Guidelines for Health and Safety on Board Small Fishing Boats

This section covers different things to consider to keeping your vessel tidy.

A clean and tidy vessel is an efficient and safe vessel!
Clutter and rubbish create hazards!

• Clean up slippery decks.
• Mop up spills as soon as possible.
• Fish slime, etc should be flushed from the deck frequently.
• Secure loose gear up of the deck. No ropes or lines should be left strewn on deck.
• Keep decks as clear as possible at all times.
• Keep equipment, ropes, fish bins or ladders tied or stowed up off the deck.
• Heavy objects (blocks) used aloft should not be left loose or swinging.
• Rope off any breaks in the deck. Make the rope visible by tying rags to it and tie it at a height so people see it and it doesn’t turn into a trip wire.
• Water-hoses should be coiled and hung on brackets.
• Hatch covers should be neatly piled out of passageways when the hatches are open.
• Hatches should not be left partially opened or concealed with a tarpaulin.
• Don’t leave a hatch open for longer than you have to.
• Supplies and fish boxes carried on deck should be covered, if necessary, and securely lashed.
• Make sure scuppers are not blocked by equipment, tools, or debris. Blocked scuppers can pose a serious hazard, especially in rough seas.
• Stow items at main deck level or below. Do not stow heavy items high on vessel as it will affect the Centre of Gravity making the vessel unstable.
• Don't store gear in passageways. Keep walkways, passages and waists clear.
• Store sharp objects in galley or on deck (knives, gaffs, etc) safely.
• Clean rags should be kept in a box or locker. Dirty rags should be disposed of in metal containers with lids.
• Keep quarters neat and orderly.
• Stow personal gear properly.
• Fire extinguishers should be properly located and never used as coat racks.
• Keep a bolt or wire cutter (or knife) on board to cut lines or gear that is tangled or needs to be cut away quickly.
• Don't hang unattended towels or wash cloths above the stove to dry.
• Degrease filters and stove ventilation trunking regularly.
• Clearly labelled products and equipment simply reduce the risk of mistakes such as mixing incorrect chemicals, putting the wrong oil in, turning the wrong switch off.

Appropriate Clothing

Think sensibly about the clothes you and your crew wear to sea, and remember your personal protective equipment (safety gear).

General points to consider:

• Wear close-fitting clothing, which is less likely to get caught in nets, lines or machinery.
• Wear cotton or wool in case you have a fire or fall over board.
• Dirty or oily clothing can cause skin problems. You should wash your working clothes frequently and keep them as clean as possible.
• Keep long hair tucked under a hat and tied back.
• Avoid wearing rings and other jewellery.
• Wear good footwear. Make sure the soles of your safety boots are still in good condition. Your favourite boots may be comfortable after years of wear, but if the soles are too smooth you could slip and fall.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

All crew members should have the following personal protective equipment to wear:

Safety Boots / Gumboots / Shoes

Safety boots, gumboots or shoes should be worn at all times on deck and in machinery spaces.

Safety Helmets

Safety Helmets must be worn when loads are being slung. This includes when nets are being hauled or product is being loaded/unloaded.

Hearing Protection

Ear Muffs must be worn in engine room spaces as well as in any other compartment where a noisy machine is running.

Eye Protection

Wear good quality protective eye wear when there is a risk that you could get something in your eyes. Wear safety glasses or goggles on deck during shooting and hauling operations whenever you can.

Always wear them when grinding or cutting.

Lifejackets

Wear a floatation vest at all times when working on deck!

Gloves

Gloves should be appropriate for the hazards the wearer may encounter, e.g. reinforced gloves that protect against cuts should be used during fish gutting or trimming operations. Gloves should fit snugly at the wrists but permit free movement of the fingers.

No one intentionally puts their hand into a chain sprocket, or moving blade! Guards are there to protect you if your attention “slips” or the vessel rolls awkwardly.

!   Action points

Never remove covers while a machine is in operation. This includes to clear blockages!

Never operate the machine with the covers or guards off!

If you must remove covers for cleaning or maintenance make sure the machine is isolated and tagged or tapped off.

Never by-pass or short circuit safety cut-out switches.

When someone is going to work on hydraulic, fuel, water and electrical systems:

The system must be isolated before work begins, and
cannot be restarted until work has finished

Isolating the system makes it safer to work on. If the system is isolated there is a much lower chance that:

• A person is electrocuted.
• Oil or fuel spills into the sea.
• A fire starts.
• Equipment could be damaged.

It is the skipper’s responsibility to make sure that systems are isolated. Legally, this responsibility cannot be delegated to contractors. It is always skipper who is responsible for the safety of all workers on board the vessel.

If there is an environmental incident (eg: a fuel spill), particularly one that could have been avoided by isolation, the owner and skippers as well as the contractor can all be found responsible.

!   Action points

Turn the supply off to the equipment that is going to be maintained. You can:

1. Put a piece of tape across it and write “Do Not Turn On” and your name on it.

2. Use a designed tag-out card.

• Before removing any tag to start equipment, check with the person whose name is on the tag or tape that work has been completed and that it is safe to operate.
• Always check yourself that the system looks safe to operate after it has been worked on.
• If a contractor will come on board to do maintenance work when the crew are not there, isolate the system before you leave.

Hazardous substances have dangerous properties. A substance is hazardous if has one or more of these properties:

Explosive
Flammable
Oxidising
Corrosive
Toxic to people
Ecotoxic (toxic to the environment or to animals and plants)

When a supplier sells a hazardous substance, it has to be labelled. If you use hazardous substances:

Keep products in proper container.

Read the label.

Make sure labels don’t get damaged.

Keep data sheets on file on board.

Clean up spills quickly.

Stow containers so they don’t get damaged.

Dispose of containers and contents safely. Don’t pour into sea or drains and don’t burn containers.

Store in secure, dry, but ventilated stowage location.

Take great care with these products and only take the bare minimum to sea!

The suppliers of these products must provide you with data sheets detailing:

The type of hazard it is.

What type of harm it can cause.

When it is likely to happen.

How to prevent it happening.

How to, or how not to dispose of the product.

What other chemicals not to store with.

Remember to look at these!

Assistance is available on:
0800 POISON or 0800 764 766

Lifting gear on board a vessel includes derricks, booms, cranes, rigging gear and fish lifting equipment and rigging. It includes both fixed and portable components (i.e. eyes, shackles and blocks).

This gear is subject to the extreme elements and has large forces exerted on it. Lifting gear (such as trawl blocks, hauling blocks and davits) is vital to the performance of the vessel as well as safety of its crew.

Inspect lifting gear regularly and fix it if something is wrong.

Inspections that you should do

Make sure the gear fitted is of the correct size and capacity to do the job safely.

Carry out inspections to check that;

The eyes on the eyes haven’t elongated.

Shackles and alike aren’t worn too thin.

There are safety chains attached to blocks.

The block sheaves are not too worn.

The wire is not showing signs of wear (i.e. fraying, crimped or rusting).

The pins and bushes in blocks are running smoothly and there is not too much movement between them.

Upkeep points

Maintain equipment regularly by:

Keeping moving parts well lubricated with salt water resistant grease.

Keep paint on exterior of blocks and hanging eyes in good condition.

Lubricate wire regularly.

Keep a record of all maintenance undertaken on lifting gear.

Operation

Make sure that all personnel involved in lifting and slinging operations both at sea and alongside know the correct signals.

Make all movements smooth and gradual.

Avoid sudden shocks or strains and beware of side pulls.

Avoid dangerous positions - stepping on a taut line or standing in a bight or standing in the “line of pull” of a taut rope or cable that might give way.

Never walk or stand under a load.

Keep your load within the Safe Working Load (SWT) limit.

Remember the load may be low but the FORCE is where the load is slung from. THIS AFFECTS STABILITY.

Stay out from under booms and cranes while lifting operations are in progress.

Avoid swinging a load

Attach steady lines to heavy or unwieldy loads.

Don't stand between the load and fixed objects.

Wear hard hats and safety shoes.

Using portable electric tools

Always use tools with residual current device (RCD) protection.

Inspect the tool before you use it. Check for either damage to the cord or insulation on the body of the tool.

If there is any damage - do not use the tool and get an electrician to repair it at the earliest opportunity!

Safety inspections

The skipper should set up a regular test period for portable electric tools. Use the SSM system to organise this.

Get an electrician to test all your portable tools. These tests must be repeated at regular intervals (discuss with the electrician).

Keep logs of all testing. The log can be kept in a simple notebook, or some electrical contractors will keep the records for you.

Maintaining the anti skid properties of the deck coating and keeping it free of hazards is important!

!   Action points

Maintain the deck coating so it is “anti-skid”.

Crew need to be sure of their footing while working on deck. Make sure a good dose of sand or grit is thrown on top of the last coat of paint, or some other grip tread is applied to the deck.

Replace deck gratings.

If maintenance work has required the deck plates or gratings to be removed – replace them as soon as possible. Fasten them properly so the edges and corners don’t rise up above the deck level.

Small vessels often have small, confined spaces. The air in these spaces can become very stagnant over a short period of time. This can be a health risk to crew working and living in these spaces.

Helpful tips

Regularly clean ventilation fans, grills and filters if fitted.

These all trap dirt. The dirt can become a fire risk and also reduce the quality and amount of air being supplied. Dirt can also shorten the life of fan motors.

Regularly check ventilation gaps and grills.

If there are small ventilation gaps or grills at the bottom of the door, check them regularly to make sure they are clear.

Regularly maintain shutters and flaps.

Remember in the case of a fire the compartment must be able to be closed down. Regularly grease these and move them through their arc-of-travel.

!   Action points

• Lighting should be fit for purpose.
• Change light bulbs, lamps and tubes as soon as they extinguish!
• Keep diffusers and reflectors on light fittings clean.
• Replace switches, diffusers and reflectors if they get damaged.
• Regularly test emergency lighting.
• Regularly check the battery supplying the emergency lighting. Get the local battery shop to check them regularly.
• Lighting should allow people to move around the vessel with ease and do their work safely. In the accommodation, lighting should allow people to read.

Night lighting at sea

At night, night-vision is of great importance to crew who are moving around on deck or on watch in the bridge.

If you are surrounded by white light your night-vision is seriously impaired!

Follow these rules to improve night vision:

• Keep white lighting at sea down to the minimum. You will have no chance of spotting an object ahead of you on a dark night if you are surrounded by bright white light.
• In the bridge of any vessel night lighting (blue or red) should be used to work with logs and charts.
• Do not use white deck lighting forward of the bridge.

Ropes securing a load need to be safe.

!   Action points

• Use the appropriate strength rope for the load.
• If the load is dangerous, heavy or expensive – double up!
• Stow ropes and lines up off the deck (if practical)
• Stow ropes and lines in such a way that if they are wet, they will dry.
• Regularly check ropes for fraying or cuts and discard if found to be significant.
• Don’t bend large ropes too tightly.
• Never stand where a recoiling rope (springer) may recoil back at you.

Getting on and off a vessel is awkward. The vessel size and the tidal drop can sometimes make it difficult to use a gangway.

Sometimes crew have to step onto the vessel direct from the wharf side. It is important that embarking and disembarking is done in the safest manner.

Don’t take risks!

!   Action points

• Set mooring lines so vessel lays parallel to the wharf and doesn’t swing too much.
• Use a gangway when ever possible.
• Secure ladders or gangways to the vessel.
• Build permanent hand rails/ steps on side of vessel if practical.

Flooding can occur on a vessel as a result of an incident at sea. Flooding can also happen when a vessel is alongside.

There are a number of steps you can take to reduce the risk of a flood. There are also things you can do to reduce the damage that a flood would cause.

!   Action points

• Keep watertight opening clips and dogs well greased and in good working order at all times.
• Keep all bilge and portable pumps maintained. Check operation before sailing each trip.
• Make sure bilges are clear of rags and debris that may block pumps.
• When leaving the vessel ensure all sea cocks not required for cooling running equipment, are shut off.
• Ensure your collision bulkhead or any other watertight bulkhead is not compromised by drilling holes to install cabling or pipe-work. Make sure the appropriate through-bulkhead watertight gland or fitting is used.

Things happen extremely quickly at sea and often a compartment will have to be evacuated quickly. The crew’s evacuation is already difficult because the vessel is moving. Flooding, fire and smoke make it even harder to get out. It is very important that further obstacles are not put in the way of the person escaping, whether it is a physical obstruction, or the person’s lack of knowledge about their vessel.

On some vessels, larger compartments have to have two exits. Often the alternative escape route is not used that much, and ends up with things obstructing it. Crew could be overcome by smoke or drowned because they can’t escape through these blocked exits.

!   Action points

• Every ladder and door on the vessel should be treated as an escape route.
• Keep all openings clear, unobstructed, at all times. This includes the passage leading to them.
• Regularly open and close alternative escape route hatches and doors to ensure all clips and hinges are working freely from both sides.
• Exits should be marked with iridescent signs both at eye-level and at ground level.
• Keep ladders leading up to escape hatches clear. (i.e. don’t use them as a rope or tool stowage).
• Show crew members where alternative escape routes are from all compartments when they arrive on board.

There will be a number of machinery stops around any vessel on winches, cranes, windlasses and conveyors and other pieces of machinery. Some machines are fitted with remote emergency stops so they can be shut down from another area. Many stops are installed for safety purposes so that machinery automatically stops should hazardous parts become exposed by the removal of a safety cover or guard for example.

Stops may be in many forms including: valves, levers, switches, micro-switches, electronic sensors or buttons for example.

Points to remember

• DO NOT by-pass any machine’s STOP button, even “just for a short time”.
• Make sure all STOP switches, levers and buttons are clearly labelled in red. Labels or signs should be large, clean and bright.
• Crew must be shown where emergency stop buttons are positioned including equipment they may not be responsible for operating.
• Keep all STOP buttons, levers and buttons free from obstruction.
• Check operation of STOP arrangements regularly. If there is a remote emergency stop button, use it to shut the machinery down occasionally to prove it is working.

Fuelling a vessel is a potentially dangerous situation. People on the vessel or in the area are at risk. The environment could be damaged by a fuel spill. Take care when refuelling.

!   Action points

• Make sure everyone on board knows you are fuelling.
• Make sure everyone knows that there can be NO SMOKING during the fuelling operation.
• Make sure that crew and contractors are not doing any welding, gas cutting or other hot work on or near the vessel.
• Hoist flag Bravo so vessels passing know you are fuelling.
• Keep constant communication with the tanker attendant.
• Make sure you attach bags or containers under all vents so spills aren’t likely!
• Keep a watch on deck throughout the operation.
• Keep an oil spill kit near you during the operation.
• Block scuppers.

People in key positions on the vessel must have the appropriate qualifications. Training is an ongoing requirement, because all vessels and their equipment are different and people forget things.

Don’t fall into the trap of believing training is too expensive or you haven’t got time. Down-time and medical costs are expensive too!

The level of training will vary with each crew members’ experience and capability. Experienced crew will only require induction training relating to the operation and location of equipment on a new vessel. Inexperienced new crew members will need detailed and ongoing training to learn the skills of fishing.

!   Action points

• Never let crew members operate equipment until they have been trained and tested to make sure they can operate it competently.
• Give all new crew members induction training.
• Record all training. The example of an induction checklist shown below is practical for small vessels. It serves to remind the person training the new crew member of every thing that should be covered. Keep records of completed training. These records will provide an audit trail to show that the training was done. If you or your crew have an accident you may need this evidence.
• An induction training record sheet is attached on the following page as an example. It is not complete, but should give an idea of what is required.

For further information

Seafood Industry Training Organisation (SITO)
There are a large range of courses available from various training suppliers around New Zealand which can be used. If you have any doubts contact the Seafood Industry Training Organisation on 04 385 4005. There may be some funds available to you!

Induction Training Record for FV KACHALOT
Training Task	Date	Trainer Name/Sig	Trainee Name
Muster Stations – Sound alarm. Explain action required for Fire, man overboard, Abandon Ship.	1/4/99	J Boggs JFB	Terry Tee TT
Life raft – Show location and explain Expiry Date and hydrostatic release arrangement.	1/4/99	J Boggs JFB	Terry Tee TT
EPIRB – Show location and explain Expiry Date and hydrostatic release arrangement.	1/4/99	J Boggs JFB	Terry Tee TT
Life Jackets – Show stowage and explain light battery expiry date.	1/4/99	J Boggs JFB	Terry Tee TT
Engine Room Ventilation – Show how Engine Room Ventilation is shut off in the case of an emergency. Show ventilation flaps that must be closed.	1/4/99	J Boggs JFB	Terry Tee TT
Anchor and cable – Explain and operate windlass. Explain dangers involved. Explain and secure “dead mans claw. Operate the brakes.	24/7/99	Ian Heart IH	Terry Tee TT
Cable Lockers. Show and explain dangers.	24/7/99	Ian Heart IH	Terry Tee TT
Trawl Winches. Explain operating procedures. Tools to be used, Explain dangers associated with working with wire and safe practises that must be adhered to.	13/5/99	Ian Heart IH	Terry Tee TT

Note: The checklist above is not complete and is provided to indicate the concept only.
Adapt it to include training for vessel specific equipment.

An important part of planning for your trip is looking at what happens on land if things go wrong for you on the boat:

• Make sure someone on land knows where you are heading, how long you are away at sea, and when you are due back.
• Set up a regular (every 24 hours) communication/contact schedule (cellphone/vessel radio) with someone on land or maritime radio.
• Have a plan in place for the person on land to follow if you miss a scheduled contact or are at sea longer than expected.
• Remember: it is best that someone knows your intended plan (even if this changes) rather than no-one notices you are missing.

Before leaving port, your vessel must be ready and capable to travel:

• The vessel must be sea worthy. The vessel must be watertight and equipment must be secured. Vessel stability is improved if fuel and water tanks are full, the boom is down, and weights (such as nets) are kept low.
• All cargo, fuel containers and other supplies must be safely stored and secured.
• The vessel must be safely ballasted.
• Consideration must be given to current and forecast weather conditions.

Before sailing check the essential items and equipment every time. These are included in SSM manuals or logs. An example is shown below.

Navigation Gear	Yes / No
Compass operating and remote indicator aligned.
Radar operating
Depth sounder tested
Necessary charts on board.
Navigation lights all operating in normal and backup modes
Fishing lights operating
GPS working
Weather fax working
Radio check completed
Crew
New members shown basic safety equipment.
Muster List up dated.
Water tank fill
Food on board and stowed away.
Ice on board
Electrical
Batteries checked for water level and charge
Deck lighting checked
Engine Room
Oil and water levels checked
Belt tensions checked
Fuel level checked and confirmed adequate for trip
Check gearbox oil
Steering
Steering checked in normal and emergency control
Check stern tube oil
Emergency Equipment
Life raft fitted and secured properly with hydrostatic release
EPIRB in place
Bilge alarms working
Bilge pumps checked
First aid kit has been re-stocked
Flares in their stowage
Life jackets in their correct stowage and in good order.

The list can be adapted as necessary to suit each vessel.

To work through the list with an inexperienced crew member is very good for their training!