SHIPTALK: (2) Continued from last week

compressed air/gas, keep in mind the following:-
 Never blow compressed air towards a person. It can cause serious injury
 Do not use a jet of compressed air to dust down any clothing/boiler suits. It never helps to get cleaned up and the dust will blow and pierce into the cloth
 Ensure air/gas cylinders should always be secured in vertical position away from hot area
 While using compressed air through pipelines and hoses, after the use always, make sure to depressurize the line
4. Exposure to Chemicals
Exposure to chemicals are another common accident that occur while working on deck. Chemicals coming in direct contact with the skin leads to burns and serious injuries.
Constant exposure and contact to chemicals such as paints, thinners, metal brite should be avoided. Chemical contact with eyes is extremely dangerous and can lead to loosing partial/complete eye sight.
While working and handling with such chemicals, the person should be dressed in proper PPE including safety goggles and face masks.
Any accident should be immediately reported to the Medical officer. The nearest emergency eye wash stations should also be noted.
5. Electrical Accidents
Electrical equipment are used on deck for a wide variety of purposes. Without taking precautions of the electrical hazards, a shock from a live wire or tool or machine with poor insulation can cause fatal damage.
Electricity can also burn the body from electric arcs, flashes and fires when having contact with overheated electrical equipments. Always ensure the following:-
 There should be no frayed or damaged contacts
 If needed, the equipment should be isolated
 Keep wires and leads away from any heat sources and conductive liquids
 Do not have wires lying across floors to create a trip hazard
 Use proper PPE as always
A pocket guide that provides a general overview of all major accidents that frequently occur on board  and which have been the reason behind the loss of several lives at sea.
6. Crane and Lifting Gear Accidents
Crane and lifting operations also involve a high percentage of accident on ships deck. There have been several dangerous incidents associated with crane and lifting gear operations in the past
Therefore, it should be noted that,
 Cranes should be operated only by authorized trained persons such as certified seaman
 When operating, persons involved in the operation shall stay clear from the crane and the suspended load
 The standard signaling system and walkie-talkie radios shall be used to communicate with the crane operator. The persons involved should be aware of these signals
 Slings, hooks, and chains used should be approved and certified
 Safe Working Load (SWL) of the lifting gears must be compared to the load to be lifted
 7. Deck Tools and Machinery Accidents
Accidents such as cuts, wounds, and burns normally occur while using various tools and machinery on deck. The degree of impact increases for the accidents occurred during the use of Pneumatic or hydraulic powered tools. Tools used for drilling, surface preparation and grinding such as jet-chisel and pneumatic wire brushes should be used with extreme caution.
 Use the designated tool intended to use for the specific job
 Never use a defective tool
 Always ensure the condition of the tool
 Proper PPE must be worn
 While using rotary equipment and power tools, refrain from wearing loose clothes and jewelry and accessories
Additional Type of Deck Accident:
Man Over Board (MOB)
Man over board accidents are most likely to occur on deck as a result of a slip/fall. MOB is a very critical situation and calls the need for emergency response. The chances of surviving a MOB situation depend upon a lot of factors. MOB mostly occurs during ship-side activities and jobs such as ship-side washing, paining, working aloft, and working outboard.