WORKING IN MACHINERY SPACESWORKING IN MACHINERY SPACES

WORKING IN MACHINERY SPACES

GENERAL PROVISIONS

All operations in machinery spaces should be performed under the supervision of a responsible officer. .

Reference should be made to chapter 13 concerning welding, flame cutting and other hot work.

Reference should be made to chapter 5 concerning personal protective equipment. Particular attention should be paid to protecting seafarers from the effects of noise. Warning signs should indicate spaces in which hearing protection needs to be worn.

No work other than routine duties should be undertaken except on the orders of a responsible engineering officer. Maintenance work should ·be carried out in compliance with manufacturer's instruction manuals. When necessary, specific work should be carried out within the "permit-to work" system (see chapter 4).

Moving parts of machinery should be protected with permanent guards or other safety devices such as railings or fencing. Refer to the AS 4024.1-1996 (Safeguarding of machinery-General principles).

If the use of any piece of machinery or equipment is considered to be temporarily unsafe, it should be immobilised or put in a safe place or condition immediately and, if necessary, a warning notice should be posted adjacent to it or at the control position. The ships lock out or tag out system should be used where applicable.

No guard, fencing or shielding should be removed for repair or maintenance except when the machinery to which it relates has been stopped and isolated. The machinery should not be restarted until the fencing or shielding has been replaced and secured.

All valves, pipes and fittings should be adequately supported and fixed or clamped to avoid vibration and possible fracture. All such fixtures and supports should be properly maintained and replaced after maintenance.

All items such as steam pipes, exhaust pipes and fittings which, because of their location and operating temperature present a hazard, should be adequately lagged or shielded.

The source of any oil leak should be located as soon as possible and the leak stopped. Waste oil should not be allowed to accumulate in the bilges or on tank tops. Any

accumulation should be removed as soon as possible in compliance with MARPOL.

Tank top and bilge spaces should be washed down at regular intervals or as necessary for safety.

A procedure should be in place to ensure that, whenever a fuel oil tank is being filled, or the contents of one tank are being transferred to another, it does not overflow. Such a procedure may be in writing and may include permanently displayed line diagrams and particulars. Whenever fuel oil is being loaded or transferred, the operation should be supervised by the responsible officer.