BUILDING TRUST. SHAPING SAFETY
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Technical Notices

ISM Code | IMO Revised recommendations for entering enclosed spaces aboard Ships

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The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has published Revised Recommendations for Entering Enclosed Spaces Aboard Ships (IMO Resolution A.1050 (27)) coming into force on 01.01.2015.

IMO has also agreed to introduce new requirements for enclosed space entry and rescue drills, and for the carriage of oxygen meters.

IMO has been revising its guidance on enclosed space entry on board ships, to try to combat the ongoing problem of confined space incidents. The Revised Recommendations for Entering Enclosed Spaces Aboard Ships have been published as IMO Resolution A.1050(27). These replace the previous Recommendations (IMO A.864(20)).

The recommendations have been expanded, and include additional guidance on training and on safety management, more examples of potential enclosed spaces, and greater emphasis on assuming spaces are unsafe to enter until proved otherwise. 

The main changes are as follows:

Annexes to this TN: A.1050 (27) MSC.1/Circ.1401

Definition of enclosed spaces
The list of examples of enclosed spaces has been expanded, and there are new references to adjacent connected spaces, which may share the same atmospheric characteristics as the enclosed space.
 

Oxygen enriched atmospheres
The revised guidance also applies to spaces with an oxygen enriched atmosphere, and not just toxic or oxygen deficient spaces.
 

Safety management
New section on safety management for entry into enclosed spaces, including the need to establish procedures for appropriate training and drills.
 

Assessment of risk
New guidance on periodic risk assessment and new references underlining the need to assume that a space should be considered to be hazardous until positively proved to be safe for entry.
 

Training
Additional guidance (under the section on General Precautions) on minimum training for personnel assigned the duties of entering enclosed spaces or functioning as attendants or as members of rescue teams. Crew members should be trained, as appropriate, on enclosed space safety, including familiarization with onboard procedures for recognizing, evaluating, and controlling hazards associated with entry into enclosed spaces.
 

Drills
Enclosed space entry and rescue drills are required at least once every two months to ensure that crewmembers are familiar with the actions to be taken.

The drills shall include the following items (SOLAS III, Reg. 19.3.6):

  • checking and use of personal protective equipment,
  • checking and use of communication equipment,
  • checking and use of instruments for measuring the atmosphere,
  • checking and use of rescue equipment,
  • instructions in first aid and resuscitation techniques
 

General precautions
New advice on procedures for preventing accidental entry to enclosed spaces.

 

Testing the atmosphere
Expanded guidance on atmosphere testing, including on provision of gas detection equipment, and additional precautions regarding changing conditions and the possible impact of internal structures and residues and coatings on the results of atmosphere testing.
 

Precautions related to the use of nitrogen as an inert gas
The revised recommendations incorporate a cross – reference to the IMO Guidelines on tank entry for tankers using nitrogen as an inerting medium (MSC.1/Circ.1401), which were adopted in 2011. Although these Guidelines are specifically for tankers, they may also be relevant for offshore support vessels using nitrogen blankets for methanol cargoes, for example.

 

For entry purposes, steady readings of the following should be obtained:
1/ 21% oxygen by volume by oxygen content meter;

2/ not more than 1% of lower flammable limit (LFL) on a suitably sensitive combustible gas indicator, where the preliminary assessment has determined that there is potential  for flammable gases or vapours, and

3/ not more than 50% of the occupational exposure limit (OEL) of any toxic vapours and gases

The revised recommendations incorporate a cross – reference to the IMO Guidelines on tank entry for tankers using nitrogen as an inerting medium (MSC.1/Circ.1401), which were adopted in 2011. Although these Guidelines are specifically for tankers, they may also be relevant for offshore support vessels using nitrogen blankets for methanol cargoes, for example.

 
Owners are required to take account of IMO’s revised guidelines and ensure that their Safety Management System (SMS) procedures and checklists for entering enclosed spaces are amended to reflect the new recommendations. Internal audits by the Owners of the ship’s safety management system should verify that the established procedures are complied with in practice.

Comparable regulations are included in the:

  • HSC-Code,
  • MODU-Code and
  • DSC-Code

also coming into force on 01.01.2015.

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