Preamble
The General Conference of the International Labour Organisation,
Having been convened at Geneva by the Governing Body of the International Labour Office, and having met in its Sixty-fifth Session on 6 June 1979, and
Having decided upon the adoption of certain proposals with regard to the revision of the Protection against Accidents (Dockers) Convention (Revised), 1932 (No. 32), which is the fourth item on the agenda of the session, and
Having determined that these proposals shall take the form of a Recommendation supplementing the Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work) Convention, 1979,
adopts this twenty-fifth day of June of the year one thousand nine hundred and seventy-nine, the following Recommendation, which may be cited as the Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work) Recommendation, 1979:
I. Scope and Definitions
- 1. For the purpose of this Recommendation, the term dock work covers all and any part of the work of loading or unloading any ship as well as any work incidental thereto; the definition of such work should be established by national law or practice. The organisations of employers and workers concerned should be consulted on or otherwise participate in the establishment and revision of this definition.
- 2. For the purpose of this Recommendation--
- (a) the term worker means any person engaged in dock work;
- (b) the term competent person means a person possessing the knowledge and experience required for the performance of a specific duty or duties and acceptable as such to the competent authority;
- (c) the term responsible person means a person appointed by the employer, the master of the ship or the owner of the gear, as the case may be, to be responsible for the performance of a specific duty or duties and who has sufficient knowledge and experience and the requisite authority for the proper performance of the duty or duties;
- (d) the term authorised person means a person authorised by the employer, the master of the ship or a responsible person to undertake a specific task or tasks and possessing the necessary technical knowledge and experience;
- (e) the term lifting appliance covers all stationary or mobile cargo-handling appliances, including shore-based power-operated ramps, used on shore or on board ship for suspending, raising or lowering loads or moving them from one position to another while suspended or supported;
- (f) the term loose gear covers any gear by means of which a load can be attached to a lifting appliance but which does not form an integral part of the appliance or load;
- (g) the term access includes egress;
- (h) the term ship covers any kind of ship, vessel, barge, lighter or hovercraft, excluding ships of war.
II. General Provisions
- 3. In giving effect to the Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work) Convention, 1979, each Member should take into consideration--
- (a) the provisions of the relevant conventions, regulations and recommendations adopted under the auspices of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation and, in particular, those of the International Convention for Safe Containers, 1972, as at any time revised;
- (b) the relevant standards adopted by recognised international organisations dealing with matters of standardisation;
- (c) the relevant provisions of conventions, regulations and recommendations concerning inland navigation adopted under the auspices of international organisations.
- 4. In developing measures under Article 4, paragraph 1, of the Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work) Convention, 1979, each Member should take into consideration the technical suggestions in the latest edition of the Code of Practice on safety and health in dock work published by the International Labour Office in so far as they appear to be appropriate and relevant in the light of national circumstances and conditions.
- 5. In taking the measures referred to in Article 4, paragraph 1, of the Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work) Convention, 1979, each Member should take account of the provisions of Part III of this Recommendation, which are supplementary to those set out in Part III of that Convention.
- 6. With a view to preventing occupational accidents and diseases, workers should be given adequate instruction or training in safe working procedures, occupational hygiene and, where necessary, first-aid procedures and the safe operation of cargo-handling appliances.
III. Technical Measures
- 7.
- (1) All passageways should be--
- (a) plainly marked;
- (b) so far as is reasonably practicable, kept free of any obstruction not related to the work in progress.
- (2) Passageways used for vehicles should, so far as is reasonably practicable, be one-way in operation.
- 8.
- (1) Wherever reasonably practicable, means of access should be so placed that no suspended loads pass over them.
- (2) Wherever necessary, the means of access to a ship should be fitted with a safety net properly secured so as to prevent workers from falling into the water between the ship's side and the adjacent quay.
- 9. Junction plates used with ramps on roll-on/roll-off ships should be so designed and used as to be safe.
- 10.
- (1) Every hatchway on the weatherdeck not protected by means of a coaming of adequate height and strength should be effectively guarded or covered.
- (2) Every 'tween-deck hatchway should, when it is open, be effectively guarded to an adequate height.
- (3) Guards may be temporarily removed on any side of a hatchway where this is necessary for loading or unloading goods.
- (4) If, for technical reasons, the provisions of subparagraphs (1) and (2) of this Paragraph cannot be implemented, an authorised person should ensure the safety of the workers.
- (5) Deck cargoes should not be placed on nor vehicles pass over any hatch cover which is not of adequate strength for that purpose.
- 11. When necessary, due to the size of the hold, provision should be made for more than one means of escape.
- 12. Operators of lifting appliances should check the operation of their safety devices before commencing work.
- 13.
- (1) Petrol-driven vehicles or lifting appliances should not be refuelled in the hold of a ship and vehicles or lifting appliances driven by other fuels should only be refuelled in the hold of a ship under conditions which, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure the safety of the workers.
- (2) If reasonably practicable, preference should be given to the use in the hold of engines which do not pollute the air.
- 14. As far as is reasonably practicable, workers should not be required to work in the part of a hold where a trimming machine or grab is operating.
- 15. No new part of a lifting appliance or item of loose gear should be manufactured of wrought iron.
- 16. No heat treatment should be applied to any item of loose gear unless the treatment is carried out under the supervision of a competent person and in accordance with his instructions.
- 17. Suitable and adequate dunnage should be used if necessary to protect slings of pre-slung cargoes.
- 18. Slings which have not been approved or inspected should not under any circumstances be used for pre-slinging.
- 19. Every lifting beam, lifting frame, vacuum lifting or magnetic lifting device which does not form an integral part of a lifting appliance and every other item of loose gear weighing more than 100 kg should be clearly marked with its own weight.
- 20. Disposable pallets and similar disposable devices should--
- (a) be clearly marked or labelled to indicate that they are disposable;
- (b) not be used unless they are free from defects liable to affect their safe use; and
- (c) not be re-used.
- 21. Loads secured together by means of bailing wires or straps should not be raised or lowered by means of hooks or other devices inserted in the wires or straps unless the wires or straps are of adequate strength.
- 22. Every reasonable measure should be taken to minimise risks of accident when work has to be carried out on top of freight containers.
- 23.
- (1) Dangerous substances should only be handled, stored or stowed under the supervision of a responsible person.
- (2) When dangerous substances are to be handled, stored or stowed, the workers concerned should be given adequate information as to the special precautions to be observed, including action to be taken in the event of a spillage or accidental escape from containment.
- 24. First-aid personnel should be proficient in the use of appropriate resuscitation techniques and rescue work.
- 25. Lifting appliances, where necessary and reasonably practicable, should be fitted with a means of emergency escape from the driver's cabin. There should be arrangements for the removal of an injured or ill driver without further endangering him.
- 26.
- (1) The results of the medical examinations and investigations referred to in Article 36 of the Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work) Convention, 1979, should be communicated to the worker concerned.
- (2) The employer should be informed whether the worker is fit for the work to be carried out and whether he may constitute a risk to other persons, on the condition that, subject to Article 39 of the Convention, the confidential character of the information is respected.
- 27. The facilities provided in pursuance of Article 40 of the Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work) Convention, 1979, should, so far as is reasonably practicable, include changing rooms.
