SAFETY MEETING GUIDE



[pic] |The American Waterways Operators

Interregion Safety Committee | |

TO: All Captains and Pilots

FROM: AWO Interregion Safety Committee

SUBJECT: Lesson Plan for Working on the Head of a Tow

The attached lesson plan is on the topic of working on the head of a tow safely. There are many fall overboard risks associated with working on the head of a tow. Following safe practices is a way of preventing falls and injuries, particularly falls overboard. The purpose of this lesson plan is to assist you in presenting and discussing detailed information about working in a safe manner on the head of a tow.

Please use the enclosed materials to conduct a vessel safety meeting in accordance with your company’s policy. Remember to review your company’s policies and procedures on this lesson plan topic. If you have any questions, contact your company’s safety office.

Steve Brundrett

Chairman, AWO Interregion Safety Committee

Attachments

1) Safety Meeting Guide – Working on the Head of a Tow

2) “Do You Remember?” and Answer Key

Lesson Learned Submission Form

Safety Meeting Follow-Up Form

SAFETY MEETING LESSON PLAN – INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONDUCTING WORKING ON THE HEAD OF A TOW TRAINING

Step I: Preparation

• Make sure all the materials listed above are included in this package.

• Review all the material before conducting the meeting.

Step II: Presentation

• Gather the crew.

• Conduct the meeting (approximately 15 – 20 minutes).

Step III: Follow Up

• Ask crewmembers to share a “near miss” or lessons learned.

• Log the record of the meeting as per your company’s policy.

• At the end of the meeting, complete the Safety Meeting Follow-up Form and return it as per company policy.

• Retain the Lesson Plan information for future use and reference.

NOTE! PLEASE CONTACT YOUR COMPANY’S OPERATIONS OR SAFETY DEPARTMENT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS CONCERNING THIS LESSON PLAN.

PLEASE REVIEW YOUR COMPANY’S POLICIES AND PROCEDURES REGARDING THIS LESSON PLAN TOPIC.

Note! This lesson plan and all the material it contains should be considered suggestions and helpful hints to assist you in conducting your vessel safety meeting. You are encouraged to use your own words and experiences when presenting the material contained in this lesson plan.

SUGGESTIONS FOR CONDUCTING THE MEETING

I. Discuss the objectives of the lesson plan:

1. To review common fall overboard hazards when working on the head of a tow.

2. To convey detailed information on safe work practices when working on the head of a tow.

3. To share and collect “lessons learned.”

II. Deliver the training. (The script is in bold italic.)

There are many fall overboard hazards when working on the tow, particularly when working on the head of a tow. By assessing the risks and deciding how you can best manage them, your work can be conducted in a safe manner. Remembering and using safe practices can save your life!

Before we talk about working on the head of a tow specifically, let’s review some basics when going out on a tow or working near any unguarded edge.

Before going on the tow:

• Hold a safety briefing. Discuss known hazards with the tow configuration such as notches, duck ponds, poor walking conditions and current weather conditions.

• Notify the wheelhouse.

• Check and use PPE such as a properly fitted PFD, footwear, radios and flashlights.

• Use the “buddy system” by identifying someone to maintain visual or voice/radio contact with when on the tow.

While on the tow:

• Maintain frequent radio contact with the wheelhouse when possible, particularly if you need to change a work plan that was previously discussed.

• If possible, walk down the center of the tow and avoid outside gunnels.

• Avoid working and standing with your back to the water.

• Never work with your back to the water when working at the gunnel.

• Position ratchets so they may be tightened inboard.

• Check all shadows before walking into them.

• Be aware of tripping hazards, such as hatch covers and deck fittings.

• Be aware of slipping hazards, such as loose materials that may be on the deck or weather effects, such as leaves, ice or snow.

Upon return from the tow:

• Inform the wheelhouse.

• Record hazards and conditions so they can be communicated to other crewmembers.

What other basic safety rules for going out on a tow can you can think of? (Ask crewmembers.)

Now that we’ve gone over the basics, let’s talk specifically about working on the head of a tow.

Always let the wheelhouse know when you are going on the head of the tow.

Remember to carry all equipment, such as headers, head gear, sounders, lights, and ratchets, on the outboard shoulder or side of the tow, if you cannot avoid walking on the outside gunnel. Try to keep one hand free to hold on to the rails, cable, etc. of the tow.

Step on the inside of deck fittings as you walk and maneuver around so you do not step so close to the edge.

When possible, try to avoid working with your back to the water. Never work near the edge with your back to the water.

Be aware of your location and your body’s posture, and try not to overstretch or lean over the edge to accomplish your tasks.

When working in darkness, if you are temporarily blinded by a bright light, don’t move. Wait for your eyes to re-adjust. A good measure is to count to 10 before you attempt to walk or move.

If prevailing conditions allow, suggest to the captain or pilot in your pre-job safety meeting that headway should be stopped, or slowed as much as possible in order to maintain steerage, when head gear is being placed or adjusted.

(Review company-specific procedures, particularly for setting lights and sounders.)

I’ve told you some steps we can take to prevent falls overboard when working on the head of a tow. Can anyone think of any other precautions we can take when putting out lights and sounders? (Ask crewmembers.)

Let me review what we covered.

Working on the head of a tow can be conducted in a safe manner. The same basics of fall prevention are practices to remember - good housekeeping, proper personal protective gear, the proper maintenance of equipment, and knowing your surroundings and situation awareness.

Using the buddy system is important any time you are on the tow, but particularly when working on the head of a tow.

There are specific steps we can take when working on the head of a tow. The most important step we can take is to conduct a pre-job safety briefing, so that we can communicate the task, the prevailing conditions and any potential hazards.

Watch the bump and do not work with your back to the water when possible. Keep one hand free and illuminate shadows when walking the tow. Maintain frequent contact with the wheelhouse.

Let’s try to remember these precautions in our work every day.

Hold a discussion/share “lessons learned.”

• Encourage an open discussion of this subject between crewmembers, asking them if they think they understand the information contained in this lesson.

• Relate any of your experiences.

(Script) Does anyone have any lessons learned regarding working on the head of a tow? (If no crewmember offers an example, give one yourself or continue to “lessons learned.”)

(Hand out the “lesson learned” submission forms and ask crewmembers to share their experiences for future lesson plans.)

III. Hand out “Do You Remember?”

1. Crewmembers should be instructed to take approximately five minutes to answer the questions.

IV. Go over the questions and answers.

1. Ensure that all exercises are completed and that all correct answers are reviewed with the crew.

V. Review the objectives of this safety meeting:

1. To review common fall overboard hazards when working on the head of a tow.

2. To convey detailed information on safe work practices when working on the head of a tow.

3. To share and collect “lessons learned.”

VII. Fill out the safety meeting follow-up form.

DO YOU REMEMBER?

WORKING ON THE HEAD OF A TOW

1. Good fall prevention practices to remember are good housekeeping, proper personal protective gear, and the proper maintenance of equipment.

(Circle one.)

a. TRUE b. FALSE

2. The “buddy system” is a good way to maintain visual/radio contact with someone when working on the head of the tow.

(Circle one.)

a. TRUE b. FALSE

3. It is not necessary to tell other crewmembers about tripping hazards on the tow.

(Circle one.)

a. TRUE b. FALSE

4. Conducting a job safety briefing before going out on the tow is a good idea.

(Circle one.)

a. TRUE b. FALSE

5. Carry all equipment, such as headers, head gear, sounders, lights, and ratchets, on the outboard side of the tow, if it is necessary to walk on the outside gunnel.

(Circle one.)

a. TRUE b. FALSE

Employee Name: ________________________________

Vessel Name: __________________________________

Date: ______________________________

NOTE: All incorrect answers are to be corrected in ink and initialed by employee.

WORKING ON THE HEAD OF A TOW

ANSWER KEY

1. Good fall prevention practices to remember are good housekeeping, proper personal protective gear, and the proper maintenance of equipment.

(Circle one.)

a. TRUE b. FALSE

2. The “buddy system” is a good way to maintain visual/radio contact with someone when working on the head of the tow.

(Circle one.)

a. TRUE b. FALSE

3. It is not necessary to tell other crewmembers about tripping hazards on the tow.

(Circle one.)

a. TRUE b. FALSE

4. Conducting a job safety briefing before going out on the tow is a good idea.

(Circle one.)

a. TRUE b. FALSE

5. Carry all equipment, such as headers, head gear, sounders, lights, and ratchets, on the outboard side of the tow, if it is necessary to walk on the outside gunnel.

(Circle one.)

a. TRUE b. FALSE

Employee Name: ________________________________

Vessel Name: __________________________________

Date: ______________________________

NOTE: All incorrect answers are to be corrected in ink and initialed by employee.

LESSON LEARNED SUBMISSION FORM

Do you have a lesson learned to share as part of a future lesson plan? You can use this sheet or submit this information in a similar format.

Type of incident:

Date:

Time:

Weather Conditions:

Location/Milemarker:

Tow make-up:

Explanation of incident:

Please give this form to your operations or safety department. It will be passed on to the AWO Interregion Safety Committee for its “lessons learned” library. Thank you for your contribution to making our industry safer.

SAFETY MEETING FOLLOW-UP FORM

MEETING TOPIC: Working on the Head of a Tow

FACILITY/VESSEL ______________________________________________________

DATE OF MEETING: MONTH: _____________ DAY: ___________ YEAR: _______

TIME STARTED: ________________ TIME ENDED: _______________

MATERIAL LISTED ON COVER PAGE RECEIVED? YES _____ NO _____

SAFETY MEETING INFORMATION:

1. WAS THE MEETING TOPIC TIMELY/HELPFUL? YES _____ NO _____

2. DID THE CREW PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING? YES _____ NO _____

3. INFORMATION FOR THE MEETING WAS FACTUAL? YES _____ NO _____

4. DID YOU MAKE AN ENTRY IN INK IN THE VESSEL LOG DESCRIBING

DATE, TIME AND TOPIC OF MEETING? YES _____ NO _____

5. ANY COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS CONCERNING THE MEETING: _____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

6. WHAT TOPIC/TOPICS WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS IN FUTURE MEETINGS?

______________________________________________________________________

EVERYONE ATTENDING THE MEETING MUST SIGN BELOW:

______________________________ ______________________________

______________________________ ______________________________

______________________________ ______________________________

______________________________ ______________________________

______________________________ ______________________________

______________________________ ______________________________

______________________________ ______________________________

MEETING CONDUCTED BY: ___________________________________

DATE: ______________________________

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