Confined Spaces: The Initial Test of the Atmosphere (Re: The Maritime Executive)
In the News
目前,国际海事标准要求在世界各地的船舶上航行的船员必须接受大量的培训和证书,才能在所有类型的船舶上航行. Lately, 该行业一直关注在船舶密闭空间工作的危险和危害. Also of emphasis is the rescuing of fallen crew members within those spaces. 似乎被忽视了的是船上的官员在对大气层进行初步测试时可能引起的危险.
在船上,船员与来自不同背景和文化的20-30人一起生活和工作. 在密闭空间工作时,确保船上每个人的安全和健康不仅是高级官员的首要任务, but the vessel owners as well. The limited training that officers receive in confined space hazards is shortsighted, inadequate and dangerous.
在航运业中有一种误解,认为只要主管人员对密闭空间进行测试,他们就会批准安全进入, then most would take his or her word for it, sign the required paperwork and then enter the space. 这假定工作人员受过适当的训练,能够胜任地发出“全部清除”并保证安全进入.
That is an assumption which is not based on practice or reality. The first person exposed to risk is the officer, 如果没有适当的训练,他们将自己和所有后来者暴露在同样未知的危险中.
Current maritime guidelines state that when an atmosphere in a tank contains 19.5 to 22.0 percent oxygen it can be entered. A ship’s officer with inadequate training could test a space with a reading of 19.空间中有8%的氧气,他或她可以很好地推断这个空间是安全的, and allow employees to enter the tank.
另一方面,一个训练有素的密闭空间进入和使用多气表的官员会推断,这种低百分比的氧气是一个迹象,一些不正常的气罐发生. 涂层击穿暴露在油箱内的金属基板是船上油箱内最常见的事件之一. 这种情况允许形成氧化铁,俗称铁锈形成. 这种化学反应会耗尽空间内的氧气,偶尔也会增加氢的含量,作为副产品. Hydrogen can be very explosive at certain concentrations.
由于这些原因,进行测试的官员必须接受培训,以了解仪表告诉他或她的空间. 值得注意的是,船上的工作人员不仅必须熟悉密闭空间中常见的有毒气体,如一氧化碳或硫化氢,而且还必须知道携带先前物质遗留在空间中的其他物质.
气体检测仪只能检测有限数量的物质,此时必须使用德尔格管. 那些被授权测试和认证其船员进入密闭空间的高级人员必须对船上气体探测设备的局限性有充分和全面的了解. In addition, they must be aware of what the meter can measure, and what are the permissible levels allowed for entry by personnel.
The obligations of the tank tester do not just end at the entrance to the space. 至关重要的是,在从外部读取仪表上的行业可接受值后,测试人员必须带着仪表进入,以建立空间的完整样本. 入口为官员沙巴体育官网提供了一个确认空间内不存在物理危险的机会.
Within the last couple of years, 国际行业监管机构呼吁提高船上船员的密闭空间意识. Vessel staff are now required to participate in confined space rescue drills, and vessels must have the appropriate gas detection equipment onboard. 海员需要在船上和下班沙巴体育官网在家完成的培训数量每年都在增加,以保持其证书. 对于船上的人来说,再增加一门必修课程或证书可能会令人沮丧.
Nonetheless, 作为业内人士,我们必须推动对现场检查密闭空间的人员进行进一步培训,这是明智的做法. 必须向国际监管机构推广这样一种想法,即负责授权进入密闭空间的人员应由合格的组织按照一套严格的标准准则进行培训.
In the U.S., 海洋化学家或工业卫生学家是行业专业人员的完美例子,可以帮助发展船上官员的教育. The shoreside vessel staff could also benefit from such an awareness.
Unfortunately, 世界上大部分的船队和船东都没有奢侈和舒适的条件来获得美国.S. based gas chemist or equivalent on short notice or out at sea. 船上的船员和官员是防止密闭空间事故的第一道防线.
这种培训的具体规则必须由海事组织在《沙巴体育官网》内规定, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). Having the training fall under the umbrella of STCW, 会否订立强制性规定,要求船东确保船上某些人员已接受足够训练. 航运业及其海员只有对密闭空间大气测试有更深入的了解和认识,才能从中受益.
When health and safety are at issue, we must be proactive not post-accident active. 与造成伤亡事故后的诉讼和赔偿费用相比,所涉费用微不足道.
By Captain Gavan Dunleavy