Figure 1: Workers on a properly guarded gangway. |
Workers must board vessels in drydock,
in the water, or from adjacent
vessels. Proper access while boarding is critical because many fatalities
have occurred from falling into the water or on the surfaces below.
The following discusses access to:
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Access
to Vessels Afloat |
Personnel must board vessels in a safe manner using approved
boarding devices. Movement of the floating vessel can cause movement of
the boarding device, thus increasing the possibility of workers to
falling from the device or being injured by a moving device.
Potential Hazards:
- Workers being injured when boarding a vessel
- Workers falling off the gangways or ladders to a lower level or into
the water
- Structural failure of a gangway or ladder causing the worker to
fall to a lower level or into the water
- Movement of the gangway or ladder resulting in injuries
- Workers being struck by moving material or cargo loads
Requirements and Example Solutions:
The employer shall not permit employees to
board or leave any vessel, except a barge or river towboat, until the
following requirements have been met:
- An adequate gangway must be provided. When a gangway is not
practical, then a straight ladder or Jacob's ladder must be used.
[1915.74(a)(1)]
- Gangway must maintain clear access, have at least 33-inch-high hand rails, be
properly trimmed, and be properly illuminated. [1915.74(a)(2),
(a)(4),
(a)(5),
(a)(8),
(a)(10) and
(a)(11)]
-
When the end of the gangways overhangs the
water, it must be bridged and a net must be present. [1915.74(a)(6)
and (a)(7)]
-
When the upper end of the gangway or ladder rests
on or is flush with the top of the bulwark or hand rail, steps with
adequate guardrails are required. [1915.74(a)(9)]
-
Suspended loads must not pass over the gangway. [1915.74(a)(12)]
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Figure 2: Improper practice: Hazardous access from deck to vessel.
Figure 3: Properly trimmed and guarded gangway with access steps and platform.
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Access
to Vessels in Dry Dock or Between Vessels |
Potential Hazards:
- Workers falling during the boarding of a vessel due to inadequate
gangways or ladders
- Structural failure of the gangway or ladder causing workers to fall
- Movement such as surging of the gangway or ladder causing injuries
Requirements and Example Solutions:
- Adequate gangways must be provided for access from vessel to drydock
or from vessel to vessel. [1915.74(b)]
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Figure 4: Improper practice: Unsafe access from vessel to barge. |
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Access
to Barges and River Towboats |
Potential Hazards:
- Workers falling from gangways or ladders when boarding barges and
river towboats because of the movement of the vessels
- Structural failure of the gangway or ladder causing workers to fall
- Surging of the vessel causing pinching between the gangway, or
ladder, and the vessel
Requirements and Example Solutions:
- Ramps for access of vehicles onto or between barges shall be of
adequate strength, provided with side boards, well maintained and
properly secured. [1915.74(c)(1)]
-
Unless employees can step safely to the vessel, a gangway or ladder is
required. [1915.74(c)(2)]
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Figure 5: Worker on gangway between edge of
floating dry dock and vessel.
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Figure 6: Access ramp to barge. |
Figure 7: Access walkway to barge. |
Figure 8: Access to walkway to barge. |
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Jacob's
Ladders
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A Jacobs' ladder is a marine ladder made of rope, or chain with wooden or metal
rungs. When conditions are such that neither a walkway nor a
straight ladder can be used to board a vessel, a Jacob's ladder may be
used.
Potential Hazards:
- Workers falling from ladders when boarding barges and river towboats
because of the movement of the vessel or ladder
- Structural failure of the ladder causing workers to fall
Requirements and Example Solutions:
- Jacob's ladders must be of the double-rung or flat-tread type, well maintained, and properly secured.
[1915.74(d)(1)]
- A Jacob's ladder must either hang without slack from its lashings
or be pulled up entirely. [1915.74(d)(2)]
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Figure 9: Jacob's ladder.
Figure 10: Jacob's ladder properly stowed. |
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