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Ladder
Falls
21
OHSIRS so far this calendar year have reported ladder
falls, 20 of which resulted in injury and the 21st almost
resulted in a formal charge of self-endangerment for
the ‘movie stunt’ of sliding down the handrails.
So
what’s going on out there in the Fleet? We’ve
all been taught how to safely ascend/descend ladders
and most of these incidents have been caused by the
failure to maintain three points of contact. The large
number of the injuries (not to mention the lost time
and potential impact on operational capability) would
be prevented if personnel were to slow down and transit
ladders in the correct manner.
Sailors
tend to go up’n’down ladders about 50 times
a day and each safe journey adds to the complacency,
especially when you become ‘salty’ enough
to descend facing away from the ladder.
The
safest method of transiting a ladder is to face the
rungs/steps and maintain three points of contact with
the ladder at all times. This method is mandatory for
personnel wearing OCCABA. However, there is another
old sailor’s rule that recognises that ships are
unpredictable and unstable platforms; that rule is ‘One
hand for yourself, one hand for the ship.’ This
rule deals with practical ‘situation awareness’
onboard a ship and if ‘Murphy’s Law’
has taught you anything, probably the worse place for
you to be when something goes wrong is on a ladder,
unless you are prepared for something to go wrong at
all times.
As
an added hazard to moving about the ship, you yourself
are not all that predictable. Fatigue, inattention,
the afore-mentioned complacency and, believe it or not,
fair wear and tear of your body all contribute to the
potential of a ladder fall. You are even more unpredictable
when you’re carrying something.
So
take your time, get there safe and get a grip..
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Volume 49, No. 12, July 13, 2006
All
of you who are reading this article are important. Important
to your families, your friends and to the rest of us in Navy.
To this end, the safeguarding of our health is the primary
focus of many agencies in Defence, and one of the main potential
impactors on our health being addressed is asbestos. More
specifically, the focus is on the identification, removal,
sealing or encapsulating (to make safer) of any identified
asbestos in our working environment. The identification and
removal of asbestos has been a longstanding issue as asbestos
has been classed as a hazard to our health. Yet, in years
gone by it was seen as an indispensable product and incorporated
into many of our goods for everyday usage. Asbestos has been
used extensively in ADF platforms, equipment and in some facilities
used by the ADF and the Department of Defence. Due to its
inherent properties, asbestos was utilised in building materials,
thermal and acoustic insulation gaskets, valve gaskets and
bulk gasket materials, seals, brake pads, aircraft panels
and as filler in adhesives. When asbestos was used for its
resistance to fire or heat, the fibres were often mixed with
cement or woven into fabric or mats.
The
main problem with asbestos is that most breathable asbestos
fibres are invisible to the human eye because their size is
about 3.0-20.0 micrometres (m) in length and can be as thin
as 0.01 m. Human hair ranges in size from 17 to 181 m. The
fibres break down when sufficient force is applied to asbestos
particles and this will continue to occur over and over until
the fibres have been broken down to their smallest particle
sizes. For this reason, one large asbestos fibre can ultimately
become the source of thousands of much thinner and smaller
fibres over the course of time.
In
December 2003, a prohibition notice was placed on the importation
and use of all types of asbestos but, due to the mission-critical
nature of a number of platforms, Defence has been granted
an exemption for the use of certain specified chrysotile (white)
asbestos products, particularly encapsulated and ‘in-situ’
products. By encapsulating or not disturbing ‘in-situ’
asbestos (such as internal gaskets or panels) the risk of
exposure and inhalation of free floating asbestos fibres is
reduced to ‘as low as reasonably practicable’ (ALARP).
Most
uses of asbestos are banned and fibreglass has been found
to be a suitable substitute for thermal insulation, and woven
ceramic fibre performs as well as or better than asbestos.
Many seals or fittings are being, or have been, replaced with
fibreglass or non-hazardous products.
If
you suspect a material may contain asbestos, it should be
reported to the Marine Engineering Officer (MEO) in HMA Ships
and to CSIG in establishments (CSIG responsibilities are contained
in Safety Manual Vol 1, Part 5, Chapter 2, Para 2.11). DI(N)
PERS 32-1 then directs that the location and use of the suspect
material is to be entered into the Asbestos Hazard Register
(form AC585) and to treat the substance as hazardous until
proven otherwise.
Appropriate
PPE is to be worn if the area must be accessed. All material
listed in the register is to be visually inspected for any
potential asbestos fibre risk at six-monthly intervals by
a member of Ship’s Staff who has completed the Ship’s
Lagger Applied Skill Technology Course (Proficiency P000330)
or an equivalent course. A record of each inspection is to
be entered, certified, signed and dated in the Asbestos Hazard
Register. Remember, the only personnel trained to remove or
handle asbestos are qualified contractors or personnel who
have completed the Ship’s Lagger course or equivalent.
It’s
not all ‘doom and gloom’, DMO Maritime System division
is currently investigating and purging the inventory of any
identifiable asbestos to reduce exposure to ALARP.
Having
said that, remember that there are no safe limits of exposure
to asbestos. SAFETYMAN Vol 1, Part 5, Chapter 2.8 states that
‘… a worker should never be exposed to more than
0.1 fibres per millilitre of air over an eight hour day/five
day week.’ Therefore, as you are moving around your work
environment, and if you see an asbestos tag, be mindful of
the health aspects attached to asbestos exposure and take
all reasonable care to safeguard your own health and the health
of others.
If
you think that you may have been exposed to asbestos, you
can contact the Defence Asbestos Exposure Evaluation Scheme
(DAEES).
The
DAEES is open to current and former civilians of the Department
of Defence and former ADF members. The scheme enables a free
service to those eligible to participate, as it is sponsored
by the Defence Centre for Occupational Health. The service
includes assessment, counselling and any further necessary
testing. If you suspect that you have been exposed to asbestos
while working for Defence, call the asbestos helpline on 1800
000 655. Currently, serving ADF members must contact their
local ADF Health Service to arrange an asbestos exposure evaluation.
Further
information on asbestos can be found at:
