Ladder Safety
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NARRATOR: We climb and
descend ladders many times
throughout our
work day, and it's
easy to forget how
dangerous ladders can be.
Vessels roll and pitch
in unpredictable motions.
This can throw us off balance
if we're not prepared.
Bad weather, salt deposits,
oil, or other chemicals
create slippery surfaces.
Distractions and failure to
use proper safety equipment
add to potential hazards.
The good news is by using
simple best practices,
we can dramatically
reduce exposure
to ladder related accidents.
In this program, you will
learn basic hazard awareness
for climbing and
descending ladders
and why the three points of
contact rule is important;
the various types of ladders
you'll encounter on board;
when and why to use proper
fall arrest equipment;
and what makes for good
and safe ladder design.
Let's take a look at two
incidents taking place
aboard vessels where proper
procedures were not followed.
Able-bodied seamen
and an ordinary seaman
entered a cargo tank for
cleaning and inspection.
Once they completed
the job, the OS
ascended the ladder,
leaving the AB
to finish collecting
the cleaning equipment
from the floor of the tank.
When the OS reached the
inclined ladder platform,
he called out to the AB,
trying to get his attention.
Due to the loud noise
within the tank,
the OS crouched down, losing
his three points of contact
and shouted.
The ship pitched
suddenly, and the OS
was thrown forward,
falling 16 meters
and later died
from his injuries.
The chief officer of a tanker
was supervising a tank cleaning
to prepare for a survey.
Rushing to complete the
cleaning before the Marine
surveyor arrived,
the chief officer
entered the number three cargo
tank carrying a flashlight.
While attempting to
descend the ladder,
he lost his three
points of contact,
falling past the platform,
falling more than 10 meters
to the floor of the tank below.
How could these accidents
have been prevented?
In the first case,
the ship pitched,
and the OS fell forward
from the platform.
The installation
of a mid rail could
have prevented this accident.
The OS also ignored the
three points of contact rule.
When he cupped his hands
to amplify his voice
to get the AB's
attention, he only
had two feet on the
ground and no hands free,
leaving him vulnerable to
the rolling of the vessel.
In the second case,
the chief officer
could have easily
prevented his accident
by using a ball
arresting device.
He should have also maintained
three points of contact.
Lastly, he should not
have been rushing,
which further increased
his risk of serious injury.
The three points of
contact rule is simple.
When using a ladder
or stairwell,
keeping contact with at
least two hands and one foot,
or one hand and two feet.
This is the best practice
to avoid falling.
Climbing with a bucket, tool,
flashlight, or anything else
in your hand will make
it difficult to maintain
three points of contact.
Remember, keep at least one
hand on the ship at all times.
There are several types of
ladders used aboard vessels.
A vertical ladder
is a ladder that
does not exceed more than
20 degrees from vertical.
An inclined ladder can vary from
an angle of 5 to 70 degrees.
Vertical ladders may be equipped
with guard rings or safety
cages mounted to
help prevent falls.
Mid rails may be installed on
platforms and inclined ladders
to ensure the gap in
the railing doesn't
become too wide for
someone to fall through.
Portable ladders are common
onboard vessels of all kinds.
Fixed length or extension
ladders can be used aboard
but require special handling.
Typically they are
used at an incline
and must project above
the actual workspace.
Fall arrest gear
is also recommended
when working at heights
above two meters.
Best practices recommend
having an additional person
to steady the ladder in place.
Folding ladders are commonly
found in the engineering spaces
onboard.
Like the fixed length
or extension ladders,
a second person is required
to help steady the ladder.
Do not work on the top
rung of the ladder.
Most ladders show the safe
working load as well as
the maximum safe working height.
A way to prevent injuries, or
worse, when working at height
is through the use of a
personal fall arrest system.
Always consult
your company's SMS
for details on when to use your
fall arrest gear, as results
vary by port state.
Typically this will consist of
a full body harness as well as
a lanyard and deceleration
device designed
to absorb the shock of your
body in the event of a fall.
Both the lanyard and
deceleration device
are usually part
of the same system
to ensure proper
rigging with every use.
There are also other
devices designed
to be used alongside a fall
arrest harness and safety line.
These include
inertia blocks, which
are attached to the front
of a vertical ladder
and will immediately stop a
fall by way of wedging itself
against the guide rail.
The lanyard attaches
to this device.
The most important thing to
know about regulations governing
ladder safety and design is
that they vary from port state
to port state.
Portable ladders are more likely
to be regulated and therefore
designed to more stringent
rules and regulations.
Fixed, vertical, and inclined
ladders aboard your vessel
are governed by
Solace, in addition to
classification society rules.
If you notice poor ladder
design or maintenance,
bring it to the attention of
your immediate supervisor.
Ladders should always
be maintained properly,
whether by ship
staff or in dry dock.
Keep a lookout for
corrosion as this can
cause treads to break and fall.
Vertical ladders over 2
and 1/2 meters in height
should include guard rings.
For ladders in enclosed
spaces, guard rings
should not be included, as
they can block rescue hoist
procedures in
emergency situations.
Inclined ladders should
include a mid rail
if the distance between
the treads and handrail
is more than a half meter.
Treads should be installed on
cargo and ballast tank inclined
ladders and platforms to
prevent the accumulation of oil
or other slippery substances.
In this program, we learned
basic hazard awareness
for climbing and
descending ladders
and why the three points of
contact rule is important;
the various types of ladders
you'll encounter on board;
when and why to use proper
fall arrest equipment;
and what makes for good
and safe ladder design.
Despite the danger inherent in
using a ladder aboard a ship,
they are necessary to allow
us to complete work repairs
as well as gaining access to
certain parts of the vessel.
By following established
rules and procedures,
as well as taking your
time to assess a job
before you start work, will help
ensure an accident free outcome
for you and your crew members.