Pilots working in some ports in Brazil have in some instances refused to board vessels that do not maintain adequate working conditions, specifically concerning temperature control on the bridge and in pilot cabins. This is driven by local labour regulations, which mandate specific temperature ranges for the safety and comfort of employees, reads a Gard release.
Vessels not complying with the regulations could face significant operational delays, financial losses, and potential port state control inspections. Managers and their seafarers should check that the vessel’s air conditioning is working properly prior to arriving in Brazil.
The incident
Amazon river pilots recorded a temperature of 28°C on the bridge of a vessel departing the port of Manaus. Citing thermal discomfort caused by a faulty air conditioning system, the pilots directed the vessel to anchor at Santarem and disembarked. Although the flag state issued a dispensation, the pilots refused to board the vessel until the air conditioning (AC) system was repaired.
Port State Control inspectors subsequently boarded the vessel and noted that the temperature in the crew cabins was also too high. As a result, they issued an MLC deficiency for poor working and living conditions onboard. The owner had to purchase and install split air conditioning units on the bridge as the vessel’s air conditioning system could not be repaired locally, resulting in a 7-day delay.
Recommendations
According to the correspondent, Proinde the Brazilian Regulatory Standards (NR) are a set of regulations established by the Brazilian government to ensure health and safety in the workplace. Issued by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, NRs ensure the physical integrity, health and safety at work and establish the technical and legal requirements on the minimum levels of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), as follows:
- Preserve the health and integrity of workers;
- Outline procedures and strategies for preventing accidents in the construction industry through the adoption of actions with individual and collective impact;
- Encourage the adoption of a company workplace safety policy;
- Prevent the performance of activities in hazardous conditions or that expose workers’ health to risks;
- Regulate legislation covering workplace safety.
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Source: Gard
