Bulk carriers

1. Loading and unloading should be undertaken in accordance

with the plan required by the IMO BLU Code (see
section 6.19) and agreed between the terminal representative
and ships master.
2. When portworkers are required to use mechanical
plant in a hold to trim loaded dry bulk cargo and to move or
break down cargo residues for discharge, care should be
taken not to cause damage to the structure of the ship.
3. During loading, the regular distribution of the cargo
in holds should be achieved by careful use of the loading
machinery. This may be supplemented by belt conveyors or
rotary machines, which throw the material some metres
from the loading spout.
4. During unloading, cargo may have to be moved into
an area of the hold from where it can be picked up by grabs
or by other handling equipment such as suction pipes and
pneumatic equipment. This may be carried out with
mechanical plant, such as vehicles fitted with a bucket or, in
some instances, by hand.
5. When work has to be carried out in the holds of bulk
carriers:
a signaller may be necessary to control grabs or other
equipment;
in holds loaded by grabs, one worker should act as lookout
if there is a danger of workers being buried under a
load from a grab;
all trimmers should be checked in and out of the hold;
workers should be secured by a full safety harness and
lifeline when necessary during trimming or discharge;
appropriate precautions should be taken to prevent dust
inhalation;
the equipment and methods used to bring down bulk
cargo residues adhering to the sides and ends of holds
should ensure the safety of workers;
equipment such as grabs should only be used for the purpose
for which it was designed.
6. When equipment is being used in a bulk cargo hatch,
no person should work unobserved.

Solid bulk cargoes

1. Solid bulk cargo-handling operations should be carried
out in accordance with the IMOs Code of Practice for
the Safe Loading and Unloading of Bulk Carriers (BLU
Code). Compliance with the BLU Code is being made a
legal requirement in a number of countries. Grain should be
loaded in accordance with the IMOs International Code for
the Safe Carriage of Grain in Bulk (International Grain
Code).
2. A port or terminal where a bulk carrier is to load or
unload should appoint a terminal representative to have
responsibility for the operations that are to be carried out by
the terminal in connection with that ship.
3. Copies of relevant terminal and port information
books should be given to the master of a bulk carrier, if possible
before arrival. This may be done by electronic means.
The recommended contents of port and terminal information
books are set out in Appendix 1 of the BLU Code.
4. The terminal representative should ensure that appropriate
information about the bulk cargo to be loaded is
given to the ship. This should include specification of the
cargo, its stowage factor and angle of repose, its moisture
content and chemical properties if relevant, and trimming
procedures. A recommended form for cargo information is
set out in Appendix 5 of the BLU Code.
5. The terminal representative should agree the ships
loading or unloading plan with the ships master. An example
of such a plan is given in Appendix 2 of the BLU
Code.
6. The terminal representative and the ships master
should jointly complete and agree a ship/shore safety checklist
before loading or unloading is started. The checklist is
set out in Appendix 3 of the BLU Code and guidelines on its
completion are given in Appendix 4.
7. Loading and unloading operations should only be
carried out in accordance with the plan. Any change that is
found to be necessary should be agreed upon by both the
terminal representative and the ships master.
8. Planning of storage areas for solid bulk materials
should take into account the angle of repose and other relevant
properties of the material. Allowance should be made
for any alteration that may be caused by events, such as
vibration, impact or alteration of the moisture content, that
could lead to a collapse.
9. Appropriate measures should be taken to suppress
dust that could result from cargo-handling operations. The
measures will depend on the properties of the material and
individual factors. Measures could include water sprays,
local exhaust ventilation at loading and unloading points,
and covering the material and keeping it inside buildings,
silos or hoppers.
10. Bulk material should not be kept against walls of
buildings or elsewhere unless it has been confirmed that the
walls have sufficient strength to withstand the maximum

Personal protective equipment

3.15.1. General requirements

1. Personal protective equipment (PPE) should never
be used as a substitute for eliminating or otherwise controlling
a hazard. However, when this is not possible, PPE
should always be used.
2. The need for PPE should be determined in accordance
with national legal requirements and an assessment of
the risks to which portworkers may be exposed during their
work.
3. Cargo handlers should generally be supplied with:
protective footwear;
safety helmets;
overalls;
appropriate foul-weather clothing;
high-visibility outer garments;
gloves.
4. PPE that should be supplied to portworkers may
include:
ear/hearing protection;
fall prevention and fall arrest equipment;
flotation aids;
foot and ankle protection;
hand and arm protection;
head protection;
high-visibility clothing;
knee and leg protection;
overalls;
respiratory protection;
restraints;
shoulder protection;
weather- and heat-resistant clothing.
5. All PPE should comply with relevant international
and national legal requirements and standards.
6. When selecting the most appropriate type of PPE for
an operation, information available from equipment manufacturers
and suppliers and those who will have to wear it
should be considered before a final selection is made.
7. PPE should be selected to ensure that it is as comfortable
as is practicable for those who have to wear it, as
this can be onerous, particularly if more than one type of
protection needs to be worn at the same time.
8. It is essential that appropriate training in the use,
care and maintenance of PPE is given to all portworkers.