512 EM 385-1-1 Chapters 16-22

Sections

19-8. General Requirements.

Main Deck Perimeter Protection

Install main deck perimeter protection on manned vessels as per specific guidelines and exceptions outlined in the regulations.
Provide manned vessels over 26 feet in length operating in unprotected or partially protected waters with Type B Railings.
Provide manned vessels over 26 feet in length operating in rivers or protected waters with Type B or Type C Railings.
Provide deckhouses or similar permanent structures, as applicable, with Type D Grab Rails.
Develop and review safety procedures for areas without deck-edge protection, ensuring personnel wear Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) and maintain communication.

Marine Railing Types

Install railings (Types A, B, C, D) on vessels as per the requirements, ensuring clear spacing, strength, deflection, and tension meet the specified criteria.
Ensure removable railings, flexible or swing-away railings, and grab rails meet specified requirements for strength, spacing, and dimension.

Launches, Motorboats, and Skiffs

Post maximum personnel and weight capacity, and equip boats with necessary safety devices, considering size, freeboard, stability, and specific regulations.
Equip boats with appropriate fire protection equipment and ensure engine cut-off devices are used and tested regularly.
Provide lifesaving skiffs, trained personnel, and required equipment, conducting regular drills and ensuring readiness for immediate use.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

19-9. Equip manned vessels over 26 feet operating in unprotected or partially protected waters with _____.

Type A railings

Type B railings

Type C railings

Type D railings

You forgot to answer the question!

EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 19-8 (j.–l.).

19-8. General Requirements. (j.–l.).

j.  Main Deck Perimeter Protection.  (19-8.j)

(1)  Provide main deck perimeter protection on all manned vessels according to paragraph 19.8.k. See paragraph 19-8.j(5) for applicable exceptions to this requirement.

(2)  Provide manned vessels over 26 feet (7.9 m) in length operating in unprotected or partially protected waters, as defined in 46 CFR 175.400, with Type B Railings around the deck edge, except where excluded in paragraph 19-8.j(5).

(3)  Provide manned vessels over 26 feet (7.9 m) in length operating in rivers or protected waters with Type B or Type C Railings around the deck edge, except where excluded in paragraph 19-8.j(5).

(4)  Provide Type D Grab Rails on all manned vessels in the following instances:

(a)  On deckhouses or other similar permanent structures more than 48 inches (121.9 cm) from deck edge rail systems.

(b)  On deckhouses or similar permanent structures that are within 8 feet (2.4 m) of the deck edge in areas where the deck edge rail has been omitted or temporarily removed according to paragraph 19-8.j(5).

(5)  The following are main deck areas where perimeter protection may be omitted or temporarily removed:

(a)  Deck perimeter rails may be omitted from deck work areas specifically
        intended for line handling, working over the side of the vessel, load handling operations, and designated boarding areas.  Railings in these areas may obstruct work or access and present additional hazards such as pinch points against railings. Such deck edge areas may include those for line handling, fleeting scows, mooring vessels, towing, pile driving activities, and handling or placing of construction materials and equipment pipelines and anchors.

(b)  Deck perimeter rails may be omitted from main deck areas where the overall walkway width is less than 2 feet (0.6 m) between deck structures or permanent equipment and the deck edge.

(c)  Removable perimeter rail sections may be installed in areas where activities such as working over the side of the vessel or loading operations are performed. Maintain these rails in place when vessel operations do not include activity in these areas or during periods of tie-up or inactivity.

(6)  When deck-edge perimeter protection is not present, develop standard operating procedures, AHAs, or other documents to address the hazards involved and the controls to be implemented to prevent persons from falling.  All crew members must review these documents during initial orientation and at regular intervals thereafter.  The following operational procedures must be followed:

(a)  Personnel must wear PFDs in areas where deck perimeter protection is not present (see chapter 5).

(b)  Block off areas where railings are removed from access by a suitable barrier, or clearly mark them as PFD-required areas by signage, deck markings, or other means.

(c)  Maintain continuous sight and verbal or radio contact between personnel in the non-protected deck perimeter areas and the vessel operator, or a designated crew member who is in sight and verbal or radio contact with the operator and who will
        monitor the workers in the area.

(d)  A safety skiff or equivalent rescue vessel must be readily available throughout the duration of these activities according to chapter 5.

(7)  Provide boats under 26 feet (7.9 m) with integrated combinations of two or more of the below listed items to provide continuous perimeter protection around the vessel.  Install them according to either ABYC Standards or ISO Standard 15085, as demonstrated by a manufacturer’s certificate, label, or other documentation.

(a)  Cockpits.

(b)  Coamings.

(d)  Toe rails.

(e)  Life rails.

(f)  Deck rails.

(g)  Stern rails.

(h)  Bow rails.

k.  Marine Railing Types.  (19-8.k)

(1)  Allowable types of railings on vessels (that is, A, B, C, D) are identified below. Specific requirements for the vessel types and areas where each are to be used are delineated in paragraphs 9-8.i and 19-8.j.

Note. Solid bulwarks or coamings providing equal perimeter protection to a height of 39 in (1 m) may also be provided.  Bulwarks may be constructed of structural plate and shapes.  Bulwarks must meet all strength, deflection, and open spacing requirements presented below for Type B railings.

(2)  Railing Type A:  Two-Tier Rigid Fall Protection Rail.  This railing type must meet the requirements of a guardrail system according to chapter 21 (see figure 19-1).

(3)  Railing Type B:  Three-Tier Marine Rigid or Tensioned Railing.  This railing is comprised of rigid vertical stanchions and three rigid or tensioned horizontal tiers and must meet the following (see figure 19-2):

(a)  Clear spacing between tiers must be no greater than 9 inches (22.9 cm), 15 inches (38.1 cm), and 15 inches (38.1 cm), respectively, where the 9 inches (22.9 cm) space is closest to the deck surface.  The height from the deck to the top tier must be at least 39 inches (99 cm).

(b)  The bottom tier may be omitted if it is in the way of deck fittings or to facilitate line handling.  The space resulting from the removed lower tier cannot extend more than 2 feet (0.6 m) beyond either side of the deck fitting.

(c)  Vertical stanchions must be pipe or structural sections.  Horizontal tiers must be constructed from rigid (for example, pipe, structural sections) or non-rigid (for example, wire rope, chain) components or from combinations of these components. Tension non-rigid tiers with turnbuckles or similar components.

(d)  Railings may be either fixed or removable in sections.  All vertical stanchions must be adequate to withstand a 200 lbs. (90.7 kg) load applied horizontally at the top of the stanchion and be spaced no more than 8 feet (2.4 m) apart.

(e)  Size pipe and structural section rail components appropriately to meet the performance criteria of chapter 21.

(f)  Chain or wire rope and all the associated connection fittings together must have minimum breaking strength of 4,000 lbs. (1814.4 kg).

(g)  Tension the chain or wire rope horizontal tiers so that:

(g-1)  There is no slack.

(g-2)  Sag does not exceed one-quarter (¼) inch (0.6 cm) at any point between stanchions.

(g-3)  The lowest point from deck to the top of the upper rail is not less than 39 inches (99 cm) at any point between the stanchions.  Tensioned railing tiers must not deflect more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) under a load of 200 lbs. (90.7 kg).

(4)  Railing Type C:  Non-Tensioned Railings and Flexible or Swing-Away Railings. This railing must consist of rigid vertical stanchions with horizontal non-tensioned chain, wire rope, or rigid tiers that clip to the verticals (see figure 19-3).

(a)  Non-Tensioned Railings must consist of horizontal tiers constructed from chain, wire rope, pipe, or structural sections or combinations of these components.
        Vertical stanchions must be pipe or structural sections.  Vertical support spacing must not exceed 8 feet (2.4 m).

(b)  Flexible or Swing-Away Rails must consist of chain or wire rope tensioned vertical support lines with non-tensioned chain, wire rope, or clip-on rigid horizontal tiers.  Vertical support line spacing must not exceed 6 feet (1.8 m).

(c)  Size pipe or structural section rail components appropriately to meet the performance criteria of chapter 21.  Chain or wire rope and all the associated connection fittings together must have minimum breaking strength of 4,000 lbs. (1814.3 kg).

(d)  For Non-Tensioned Railings and Flexible or Swing-Away Railings, sag of horizontal tiers must not exceed 3 inches (7.6 cm) between vertical supports.

(e)  Configure Non-Tensioned Railings and Flexible or Swing-Away Railings with four or more horizontal tiers.  The number of horizontal tiers must be sufficient to meet the following requirements:

(e-1)  Effective clear spacing between the deck and bottom tier is no greater than
            9 inches (22.9 cm).

(e-2)  Effective clear spacing between all tiers above the bottom tier is no greater than 15 inches (38.1 cm).

(e-3)  Effective minimum height from deck to the top tier must be at least 39 inches
            (99 cm).

(f)  The effective tier spacing includes the effect of the increased spacing associated with sag in the tiers, applied either up or down.  Make clear spacing measurements with the railing tiers spread to form the largest opening.

(g)  To account for the sag, measure for the minimum railing height at the lowest point in the rail.

(h)  The bottom tier may be omitted in way of deck fittings or to facilitate line handling.  The space caused by the removed lower tier cannot extend more than 2 feet (0.6 m) beyond either side of the deck fitting.

(i)  The top tier must not deflect to a height less than 39 inches (99 cm) above the deck under a force of 200 lbs. (90.7 kg), applied vertically.  In addition, the top tier must not deflect more than 12 inches (30.4 cm) horizontally under a force of 200 lbs. (90.7 kg) applied horizontally.

(j)  Tensioning springs in the vertical support lines, if provided, must be of the compression with drawbar type.

(5)  Railing Type D:  Grab Rails.  Grab rails are railing sections mounted to deckhouse sides or to the sides of other permanent structures.

(a)  Grab rail height must match the height of the deck top rail or tier.  Where there is no top rail near the grab rail, grab rail height must be 39 inches (99 cm).

(b)  Grab rail strength must be adequate to withstand a 200 lb. (90.7 kg) load applied in any direction.

(c)  Size grab rails dimensionally comparable to 1.5 inch (3.8 cm) pipe.  Clear distance between the rail and house side must be at least 3 inches (7.6 cm).

l.  Launches, Motorboats, and Skiffs.  (19-8.l)

(1)  Personnel and Cargo Requirements.

(a)  Post the maximum number of personnel and weight that can safely be transported on all launches, motorboats, and skiffs.  The number of personnel, including crew, must not exceed the number of PFDs aboard.

(b)  Each boat must have sufficient room, freeboard, and stability to safely carry the cargo and number of persons allowed with consideration given to the weather and water conditions in which it will be operated.

(c)  Launches, motorboats, and skiffs less than 20 feet (6.1 m) in length must meet
        33 CFR 183 requiring level floatation after flooding or swamping.

(d)  Equip all open cabin launches or motorboats with engine cut-off devices (that is, “kill switches”).  The vessel operator must be tethered via lanyard to the engine cut- off device and must test the device prior to each operation.  Operators may supplement the lanyard tether with additional fail safes, such as wireless engine cut-off devices, but a lanyard system must be in place and used by the vessel operator while underway. Exclusive use of wireless engine cut-off devices is not authorized.

(2)  Fire Protection.

(a)  Equip all launches and motorboats, including outboards, with fire extinguishers according to table 19-1.

(b)  Equip all launches and motorboats having gasoline or liquid petroleum gas power plants or equipment in cabins, compartments, or confined spaces with a built-in automatic CO2 fire extinguishing system meeting the requirements of 46 CFR 25.30-15.

(3)  Lifesaving and/or safety skiffs are required during construction activities where work is performed over or immediately next to water or during any operations and
maintenance activities that cause an employee to work outside the designated permanently installed safety controls (that is, guardrails).

(a)  Provide personnel trained in launching and operating the skiff readily available during working hours (see para 29-3.b).

(b)  Skiffs must be readily available during working hours.  During construction activities, have at least one skiff immediately available at locations where employees work over or immediately next to water.  Skiffs must be kept afloat or ready for instant launching.

(c)  Lifesaving personnel must perform a lifesaving drill, including the launching and recovery of the skiff before the initiation of work at the site and periodically thereafter as specified by the USACE supervisor/KO or COR (but at least monthly or whenever new personnel are involved).

(d)  Required equipment must be on board and meet or exceed USCG requirements and the requirements of this chapter.  Skiffs must be equipped as follows:

(d-1)  Four oars, or two if the skiff is motor powered.

(d-2)  Oarlocks attached to gunwales or the oars.

(d-3)  One ball-pointed boat hook.

(d-4)  One ring buoy with 60 feet (18.3 m) of three-eighths (3/8) inch (0.9 cm) solid braid polypropylene, or equivalent, line attached.

(d-5)  PFDs in number equaling the skiff rating for the maximum number of personnel allowed on board.

(d-6)  One 1-A:10B:C fire extinguisher.

(d-7)  In locations where waters are rough or swift, or where manually operated boats are not practical, provide a power boat suitable for the waters and equip it for lifesaving.

(d-8)  Skiffs and power boats must have buoyant material capable of floating the boat, its equipment, and the crew.

(d-9)  Equip vessels without permanently mounted navigation lights (for example, skiffs), with portable battery-operated navigation lights and use them during night operations.

512 EM385-1-1 Chapters 16-22