- Many risks are associated with moving heavy objects onboard.
- Keep well away from any moving machinery and wear high-visibility clothing and a safety helmet.
- Effective risk assessment and tool box talk before are vital!
Ensuring seafarers’ safety when they are in the ‘line of fire,’ meaning when they are in harm’s way during dangerous situations, is crucial for protecting lives and preventing accidents at sea, reports Safety4sea.
‘Together in Safety’ initiative
The ‘Together in Safety’ initiative concluded last year in 10 Golden Safety Rules that can assist towards a zero accident industry, presenting best and worst practices during any operation onboard. Among others, the initiative tackles with ensuring safety in any ‘line of fire’ that can be found onboard such as suspended loads, stored pressure, moving machinery and snap-back areas.
In particular, extra vigilance is required in such areas since they entail many hazards. For example, high winds or wave action can cause suspended loads to swing dangerously or cause mobile equipment to topple when carrying out of lifting operations. Similarly, crew should pay particular attention to the snap back zones and vessel movement during mooring operations.
A “snap-back” is the sudden release of the energy stored in a tensioned mooring line when it parts as the mooring line reverts to its original length. The two ends of the line recoil or snap-back towards or past their secured ends. When a synthetic mooring line breaks, the snap-back effect can be extremely powerful and the rope ends may reach a high velocity as they recoil. Anyone standing within the snap-back zone at either end of the line risks serious injury or death.
Do you know?
- Snap back is the most common factor for injuries and fatalities during mooring lines failures.
- All mooring lines under tension will stretch, particularly those made from synthetic material.
- When a synthetic mooring line breaks, the snap-back effect can be extremely powerful and the rope ends may reach a velocity of up to more than 500 km/h as they recoil.
- The possible area of the snap-back zone of the rope when it recoils will increase in breadth the further it travels from the point of breakage
- The end of the broken rope may also recoil past the point to which it is secured to a distance almost equal to the remaining length.
- Another potential hidden hazard on board is the pressurized hoses or systems.
- Danger zone can be created near areas where blasting, gridding, or cutting works are conducted. The permit to work system on board should be followed.
For crossing over a ‘line of fire’ onboard, keep in mind:
ALWAYS
- Maintain a safe distance from hazards, ensuring you are outside the “line of fire” and understand the consequences of equipment failure;
- Keep away from suspended loads, unprotected equipment and moving vehicles;
- Be alert to blasting, welding, grinding, electrical work and falling objects;
- Maintain a safe distance from lines under tension such as lifting/mooring lines, towing cables or suspended loads
- Consider Snap-back areas;
- Make use of pedestrian walkways and safe zones where they are provided.
NEVER
- Enter an unauthorized area;
- Bypass a safety barrier or enter an exclusion zone;
- Attempt a task that you are not trained or competent to do.
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Source: Safety4sea
