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Working with machinery

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Safe Working Practices Regulations, Sections 19-22.

All dangerous parts of machinery should be securely guarded, and you should make sure that these guards are in position before the equipment is used. The danger of fire in machinery spaces is particularly great, so guard against oil leaks or spills, and accumulations of rubbish.

Never enter machinery space or a refrigerated compartment alone without proper authority. The precautions to be taken should be posted outside the door and must be strictly followed. Before carrying out any repair or maintenance work, make sure that the machinery has been completely isolated from its power source to prevent it from turning or starting accidentally. On pressurised systems, ensure that all pressure has been relieved from the system before opening it up. Post notices at the controls to warn against using the machinery concerned. Do not attempt repairs to any machine or appliance unless you are qualified to do the work. Wear appropriate protective clothing and equipment.

All dangerous parts of machinery should be securely guarded

Boiler Blow-back

Safe Working Practices Regulations, Sections 81-84.

Operating instructions should be displayed at each boiler, and any information provided by the manufacturers should be posted in the boiler room.

To avoid a blow-back when lighting, always follow the correct flashing-up procedure. In general, there should be no loose oil on the furnace floor, the oil should be at the correct temperature for the grade being used; the furnace should be blown through with air to clear any vapour, and the special torch for lighting should be used (unless an adjacent boiler in the furnace is already lit. If there is too much oil on the torch, it can drop and cause a fire.

If the oil does not light immediately, turn the fuel supply off and ventilate the furnace for two or three minutes to clear any vapour before trying again.

Electric Hazards

Safe Working Practices Regulations, Sections 61-70.

When working on electrical or electronic equipment on a ship, the risks of electric shock are usually much greater than they are ashore because wetness, high humidity and high temperature (inducing sweating) reduce the contact resistance of the human body. In such conditions, severe and even fatal shocks may be caused at voltages as low as 60V.

Before starting work on electrical equipment, always isolate it from the power supply by removing the plug from the socket, removing fuses or locking circuit-breakers open. Always test the circuit to make sure that it is dead.

Never work on or near live equipment unless absolutely necessary. Under such circumstances, avoid contact with bare metal; remove your wrist watch and rings and stand on a dry insulating mat if possible.

Take care when using solvents to clean electrical equipment; some are toxic, particularly carbon tetrachloride (which should never be used). Always follow manufacturers' instructions.

When a battery is being charged, it “gases,” giving off hydrogen and oxygen, which form an explosive mixture. You should take care, therefore, not to bring any naked flame into the compartment or use portable electric lamps or tools that might generate sparks. The electrolyte from batteries - whether acidic or alkaline - is strongly corrosive, so you should avoid contact with it.

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Date modified:
2010-01-19