WORK PERMIT/ Risk Assessment

Work permit requiring a permit ( The work on board that is covered under the permit to work system is
categorised as either hot work or cold work)

Definition of Hazardous Areas

The entire cargo deck forward of a line 3 metres aft of the accommodation front, including
the forecastle, the forecastle space if the entrance is from the cargo deck, the pump rooms,
and other spaces which lead directly off the cargo deck, are considered hazardous areas.

Main requirements for all Vessels :

 The Hot Work is not above a bunker tank or within 500 mm of a bunker tank
bulkhead or vent;
The atmosphere of the area has been checked and found to be less than 1% LFL;

If Hot Work within a hazardous area cannot be avoided, the work must be
carried out under

following conditions:
Cargo and slop tanks within a radius of at least 30 meters, including diagonally positioned
compartments, must have either been:
 Cleaned and gas freed, with hydrocarbon vapour content reduced to not more than
1% LFL and maintained at that level, or

Emptied, purged, and the hydrocarbon vapour content has been reduced to
less than 2% by volume and inerted, or Completely filled with water;

On inerted vessels, all slops should either be removed from the vessel or securely
isolated in a non-adjacent tank as far as is practicable, from the Hot Work location;
All other cargo tanks must be inerted with openings closed;
Adjacent ballast tanks and compartments, other than cargo tanks, should be checked
to ensure they are gas free. –
On non-inerted vessels, all cargo tanks within 30 metres of the work location,
including diagonally positioned cargo tanks, should either have been cleaned and gas
freed to hot work standard, or completely filled with water, and
All slops should either be removed from the ship or securely isolated in the tank
furthest (at least 30 metres) from the Hot Work location. Vapour or vent lines to the
compartment should also be ventilated to not more than 1% LFL and isolated.

Hot Work within a Cargo Compartment

 The compartment has been cleaned and gas freed to 0% LEL, and is being
continuously ventilated;
 Particular attention has been paid to the removal of sludge and deposits in
accordance with the recommendations of ISGOTT 9.4.4.2;
 Adjacent cargo and slop tanks, including diagonally positioned compartments, must
have either been:
Cleaned and gas freed, with hydrocarbon vapour content reduced to not more
than 1% LFL and maintained at that level, or
Emptied, purged, and the hydrocarbon vapour content has been reduced to
less than 2% by volume and inerted, or
Completely filled with water;
On inerted vessels,
 all slops should either be removed from the ship or isolated in a tank as far as
practicable from the Hot Work location;
 Vent and vapour lines must be ventilated to not more than 1% LFL and isolated.
 All other tanks must be inerted, other than those which are clean and gas free, and
their deck openings closed;
 All interconnecting lines to other compartments should be flushed through with
water, drained, vented, and isolated from the compartment;
 Heating coils should be flushed or blown through with steam and proved free of
hydrocarbons
 Any further risk reduction requirements identified from the Risk Assessment have
been addressed.

On non-inerted vessels, adjacent cargo tanks, including diagonally positioned

cargo tanks, must have either been:
 Cleaned and gas freed to Hot Work standard, or
 Completely filled with water.
 All slops should either be removed from the ship or securely isolated in a closed and
non-adjacent tank at least 30 metres from the Hot Work location. For this purpose,
tanks located diagonally should be regarded as adjacent tanks. Vapour or vent lines
to the compartment should also be ventilated to not more than 1% LFL and isolated.

Risk Assessment
Whenever Hot Work is to be carried out outside the Designated Area a Risk Assessment
must be completed.

HOT WORK ( This is where there a positive or potential source of ignition):

 Welding, flame cutting and grinding,

 Use of electirical equipment not certified for use in flammable atmospheres
 Opening and work on live electrical systems
 Use of powered steel wore and brushes
, needle gunning
Dry grit/shot blasting

There are categories and location of HOT WORK

 Hot Work Inside a Designated Space
 Hot Work Outside a Designated Space
 Hot Work in a Gas Safe Area
 Hot Work Inside the Machinery Space
 Hot Work in Dangerous or Hazardous Areas
 Hot Work in Cargo Tanks (Inerted Ships, Non-inerted Ships)
 Hot Work Within the Cargo Tank Deck Area (On the Tank Deck, Above the Tank Deck--
Additionally, on Non-Inerted Ships)
 Hot Work in the Vicinity of Bunker Tanks
 Hot Work on Pipelines
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COLD WORK (Work that cannot create a source of ignition)
This is where there is no risk of ignition but there is still a high risk potential. These may be covered on
an individual permit to work or on generic Cold Work Permit. Included in this category are jobs such as.

 Pressure testing
 Work affecting safety or emergency systems
 Confided space entry or entry into a space where the oxygen level maybe below 20.9 %
 Working aloft or overside (working aloft when greater than 2 meters)
 Diving operation
 Non-routing lifting operations
 Opening or disconnection of any closed pipeline

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Enclosed Space
A space that has limited openings for entry and exit, unfavorable natural ventilation, and that is not designed for
continuous worker occupancy.
An enclosed space is one which has limited openings for entry and exit, is not designed for continuous worker
occupancy and is provided only with natural ventilation.
Enclosed spaces include, but are not necessarily limited to:
cargo tanks, cargo holds,
double bottoms, access trunks,
fuel, bilge and sludge tanks,
ballast tanks, bunker transfer
pump rooms, cofferdams, void spaces,
boilers, inert gas scrubbing tower, fresh water
tanks, duct keels, inter-barrier spaces,
engine crankcases, scavenge air receiver, lift shafts,
elevator trunks and sewage tanks.
This list is not exhaustive and it is recommended to produce a ship specific list identifying enclosed spaces on
board.
Any space which is fitted with mechanical ventilation is not normally considered to be an enclosed spaces provided
the mechanical ventilation is operational, has been running for at least 15 minutes prior to entry, and there is no
reason to doubt the quality of the atmosphere within the space. If there is any doubt about the atmosphere within a
compartment, then the enclosed space entry procedures must be complied with.

Pump room entry

Ventilation must by operating at least 15 min, (during cargo operation should be inspected every 4 hours)
Pump room doors should be remain open throughout cargo operations to allow adequate entry of air into space and
thus ensure compliance with SOLAS requirements of 20 changes per hour.

 The oxygen content must be 20.9%

 The hydrocarbon gas content must be less than 1 % LEL
 H2S and other toxic gas concentrations must be zero
Conditions for Safe Enclosed Space Entry

o The Oxygen content must be 20.9%;

o The hydrocarbon gas content must be less than 1% LEL;
o H2S and other toxic gas concentrations must be zero;
o Carbon Monoxide less than 30 PPM.

Emergency Entry into an Enclosed Space which contains a Hazardous Atmosphere.

 Master shall take immediate

action and the Company shall be informed as soon as it is practicable to do so.

 Only personnel fully trained and competent in the use of breathing apparatus must
be allowed to enter the space;
 Personnel entering the compartment must wear breathing apparatus;
 If necessary full chemical protective equipment must be worn;
 Each person entering must wear a safety harness with a lifeline attached;
 Rescue equipment must be available at the entrance to the space;
 An emergency team including two personnel fully trained and competent in the use
of breathing apparatus must be standing by at the entrance to the compartment.
They must be wearing the equipment and be ready to enter the space at a moment’s
notice;
 Breathing apparatus must be thoroughly checked to ensure they are in good order
and that the cylinders are fully charged.

Risk Assessment
The Company has identified all the risks involved in enclosed space entry when the
atmosphere has been confirmed to be non-hazardous, and all the relevant control
measures are covered by the Enclosed Space Entry Permit. An additional Risk Assessment
does not need to be carried out.
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The permit should be completed by hand by the Master or nominated Responsible Officer and by person(s) entering
the space.
The maximum permitted validity is one working day from 0800 until 1700. If for operational reasons entry is made
outside these hours then the maximum period of validity is 8 hours.
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Assigned Responsible Officer:

The Responsible Officer can be any Officer competent to complete the entry and atmosphere checks. The
Responsible Officer must be fully competent in the use of analyzers. The Responsible Officer may only enter the
compartment to carry out the additional checks of less accessible areas.

Assigned Designated Person:

The Designated Person is the permit holder who has been assigned to control, record entry into, and exit from the
enclosed space, and to stand by the entrance and maintain communication with those inside.

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Risk Assessment
Overall process of estimating the risk factor and deciding whether or not the risk is
acceptable.
Risk
The chance that a substance, activity or process will cause harm.
Risk Factor
Combination of the Chance and the Severity - the outcome of a Risk Assessment for a
particular Hazard and set of Controls.