Occupational Health and Safety
Requirements for fishing vessels 1
Regulation No. 173 of the Government of the
Republic of
The regulation is established on the basis of subsection 5 (4) of the
Occupational Health and Safety Act (RT I 1999, 60, 616; 2000, 55, 362; 2001,
17, 78).
Chapter 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 1. Scope of application
(1) The regulation establishes occupational health and safety requirements
for vessels used for the catching or catching and processing of fish or other
living resources from the sea (hereinafter fishing vessel), in order to
achieve or preserve conditions in the working environment that permit members
of the crew to work without endangering their health.
(2) The regulation is applied:
1) to new fishing vessels with a length between perpendiculars of 15 metres or over for
which a building contract is concluded or which will be completed after the
entry into force of this regulation;
2) to fishing vessels with a length between perpendiculars of 15 metres or over for
which a conversion contract is concluded for the performance of major changes
after the entry into force of this regulation;
3) existing
fishing vessels with a length between perpendiculars of 18 metres or over.
§ 2. Obligations of owner of vessel and skipper
(1) The vessel’s owner is required:
1) to equip the fishing vessel with life saving equipment in accordance with
the Maritime Safety Act (RT I 1998, 2, 47; 1999, 95, 843; 2000, 29, 171);
2) to ensure that the fishing vessel has a muster list that establishes the
responsibilities of each member of the crew for action in an emergency
situation;
3) to ensure that survival drills are held at
least once per month;
4) to ensure that the fishing vessel and its fittings and equipment are technically
maintained and regularly checked. Any possible defects found must be rectified
immediately, or access limited;
5) to give members of the crew at his own expense, if necessary, personal
protection equipment and organise training for them in the use of the personal
protection equipment. The protective clothing given to members of the crew must
be brightly coloured, clearly visible and distinguishable from the general
background of the marine environment;
6) to ensure that the fishing vessel is equipped with the necessary medicines
and medical supplies.
(2) The skipper is required:
1) to ensure that occupational health and safety requirements are complied with
in all work-related situations, taking into consideration all the dangers with
which the members of the crew may come into contact;
2) to ensure that the fishing vessel’s life saving
equipment is in good working condition and easily accessible when necessary.
The condition of the life saving equipment shall be inspected by a person
assigned by the skipper before the fishing vessel’s every departure from port;
3) to ensure that members of the crew who are assigned to work with fishing
devices or the fishing vessel’s anchorage, hauling and hoisting devices have
received corresponding training for their safe use;
4) to ensure that in the event of an emergency situation all members of the
crew are immediately informed of the danger and the measures to be implemented,
and that help is called if necessary;
5) to register in the fishing vessel’s logbook all incidents that affected or
may have affected the health and/or safety of the members of the crew.
Chapter 2
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS ON FISHING VESSELS
§ 3. Electrical installations
(1) Electrical installations must be designed and constructed such that
their use, maintenance and inspection present no danger to the members of the
crew.
(2) The fishing vessel must possess an emergency electrical power source
located outside the engine room, which must ensure the functioning of the internal communication system, fire
detectors and emergency signals, the navigation lights and emergency lighting,
the radio installation and the emergency electrical fire pump (where required) for at least three hours from the cessation of the
functioning of the main electrical installation. This requirement does not apply to fishing
vessels without decks. If the emergency electrical power source is provided by
batteries, these need not ensure the functioning of the emergency electrical
fire pump.
(3) In the event of the disruption of the
main electrical energy source, there must be an automatic transition to the
emergency electrical switchboard. The main electrical switchboard and the
emergency switchboard must, to the extent possible, be situated in positions
that are as safe as possible with regards fire and water.
(4) Electrical switchboards must be clearly marked with the warning symbol
“electrical hazard”.
(5) The accumulator room must be ventilated.
(6) Electronic ship guidance systems must be inspected at least once a
year, and maintained in accordance with the instructions provided by the
manufacturer.
§ 4. Fishing, hauling, hoisting gear and other equipment
(1) Fishing, hauling and hoisting gear must be in working condition, This equipment must be inspected by a specialist
at least once a year, and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions.
(2) Trawler ships must be equipped with devices to immobilize the otter boards and
devices to control the swinging motion of the codend.
(3) Refrigeration and compressed air systems must be inspected by a
specialist at least once a year, and maintained in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions.
§ 5. Gas devices
(1) Devices using gas should be used only in well-ventilated rooms using a
local extraction system.
(2) Cylinders containing flammable and explosive gases and visible pipes
containing such substances must be labelled in accordance with the legislation
established on the basis of the Chemical Act (RT I 1998, 47, 697; 1999, 45,
512).
(3) Cylinders must be stowed on open decks. All valves, pressure regulators and pipes
leading from the cylinders should be protected against damage.
§ 6. Radio installation
The radio installation must permit contact at
all times with at least one coastal station in the fishing vessel’s area.
§ 7. Fire protection
(1) Depending on
the dimensions of the vessel, the equipment it contains, the cargo present and
the maximum anticipated number of persons present, fishing vessels must be
equipped with appropriate fire-fighting equipment and, as necessary, with fire
detectors and alarm systems, in accordance with the requirements established on
the basis of the Maritime Safety Act.
(2) Fire-fighting
equipment must always be kept in its designated location, labelled as required,
maintained in good working order and be available for immediate use.
(3) Members of the crew must be familiar with how fire-fighting equipment
is to be used, and know the location of such equipment.
(4) Fire-detection and alarm systems must be regularly tested and their
condition inspected in accordance with the requirements of the legislation
established on the basis of the Rescue Act (RT I 1994, 28, 424; 1998, 39, 598;
2000, 50, 316).
(5) All members of the crew must undergo fire-fighting training in accordance
with Regulation No. 159 of the Government of the Republic of
§ 8. Ventilation
(1) Enclosed workplaces must be equipped with ventilation systems that
ensure the removal of excess heat, excess moisture and hazardous substances
from the working area and the inflow of fresh air.
(2) The stove in the galley and workplaces connected with the creation of
dangerous substances must be equipped with a local extraction system.
(3) The mechanical ventilation system must be kept in good working order.
§ 9. Temperature
The temperature of indoor workplaces must be maintained at a level adequate
for the performance of working duties, having regard to the duration and manner of
work, the physical demands placed on the workers and weather conditions.
§ 10. Lighting
(1) All workplaces must as far as possible receive sufficient natural light and/or be equipped
with artificial lighting, especially places connected with manual operations
involved with fishing.
(2) Lighting
installations in working areas, stairs, ladders and passageways must be placed
in such a way that the type of lighting envisaged poses no risk of accident to
workers and disturb other ships operating in the fishing area.
(3) The lighting source located on the navigation bridge must not hinder
skippering activities through glare, reflection or the casting of shadows.
(4) Workplaces in
which crewmembers are exposed to the risk of accidents in the event of failure
of artificial lighting due to power outage must be provided with emergency
lighting. Indoor emergency lighting
installations must ensure lighting of at least 2 lux.
Emergency lighting must
be maintained in good operating condition and be tested at regular intervals.
(5) The following minimum lighting requirements apply to various
workplaces:
|
Workplace |
General lighting (lx) |
Local lighting (lx) |
|
Radio room |
100 |
300 |
|
Navigation
bridge |
100 |
200 |
|
Galley |
150 |
300 |
|
Storeroom |
50 |
|
|
Engine room |
100 |
200 |
|
Control room for
main engines |
100 |
300 |
|
Passageways,
ladders and stairs |
100 |
|
|
Traffic routes,
ladders and stairs on the outer deck |
40 |
|
|
Deck lighting |
20 |
|
|
Other workplaces |
100 |
300 |
§ 11. Decks, bulkheads, ceilings, doors
(1) The surface of decks, especially in working areas and passageways, must
be free of obstacles and non-slip or anti-slip. In order to avoid slippage,
areas that constitute a greater risk should be equipped with handrails.
(2) Floors, bulkheads, ceilings and other surfaces must be easily
cleanable.
(3) Means must be provided so that all doors can be opened from the inside
without special equipment. The doors of working rooms must open from both
sides.
(4) The use of doors must be as safe as possible for crewmembers, even in
unfavourable weather and sea conditions.
§ 12. Traffic routes and danger areas
(1) Steps, ladders
and openings between decks must be equipped with guardrails, grab rails or
other means of ensuring safety.
(2) If the working process or maintenance of equipment involves working at
heights, these workplaces must be equipped with guardrails to prevent falls, or
workers with safety belts.
(3) Railings, bulwarks
or other means must be provided to prevent crewmembers from falling overboard.
(4) Openings in bulwarks or freeing ports must be kept open, in order to enable water that has made
its way onto the deck to drain away quickly.
(5) On stern
trawlers with ramps, the upper part of the ramp must be fitted with a gate for
securing it at the same height as the bulwarks, to protect workers from the
risk of falling into the ramp. This gate must be easily opened and closed,
preferably by remote control, and must be opened only for casting or hauling in
the net or seine net.
(6) Passageways and danger areas around machines or equipment must be
properly marked.
(7) The free height of passageways must be at least 1.9 m, and the openings
between decks at least 0.6 x 0.6 m.
(8) In order to avoid dangerous contact with bare warps and ropes and the
moving parts of fishing and hoisting equipment, a guardrail or device blocking
access to the danger area must be installed.
§ 13. Emergency routes and exits
(1) In the event of an emergency, it must be possible for crewmembers to
rapidly and safely depart from all worplaces and crew
areas.
(2) Emergency
routes and exits must be unobstructed and easily accessible at all times and
lead out as directly as possible to the open deck or to a safe area and thence
to the survival craft.
(3) The number of
emergency routes and exits must be in correlation with the location, use and
dimensions of workplaces and crew areas.
(4) Emergency routes and exits must be equipped with the required emergency
symbols and emergency lighting ensuring lighting of at least 0.5 lux.
§ 14. Workplaces
(1) Workplaces must be kept free of unnecessary objects that are not
fastened to the floor.
(2) Workplaces must be constructed and built in such a manner as to protect
crewmembers as well as possible from wind and waves.
(3) Rooms containing workplaces must be adequately soundproofed, bearing in mind the type of tasks
involved. Workplaces or working areas (for instance the engine room) where the
noise level exceeds 85 dB, must be labelled with the
mandatory safety symbol “wear hearing protection”.
(4) If the vessel’s
engines cannot be controlled from the navigation bridge, there must be a
separate soundproofed room beside the engine room, from which the main engines
are controlled. This requirement does not apply to ships under 50 m in length
that are already in operation.
(5) The control devices for the fishing, hauling and hoisting devices must
be positioned so as to ensure the operator’s safety. Fishing, hauling and
hoisting devices must be equipped with an emergency stop device.
(6) The hauling
gear operator must have an adequate view of the work process and the members of
the crew at work there, even if the work process is managed from the navigation
bridge.
(7) A communications system must be used between the navigation bridge and
the working deck.
(8) During fishing-related activities or other work on deck, the watch
officer or skipper must immediately warn crewmembers of any imminent danger.
§ 15. Crew living quarters
(1) Where a fishing vessel possesses living quarters, the location, structure,
soundproofing, means of insulation and layout of the crew’s living quarters and
facilities and means of access thereto should be such as to minimise the
influence on the crew of rocking, vibration, noise and unpleasant odours from
other parts of the vessel.
(2) The general lighting of the living quarters must be at least 150 lux.
(3) The temperature of the crewmembers’ living quarters must be kept
between +20 °C and +25 °C.
(4) Where a fishing vessel has a galley and a mess, these must be of
sufficient size in relation to the size of the crew, well lighted and
ventilated, with easily cleaned surfaces and equipped with a refrigerator.
General ventilation of at least 15 l/s m2 must be ensured in the
galley.
(5) Fishing vessels must be equipped with toilets and wash-basins and if
possible showers, and supplied with ventilation.
§ 16. Boarding
(1) Fishing vessels must be equipped with an accommodation ladder or
gangway of at least 0.6 m in width and supplied with parallel anti-slip strips
no farther than 0.6 m apart, in order to ensure safe boarding.
(2) The height of the guardrail on the accommodation ladder or gangway must
be at least 0.9 m, the distance between spacers must be no greater than 1.5 m,
and the railing must have both a hand support and rope or chain.
(3) The accommodation ladder or gangway must generally be commercially
produced or constructed on the basis of a constructor’s plans.
§ 17. Additional requirements
(1) The location,
structure, soundproofing, means of insulation and layout of the crew’s living
quarters and facilities and means of access thereto should be such as to
minimise the influence on the crew of rocking, vibration, noise and unpleasant
odours from other parts of the vessel during their period of rest. Where the
design, dimensions and/or purpose of the vessel allow, the crew’s living
quarters must be located in the mid or aft section of the ship.
(2) The noise level must not exceed:
1) 70 dB on the navigation bridge;
2) 60 dB in the radio room;
3) 75 dB in the main engines’ control room;
4) 85 dB in remaining workplaces;
5) 60 dB in living quarters;
6) 65 dB in the mess;
7) 80 dB in the galley.
(3) General ventilation must ensure an air change of at least 7 l/s m2,
in order to prevent the condensation of moisture in the air.
(4) Living quarters must be adequately lighted:
1) with one or several general lighting fixtures whose light must be reducible,
so as to avoid disturbing workers who are resting;
2) local lighting above each berth.
(5) Each member of the crew must have a place for keeping clothes.
(6) Fishing vessels with living quarters must have wash-basins and showers
equipped with hot and cold water.
(7) The height of the railing, bulwark and other barriers must be at least
one metre, except in the case of vertical stairs.
Chapter 3
IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS
§ 18. Entry into force
(1) The regulation enters into force on
(2) The fishing vessels specified in clauses 1 (2) 1) and 2) must comply
with the requirements established in paragraphs 3-17 as of the entry into force
of this regulation.
(3) The fishing vessels specified in clauses 1 (2) 3) must comply with the
requirements established in paragraphs 3-16 by
1 Council of
|
|
Prime Minister
Mart LAAR |
|
|
Minister of
Social Affairs Eiki NESTOR |
|
|
State Secretary Aino LEPIK von WIRÉN |