19.B Access.
19.B.01 General.
- Means of access must be properly secured, guarded, and maintained free of slipping and tripping hazards. > See Section 24.
- Non-slip surfaces must be provided on working decks, stair treads, ship ladders, platforms, catwalks, and walkways, particularly on the weather side of doorways opening on deck.
- Double rung or flat tread type Jacob's ladders must be used only when no safer form of access is practical. When in use, they must hang without slack and be properly secured.
- Vertical ladders must comply with ASTM F1166-95a.
- Ladders must not be climbed by more than one person at a time between the same set of rails.
Note the various means of access to the vessels and decks.
19.B.02 Access to/from vessels.
- Safe means for boarding or leaving a floating plant must be provided and guarded to prevent persons from falling or slipping thereon. Walking on rip-rap should be avoided where practical.
- A stairway, ladder, ramp, gangway, personnel hoist or other safe means of access must be provided at personnel points of access with breaks of 19 in (48.2 cm) or more in elevation.
- Ramps for access of equipment and vehicles to or between vessels must be of adequate strength, be provided with sideboards, and be well maintained.
- Gangways and ramps must be:
- (1) Secured at one end by at least one point on each side with lines or chains to prevent overturning;
- (2) Supported at the other end in such a manner to carry them and their normal load during use in the event they slide off their supports;
- (3) Placed at an angle no greater than that recommended by the manufacturer; and
- (4) Provided with a standard guardrail (toe boards are optional depending on their usefulness and the hazard involved).
19.B.03 Access on vessels.
- Vertical access must be provided between various decks by means of stairs, ramps, or vertical ladders installed in accordance with ASTM F1166.
- Employees must not be permitted to pass fore and aft, over, or around deck loads unless there is a safe passage.
- If cargo or materials are stored on deck of barges, scows, floats, etc., the outboard edge must not be used as a passageway unless at least 2 ft (0.6 m) of clearance is maintained.
- Vessel loads must be limited so that access and passageways in use will remain above the waterline. Decks and passageways must not be used for access if submerged or subject to constant breaking waves, except in an emergency.
19.B.04 Emergency access.
- Vessels, except those easily boarded from the water, must be equipped with:
- (1) At least one portable or permanent ladder of sufficient length to allow a person to self-rescue by boarding the ladder from the water, and
- (2) Other methods or means designed to assist in the rescue of an incapacitated person overboard.
- Two means of escape must be provided for normal work, assembly, sleeping, and messing areas on floating plants.
- Means of access must be maintained as safe and functional.
19.B.05 Access on floating pipelines.
- Floating pipelines used as access ways must be equipped with a walkway and handrail on at least one side.
- Walkways must be at least 20 in (50.8 cm) wide and anchored to the pipeline.
- PFDs must be worn at all times by anyone on pipelines. > See Section 05.J.
- When walkways and handrails are not provided (i.e., the pipeline is not intended for access), the pipeline must be barricaded at both ends to prevent access by any person.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
19-6. If cargo or materials are stored on deck, how much clearance is required before the outboard edge can be used as a passageway?
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