Safe means of access

• Pages: 16-38

3. Safe means of access

3.1. Means of access to ships

3.1.1. For the carrying out of dock work on board ship,

sufficient safe and suitable means of access to the ship should be

available for the use of dockworkers passing to and from the ship.

3.1.2. Whenever reasonably practicable, the means of access

from the dock side should be the ship's accommodation ladder

complying with the relevant requirements of section 3.2.

3.1.3. (1) Whenever the use of an accommodation ladder is not

reasonably practicable, a gangway may be used.

Rigid ladders may be used when gangways are not prac-

ticable. Gangways and ladders should comply with the relevant

requirements of sections 3.3 and 3.4 respectively.

3.1.4. The means of access should be of sound material and

construction and adequate strength, and be securely installed and

kept in a good state of repair.

3.1.5. The means of access should be so placed that no loads

pass over them.

3,l.. Dockworkers should not use any means of access other

than the means specified unless specially authorised to do so.

3.1.7. (1) The means of access from a ship to a barge or other

vessel of low freeboard moored alongside it should be as stated in

paragraph 3.1.3, except that a rope ladder may be used when it is

impracticable to comply with the requirements of that paragraph.

(2) For the purposes of this code, "freeboard" means the height

above water level of the deck used for access to the rope ladder when

the access is used for the first time.

3.1.8. Where there is a gap between the dock side and the ship,

such that a person falling from the ship's means of access would be

in danger of falling into the water, that gap should be protected by a

safety net secured to the ship and the dock side.

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Safe means of access

3.1.9. Any gap through which a person is liable to fall between

the fencing of the means of access and the opening in the ship's

bulwark should be properly protected.

3.1.10. The entrance should not be obstructed.

3.1.11. The means of access should not be placed so near to a

crane track on the dock that it would be liable to be struck by a

crane moving on that track.

3.1.12. Means of access manufactured of material other than

wood or metal should be of equal strength and durability and of the

same tread design.

3.1.13. When means of access are manufactured using com-

ponents of dissimilar metals, suitable action should be taken to

prevent wastage or corrosion due to galvanic action.

3.2. Ship's accommodation ladders

3.2.1. (1) A ship's accommodation ladder should have treads

at least 55 cm in width;

of adequate depth;

with a permanently non-slip surface; and

of such a shape or design that at the working angle of the ladder

a person's foot does not have to step upon a corner of the tread

but upon a flat or curved surface.

The accommodation ladder should be fenced on either side

throughout its length with upper and intermediate guard rails of a

height of not less than 1.1 m and 55 cm respectively, measured from

the surface of the tread and at right angles to the longitudinal axis

of the ladder.

An adequate platform should be fitted at either end of the

ladder as necessary.

The construction of the ladder should be sufficiently robust

to reduce any sway or bounce to a minimum.

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