Safety Precautions for Superyacht Crew: Enclosed Spaces

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Safety Precautions for Superyacht Crew:

Enclosed Spaces

Oliver Mills-Nanyn

Safety Precautions for Superyacht Crew: Enclosed Spaces

For deck crew, enclosed onboard spaces worked in could include void and storage spaces and chain lockers, while for engineers, fuel, ballast, water and other types of tanks are likely to be the most common enclosed spaces encountered.

These spaces can be very dangerous: for example, unlike the rest of the vessel they’re not ventilated, and they may hold deadly gases.

Procedure for Entering an Enclosed Space

Before entering an enclosed space on board a vessel, the crew member should have their permit to work completed by the responsible officer on board, which must then be signed by the master. Tasks such as drilling or welding may require additional permits. Once this is done, the enclosed space needs to be ventilated. This involves opening all entrances and hatches to the space (if the vessel is operationally positioned to do so), tagging out any necessary equipment that’s in the space and using mechanical blowers, if possible, to assist with ventilation. It is recommended that these steps are taken at least 24 hours before a crew member enters the enclosed space.

Use of Gas Detectors

A gas detector should now be used to measure for breathable, safe air. The detector and any relevant attachable wands must be deployed not just in the enclosed space but also in corners and on the floor.

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