COSWP

Question 1

What is COSWP?

Answer 1

COSWP is created and published by the MCA and is intended for seafarers on a UK Vessel. It provides guidance and best practices for health and safety

Question 2

What is chapter 1?

Answer 2

MANAGING OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
Key points:
Each person is responsible for their own health and safety and is also responsible for others H+S
Reporting defects or unsafe conditions
Comply with instructions and safety procedures

The company should create a safety culture, including:
Risk assessments
Expectations
Communications
Planning
Leadership
Accountability
Effective knowledge of management

Question 3

What are the 5 stages of risk assessments?

Answer 3

1 - Identifying hazards
2 - Who might be harmed and how
3 - Evaluate the risks and precautions
4 - Record findings and Implement
5 - Review and update

Question 4

What are the 4 Levels of Risk assessments?

Answer 4

1 - Generic: All hazards are identified with respect to ships, personnel and the environment

2 - Task Based: Created for specific low risk and routine tasks

3 - Tool Box Talk: A meeting discussing all relevant hazards and risks in an upcoming job, the staff involved should be encouraged to engage.

4 - Personal: Informal and carried out day to day during jobs and normal life. When carrying out work, a step back should be taken and assess, what? how? and why?

Question 5

What is chapter 2?

Answer 5

SAFETY INDUCTION FOR PERSONNEL WORKING ON SHIPS

Safety induction and familiarization should be carried out as soon as possible for joiners. This is to ensure people know important areas and procedures, including:
Muster point
Lifeboat location
M.O.B actions
Fire actions
General alarm
Abandon ship Alarm
Medical Emergencies

In addition:
Health and Hygiene
Housekeeping
Environmental
H+S

Question 6

What is chapter 3?

Answer 6

LIVING ON BOARD

All staff require ENG1

Seafarers should understand why health, well being and cleanliness are important to prevent illness and injury onboard.

Medication

Fatigue -
Work should be organised to minimize fatigue
activities on board should help to prevent fatigue
Use rest periods for sleep
Eat well
Record hours of rest
Avoid electronics before bed

Hot environments - good water intake and salt from food
Take regular breaks
Sunscreen

Cold Environments - Hypothermia (35 degrees)
Shivering
Blue lips or fingers
Reduced mental alertness

Common injuries
Eyes
Head
Cuts
Burns

Question 7

What is chapter 4?

Answer 7

EMERGENCY DRILLS AND PROCEDURES

Drills are used to train seafarers on how to respond to dangerous situations, to prevent loss of life or property to the sea, as well as protect the environment.

Guidance on how drills including fire, M.O.B, abandon ship, enclosed space rescue, emergency steering, SOPEP and damage control.

When 25% of crew have not taken part in a drill then the master must hold a fire and abandon ship drill.

On passenger ships, fire + abandon ship drills weekly
Passengers should go to muster before departure

Seafarers should be shown how to use on board LSAs, what their emergency duties are, where their muster points are and where their LSAs are.

FIRE
Teach each member of the fire team how to use BA gear
Fire search and rescue in various parts of the ship
Teach members how to change bottles
Must be changed after a drill to ensure preparedness
Test fixed fire fighting as far as practicable
Inspect Watertight doors, fire doors and fire appliances

Response in case of fire
F - Find
I - Inform
R - Restrict
E- extinguish

ABANDON SHIPS
Done alongside or at anchor
Appropriate clothing
Ensure seafarers know how to operate the lifeboats
Test radio communications
Simulated release of free fall lifeboats

M.O.B
Once a month

Damage Control and Steering Gear
Once every 3 months

ENCLOSED SPACE
Once every 2 months
How to use rescue equipment
How to respond in the case of a casualty

Question 8

What is Chapter 5?

Answer 8

FIRE PRECAUTIONS

Good housekeeping and safe disposal of oil and oily materials
Designated smoking areas
Competent person to inspect all electrical equipment
Fire blankets in galleys

Question 9

What is Chapter 6?

Answer 9

SECURITY ON BOARD

Refer to ISPS Code SOLAS Chapter 11.2

The security officer is responsible for enhancing security on board
Security Level set to the port or higher
To reduce the likelihood of stowaways
Piracy - additional precautions to prevent boarding including extra watches and report suspicious movements
Follow Ships Security plan

Question 10

What is Chapter 7?

Answer 10

WORKPLACE HEALTH SURVEILLANCE
Reporting of illness
Surveillance when risk assessment highlights health concerns

Question 11

What is Chapter 8?

Answer 11

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
Company must provide suitable PPE with no cost
Company identify and assess all risks, it is not possible to remove all risk. PPE should be used to protect personnel.
Correct Items picked for tasks

Consider the following controls:
Eliminate task
Substitute the task with something less risky
Guard workers from hazard
Have written procedures

Question 12

What is Chapter 9?

Answer 12

SAFETY SIGNS
Red sign = Stop or fire fighting equipment
Yellow = Take precautions
Blue = Mandatory
Green = Emergency escape or first aid

Gas
Colour of bottle top
White = Oxygen
Black = Nitrogen

Pipes
Silver = Steam
Green/Red = Fire water

Fire extinguisher
Water = Red
CO2 = Black
Foam = Cream
Powder = Blue

Question 13

What is Chapter 10?

Answer 13

MANUAL HANDLING
How to lift and move objects

Question 14

What is Chapter 11?

Answer 14

SAFE MOVEMENT ON BOARD
Walkways cleared marked
Drainage of areas
Lighting
Adapt to movement of ship

Watertight Doors
A - allowed to stay open during navigation
B - may be open during navigation when working near the door
C - may be opened for passage during navigation
D - Must be kept closed during navigation

Question 15

What is Chapter 12?

Answer 15

NOISE, VIBRATION AND OTHER PHYSICAL AGENTS

Noise - Ear protection at or above 85 dB (A)
82 dB (A) for 16 hours - no protection
Machinery space maximum - 110dB (A)

Vibrations
100 points per day Exposure action value
400 points per day Exposure limit value
How to limit exposure:
PPE
Training
Planning of work
Regular maintenance to limit

Other
Electromagnetic Fields

Question 16

What is Chapter 15?

Answer 16

ENTERING ENCLOSED SPACES

An enclosed space is one that is not designed for continuous work and has one or both:
Limited openings
Inadequate ventilation

A single inhalation of 5% oxygen can result in loss of consciousness and death.

All crew should be given on board training on risks, the hazards, how to test atmosphere, safe entry, how to stand as a sentry, communications to be used during emergency.

Space should be depressurized, opened and vented.

PTW
Rescue plan - Location of rescue gear and rescue team
Location of work
Testing of Atmosphere
Personnel involved
Period of Validity

Atmosphere:
Tested remotely with extension rod, hose and pump

Oxygen: 20.8%
Can be 20% but extra consideration should be taken

Hydrogen Sulphide:
Less than 5ppm for 8 hours

Carbon Monoxide:
Less than 20ppm for 8 hours

Toxic Gases: 50% of working exposure limit

Flammable gases:
0%

Rescue Gear:
BA Gear
Means of hoisting
Intrinsically safe lighting
Lifeline and rescue harnesses

Question 17

What is Chapter 14?

Answer 17

PERMIT TO WORK
PTW ensures control measures to limit hazards have been followed.
Competent person - Someone who is trained, and designated for the task
Authorizing officer - Issues and closes the permit
Use PTW as per Safety management system (SMS)

PTW includes:
Location of work
Details of work
Tests undertaken
Period of validity
Safeguards to take

Required for:
Enclosed space
Hot work
Working at height
Low voltage
High Voltage

Question 18

What is Chapter 17?

Answer 18

WORKING AT HEIGHT

work at height is there is no other option with only the competent person carrying out the activity. Supervisor must be competent as a worker and supervisor.

Five point harness with lifeline or other arresting device.
If over the side then the person should be wearing a life jacket. In addition, working over the side should not be done during navigation.

Working near the whistle should involve isolation.

Working near the funnel should involve limited emissions.

Gives information on how to use ladders- Angles and securing.

Requirements for scaffolding.

Question 19

What is Chapter 18?

Answer 19

PROVISION, CARE AND USE OF WORK EQUIPMENT

Use the right tool for the job

Work equipment means machinery, appliances, tools or apparatus

Train staff to use in the correct way.

The company is responsible for all work equipment.

All equipment should comply with UK regulations.

Do not have loose clothing and remove jewellery, also tie back long hair.

Equipment should be inspected before every use for defects.

Question 20

What is Chapter 19?

Answer 20

LIFTING EQUIPMENT AND OPERATIONS

Storage of lifting gear is such that it will not degrade or become damaged.

Ensure Safe Working Limit (SWL) is appropriate for operations.

Regular maintenance:
Greasing
Check ropes and cables
Examine structures
Functionality tests

Examination and inspection:

Every 6 or 12 months (6 if lifting people) inspections of the equipment should be carried out by a competent person.
(external company)
Then be provided with certificates.

Operations:
Risk assessment
Planning
Supervised
Safe working

Certificates:
IMO number, Owner, Piece of equipment
Name of tester
Name of equipment

Also defines hand signals

Question 21

What is Chapter 20?

Answer 21

WORK ON MACHINERY AND POWER SYSTEMS

Risk assessments should be used to identify hazards and safeguarding put in place.

Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO) to control machinery during maintenance.

The company must provide the correct tools, equipment, manuals and instructions to carry out the work safely.

Master or Chief Engineer must be informed before work starts.

Correct PPE.

Bilges are clear form debris

Sounding pipes have the weighted cocks.

Critical equipment:

RA carried out with back ups identified.
Shore management will be informed.

Question 22

What is Chapter 24?

Answer 22

HOT WORK

Should have a Permit To Work for hot work

Appropriate PPE - leather gauntlets, welding masks, ventilation, Boiler suit

No combustible products nearby

Fire extinguishers nearby

Must be stopped during bunkering.

Gas cutting/Welding can deplete oxygen levels and produce noxious gases.

Question 23

What is Chapter 34?

Answer 23

SHIPYARD SAFETY

Ship yards pose risks which may be unfamiliar to seafarers

Communication with ship yard personnel is essential.

An interface document should be created to show the shipyard and ships health and safety expectations and how they should interlink. Including identify of personnel, roles and responsibilities, Communications, emergency plans

Life on board during dry dock - considerations must be due to noise, dust and ambient temperatures.

Sea Trials - Safety muster before departure including demonstration of emergency signals.

PTW should be managed centrally to prevent conflicts.