Ship Repair & Maintenance Occupational Health & Safety

Background SAMSA is required in terms of the SAMSA Act, “to ensure safety of life and property at sea”. The Maritime Occupational Safety Regulations (MOSR) endeavours to create a safe working environment for: merchant seamen stevedores, shore contractors, and incidental persons fishermen. In addition to the MOSR there are codes of safe working practice for: stevedores fishermen

Background Shore Contractors (Ship Repair) There is NO code of safe working practice for ship repairers incorporated into the MOSR The industry DO have an “unofficial” code: COPS (Code of Practice: Ship Repair

Background SAMSA having successfully focused on fishing vessel and stevedore safety and are now in a position to review ship repair safety, using similar methods to that used in the stevedore and fishing industries. Plan of Action: SAMSA to: conduct occupational safety inspections on ships under repair – planned and ad hoc conduct compliance audits coordinate the formation of a committee, with a cross section of the industries stakeholders to review / revise the Code of Practice for Ship Repair with a view to incorporating it into the Maritime Occupational Safety Regulations, as well as reviewing Chapter III of the Maritime Occupational Safety Regulations. conduct a road show to improve awareness of legal requirements and responsibilities.

Challenges Who are the ship repair companies? TNPA unlike the stevedore industry DO NOT license ship repair companies to operate in the port, except at the Dry Dock There is a great deal of sub contracting in the industry There is the Association of Ship Builders & Repairers, however it is not mandatory to be a member Therefore difficult to ascertain the number of ship repair companies operating in the ports

Challenges Affecting Ship Repair / Maintenance Safety Working at heights Unguarded openings Noise Dust & fume inhalation Fire / explosions Hazardous Machinery (lock out systems) Confined space entry Dark claustrophobic work places Housekeeping (cable management)

Statistics 2000 - 2009 Incredibly only one accident reported in 2009! 2000 – 2009: 39 Reported Casualties 4 Fatalities 28 Serious Injuries 7 Minor Injuries Incredibly only one accident reported in 2009!

Statistics 2000 - 2009 Non Reporting of Casualties / Accidents Due to: Ignorance and fear of consequences Confusion regarding which Authority to report it to: SAMSA or Department of Labour To clarify The Maritime Occupational Safety Regulations “Apply on board vessels and to the performance of all work on vessels, whether or not the vessels are afloat” Therefore: Accidents occurring onboard must be reported to SAMSA Accidents occurring in the dry dock must be reported to Department of Labour ALL accidents must be reported to COID for compensation purposes

Progress To Date Legislation The ship repair and maintenance industry is governed by the following safety legislation: Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 Maritime Occupational Safety Regulations, 1994 Occupational Health & Safety Act, 1993 A committee was established to review and amend the Maritime Occupational Safety Regulations and Code of Practice Ship Repair This has been completed and both the amended documents have been sent to industry for informal comment

Progress To Date Legislation Summary of Amendments to the Maritime Occupational Safety Regulations: The Code of Practice: Ship Repair has been reviewed and updated. Renamed to the Code of Safe Working Practice for Ships Undergoing Repair and Maintenance in South Africa and will be incorporated in the MOSR Workers must have a valid medical certificate, provided by a SAMSA accredited doctor Workers must complete safety induction training conducted by a SAMSA accredited training provider Safety Appointees (H&S Reps) appointed per ship. Responsible for: Workplace inspections prior to shift commencement Ensure safe practices Establishment of safety committees along the same lines as the OHSAct Compliance audits to be conducted every 6 months

Progress To Date Maritime Occupational Safety Regulation Audits Compliance audits have been conducted on major ship repair companies in Durban and East London and audits will be taking place in Cape Town in September 2010. Audit Criteria Safety Legislation (MOS R / MSA / OHSAct / Code) Risk Assessments (documented & implemented) Operator Competence (welders & cutters / scaffold erectors / crane operators etc) Safety Training (hazard awareness) Casualty Investigation (reported, investigated, documented corrective actions identified and implemented) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Safety Officer (appointed and conducting inspections) First Aid (first aider trained and equipped) Emergency Procedures (fire / explosion / injury / evacuation) Lifting Gear / Rigging Equip (SWL / ID marks / certificated) Occupational Hygiene Surveys & Medical Surveillance Audit Results Really good to really bad!

Progress To Date Maritime Occupational Health & Safety Newsletter Initially SAMSA distributed a Stevedore Safety Newsletter to the stevedore industry and interested parties to create safety awareness This newsletter contained information on serious injuries, safety training, status of amended legislation, results of safety inspections and audits and other relevant information The newsletter has now been amended to incorporate ship repair and maintenance, with the first copy being distributed at the beginning of August 2010