People hiring barges to carry goods also need to follow safety protocols to ensure that nobody is harmed to deliver cargo safely. Barge hire Hawkesbury is a very common sight – so popular that it can be misinterpreted as a form of sea transportation for goods. However, it is far from reality as barges are floating vessels dependent on a tug for propulsion. While your barge hire partner will have some guidelines of their own, here are some of the most common tips to help workers and operators stay safe while working on the water.

Safety guidelines to help avoid accidents on barge hire Hawkesbury

Like all maritime work, working on a barge is full of potential hazards. Navigating the narrow and crowded waterways is not as easy as it looks, and operators need to keep the following steps in mind to avoid getting decked in barge accidents. 

• Slipping and tripping

Slipping and tripping is one of the most common causes of workplace injury for maritime workers. Preventing this type of hazard will require the utmost attention to keep all walking and working surfaces clean and free of water, ice, and debris. In addition, workers need to store equipment and gear in a clean, dry space when not in use and secure ramps when loading and offloading cargo to prevent splashes. 

• Falling overboard

Another common maritime injury is falling overboard, which can have severe consequences like hypothermia and drowning in the absence of lifeguards. To prevent such scenarios, several barges come equipped with guardrails. In the absence of one, workers must wear Coast Guard approved life jackets whenever on board. Moreover, the workers need to be trained in safety protocols and protective equipment like life rings and ladders on the barge to handle mishaps if they happen. 

• Improper equipment maintenance

Improperly maintained equipment could lead to several types of accidents on a barge hire Hawkesbury. To minimise the risk of such incidents, all tools and machinery used regularly must be inspected before every use. Moreover, proper care must be taken to ensure that everyone operating the moving machinery like cranes and winches is trained in their proper care and maintenance. 

• Fire and explosion

When fuel and other combustible cargo is carried on a barge, it poses significant fire risks. Therefore, flammable and explosive cargo, including fuel and gas tanks, must be properly labelled and stored to avoid fire damage. In addition, any “hot” work like welding, grinding, cutting, etc., must be done with proper safety precautions in place. Finally, the cargo must also have a fire extinguisher onboard along with fire protective gear.

In the wake of the pandemic, workers now also have to follow COVID protocols like protective equipment and social distancing to avoid getting infected or spreading it to co-workers. In addition, thorough handwashing and disinfecting using alcohol-based sanitisers is crucial to stop the infection and therefore has to be diligently followed going forward.