How To Take Care Of Personal Safety On Ships? (Part 1)

Traveling on a ship can be fun but it is also equally dangerous. Marine accidents happen frequently and can be avoided if proper safety procedures are followed. To minimize the hazards and injuries while traveling on water, proper precautions must be taken.Apart from the safety regulations made mandatory for each ship and the safety equipment carried for personnel protection on each ship, there are some safety measures that need to be taken by seafarers to ensure personal safety on the ship.

Here is a brief overview of the same.

Taking Care of Personal Safety on Ships
Personal safety primarily includes the various ways and means which sailors can adopt to stay safe on an individual level, such as careful movement around the ship, steady handling of heavy cargo, etc. In addition, appropriate use of safety equipment is also a part of personal safety on ships.

Some of the most imperative measures from these are listed as follows:

Wearing Protective Clothing
It is imperative to wear comfortable and well-fitted clothes on board a ship as loose clothes can get caught in the machinery and cause injuries. Proper footwear with slip-resistant soles helps in minimizing the risks of slipping and must be worn at all times on the ship. Apart from these, wearing the appropriate gloves to protect the skin from exposure to heat, chemicals, sharp edges, etc., is a must.

Personal Protective Equipment
Personal protective equipment includes safety helmets, shoes, goggles, ear-muffs, safety harness, life-jackets, life rafts, etc., which is used to safeguard the individual seafarer from any harm. This equipment is mandatory for ships to ensure that there are no fatalities due to a lack of life-saving appliances. The crew also needs to be aware of where the equipment is kept and trained to know how all appliances are to be used.

Dust masks are an additional, essential requirement while working in a toxic atmosphere or during the servicing of the ship. All this equipment needs to be checked at regular intervals to ensure that it is functioning properly and should be replaced if it is not.

Safety Equipment for the Crew
Apart from personal life-saving devices used aboard ships, there are safety equipment for the entire crew, including lifeboats, fire extinguishers, fire suits and breathing devices, emergency medical equipment, and distress signals for summoning help.

The operating crew must be well-trained in using the communication equipment with due awareness of all necessary protocols. In addition, the communication equipment must be checked regularly to ensure that it is working without a hitch.

Movement About the Ship
On ships carrying heavy cargo, the containers should be securely tied at all times. The sudden lurching of the ships may cause these to dislocate if not tied properly, which can result in major bodily harm. It is necessary to be constantly on alert for slippery patches, unguarded railings, or open hatches through which people may fall. While walking around the ship in rough weather, the mantra ‘one hand to the ship’ must be mandatorily followed to prevent being thrown overboard.

NEXT: HOW TO TAKE CARE OF PERSONAL SAFETY ON SHIPS? (Part 2)