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Lives Matter

Till Now
 

  • Workers have been affected due to lack of proper safety kits ( PPE’s), inadequate medical infrastructure, and non-responsive rescue plans have taken a huge toll on the lives of workers.

  • Unsafe HAZMAT management has resulted in pollution and health issues which include asbestos, PCB, and radioactive materials contamination.

  • Falling from heights and broken bones are amongst the other major form of accidents.

  • Improper gas cleaning activity has resulted in lung infections, being a common trait affecting the workers over the years.

  • Burning during hot-working and cutting of plates are other serious injuries 


 

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Hazard Types

Serious Accident Hazards

  • Fire and explosion

  • Being struck by falling objects

  • Compressed between heavy objects

  • Snapping of cables, ropes, chains, slings

  • Handling heavy objects; poor access to
    progressively dismantled vessels

  • Oxygen deficiency in confined spaces

  • Lack of PPE, housekeeping practices & safety signs

  • Falls from height inside ship structures or on the ground

  • Slipping on wet surfaces

  • Struck by sharp and moving objects


 

Hazardous Substances

  • Asbestos fibers & dust
    Heavy and toxic metals (lead, mercury,

  • cadmium, zinc & copper)
    Organometallic substances (tributyltin, etc.)
    Lack of hazard communication (storage,

  • labeling, material safety data sheets)
    Batteries, fire-fighting liquids
    PCBs & PVC (combustion products)
    Welding fumes
    Volatile organic compounds (solvents)
    Inhalation in confined and enclosed spaces
    Compressed gas cylinders 


 

Physical Hazards

  • Noise

  • Vibration

  • Extreme temperatures

  • Poor illumination


 

Mechanical Hazards

  • Trucks and transport vehicles

  • Scaffolding, fixed and portable ladders

  • Impact by heavy and sharp-edged tools

  • Power-driven hand tools, saws, grinders & abrasive cutting wheels

  • Shackles, hooks; chains

  • Cranes, winches, hoisting & hauling
    equipment;

  • Lack of safety guards in machines

  • Poor maintenance of machinery and maintenance


 

Biological Hazards

  • Toxic marine organisms

  • Risk of communicable diseases transmitted by pests, vermin, rodents, insects and other animals that may infest the ship

  • Infectious diseases (TB, malaria, dengue fever, hepatitis, respiratory infections etc. 


 

Ergonomic and Psychological Hazards

  • Repetitive strain injuries, awkward postures repetitive and monotonous work, excessive workload.

  • Long working hours, shift work, night work & temporary employment

  • Mental stress, strained human relations abuse, violence)

  • Poverty, low wages, under age, lack of education and social environment


 

General Concerns

  • Lack of safety and health training

  • Poor work organization

  • Inadequate housing and sanitation

  • Inadequate accident prevention
    and inspection procedures

  • Inadequate emergency, first-aid and
    rescue facilities

  • Lack of medical facilities and social
    protection


 

Execution of the Health and Safety Infrastructure for Recycling Yards

Over the past years, international regulatory bodies, government organizations and NGOs have raised severe concerns for ensuring safe and sound working conditions for the recycling yard workers. The necessity of establishing medical and emergency response centers within the facility has increased more than ever and today few yards have come up with suitable infrastructure to aid in safety within the workplace. Medical officers, nurses and emergency support staffs are now working in shifts in these yards to provide any medical emergency as and when required.

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Also, the use of sirens to notify alarming situations during recycling operations, monitoring of hot-work activities (cutting, gas cleaning and welding) on timely basis by the safety officers and the mandatory functioning of a separate HSE team to look over the entire health, safety and working cycles within the yards can now be reflected.

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Separate HAZMAT storage and handling sites are also on the rise and several yards are now adopting strategies to safely store, handle and dispose of any HAZMATS thus aiding in protecting the workers from direct exposure to toxins like asbestos, PCBs, TBTs and other heavy metals.


 

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