classification is the first step in an effective PPE program.
Hydrogen Sulfide - the Silent Killer
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been called the "silent killer" because it has a way of sneaking up on its victims and killing them without warning. The key to protecting crewmen against the silent killer is to raise their awareness by educating them about the dangers of H2S and the precautions necessary to work with it safely. Hydrogen sulfide is a toxic gas most often encountered as a residual contaminant in cargoes such as crude oil, #6 oil, and molten sulfur. Hydrogen sulfide can also be encountered in holds containing decomposing plant and animal materials. Ballast tanks sometimes contain hydrogen sulfide because of the decomposition of plant and animal material contained in river water.
