Agency wants safety rules for enclosed spaces on board vessels to be tightened
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is consulting on new rules which would tighten up safety for those who have to work in enclosed spaces on board vessels.
Six people have died over a 10-year period from 2009 to 2019 in UK ports while working in such spaces, which has led to this legislation being introduced.
The Agency wants risks to be reduced significantly and plans to extend the new measures to all merchant ships and fishing vessels operating in UK waters.
The proposed changes would replace previous legislation to strengthen protection of those working on ships and fishing vessels from the risks of entry into enclosed spaces through such measures as emergency drills and providing atmosphere testing equipment.
Enclosed spaces include chain lockers, cargo holds, duct keels and water tanks – or any area that has been left closed for any length of time without ventilation.
Katy Ware, director of Maritime Service, said: “We remain committed to protecting the safety of those who spend their lives working at sea. There is a serious risk to seafarers’ health and safety by going into these enclosed spaces, even though it is sometimes a necessary part of their work and we want to do all we can to reduce it.
“The risks from working in enclosed spaces are well known across the shipping world and all of us know that more needs to be done to reduce the number of fatalities. These proposed regulations would replace and extend current legislation which will go right across the merchant sector and demand the same safety requirements for fishing vessels.”
For more information visit www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency
1st June 2021
