Australian Government

Federal Register of Legislation

Seacare Authority Code of Practice Approval 2018 - Health and Safety in Shipboard Work, including Offshore Support Vessels

In force

Administered by

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

This item is authorised by the following title:

Occupational Health and Safety (Maritime Industry) Act 1993

Latest version

F2018L01173

27 August 2018

Table of contents

Minor deficiencies in the ship structure, equipment or furnishings (for example, protruding nails and screws, loose fittings and handles, uneven and damaged flooring) may contribute to cuts, bruises, trips and falls. They should be repaired as soon as they are noticed.
Ropes and wires are frequently under strain during mooring operations and seafarers should, as much as possible, always stand in a place of safety from whiplash should ropes or wires break.
The stowage and dispersal of deck or machinery equipment should be well planned and organised so that each item has its proper place.
Seafarers should always stand clear of any load being lifted and should not walk near or underneath any load being lifted, or while it is suspended.
strong enough to support the weight placed on it;
free of damage, degradation or wear that may affect the strength of the means of access;
secured to prevent accidental displacement;
illuminated sufficiently for people to use it safely at night;
clear of the path of cargo being loaded or unloaded from a ship;
kept clean and free of any material that could make its use unsafe, including any snow, ice, grease or other substance likely to cause a slip or fall;
properly rigged and adjusted to allow for any changes in tidal levels and the ship’s trim and freeboard;
at an angle allowing safe access to the ship;
two man-ropes of not less than 28 mm and not more than 32 mm in diameter properly secured to the ship if required by the pilot; man-ropes to be fixed at the rope end to the ring plate fixed on deck and must be ready for use when the pilot disembarks, or upon request from a pilot approaching to board (the manropes must reach the height of the stanchions or bulwarks at the point of access to the deck before terminating at the ring plate on deck);
a lifebuoy equipped with a self-igniting light;
a heaving line.
there is suitable deck and under-deck illumination, with a minimum level of:
any artificial lighting does not expose persons engaged in loading or unloading to health and safety risks or the safety of the vessel or of the cargo; and
any artificial lighting is designed and located to minimise glare, reflection and shadows.
understand the nature of the hazards inside the particular confined space and be able to recognise signs and symptoms of those in the confined space;
remain outside the confined space and do no other work which may interfere with the primary role of monitoring those inside;
have all required rescue equipment immediately available;
have the authority to order seafarers to exit the space if a hazardous situation arises;
initiate emergency response arrangements.
adequate warning of the risks are given to seafarers and other persons on board the ship and that they are advised of suitable precautions to be taken;
any incident involving dangerous goods, including leakage and spillage of goods that are or might be dangerous goods, occurring on board the ship are reported as soon as possible to AMSA;
no bunkering is carried out at any time during the handling of dangerous goods of Class 1 (other than Class 1.4S); and
radio transmitters are not operated in an unsafe manner during loading or unloading of explosive articles.
all inlets through which steam or water might enter the boiler from any other part of the range have been disconnected, drained and left open to atmosphere; or
where that is not practicable, all valves or cocks, including blowdown valves controlling entry of steam or water, have been closed and securely locked, and notices posted to prevent them being opened again until authorisation is given.
Sanitary and laundering facilities
Sewage systems
dust created by certain cargoes, particularly in loading, discharging or hold cleaning operations, may pose an explosion hazard.
seawater entering holds through hatch covers moving or flexing when the ship is working in a seaway.