Pilbara Ports: Best practices for gangway related activities
Pilbara Ports has issued a Marine Safety Bulletin for all vessels and port users within the Port of Port Hedland, to raise awareness of unsafe practices observed during gangway related activities.
As explained, gangway handrails, stanchions, nets, and associated fittings are designed to guide and support personnel during normal passage and are not designed, certified, or load-rated for fall arrest purposes. Accordingly, they should not be used as attachment points for safety harnesses or lanyards. Recent observations in the port have identified unsafe practices that present a serious risk of injury or fatality.
Hazard description
Gangways are subject to dynamic movement resulting from vessel motion, tidal variation, surge, environmental conditions, and operational activities.
When personnel attach safety harnesses or lanyards directly to gangway handrails or associated structures, the following hazards may arise:
- Personnel may be dragged along or beneath the gangway.
- Personnel may become suspended or inverted beneath the gangway structure.
- Personnel may become submerged or crushed between the vessel and adjacent structures without the ability to safely disconnect.
- Secondary hazards may arise, including drowning, crushing injuries, entrapment, or falls from height.
- The gangway structure or attachment point may fail under load.
These scenarios significantly increase the likelihood of severe injury or fatality, particularly during over-water operations.
Observed unsafe practices
Unsafe practices observed in the port include, but are not limited to:
- Attaching safety harnesses or lanyards directly to:
• Gangway handrails
• Stanchions
• Rope or chain nets
• Temporary fittings not designed or certified as anchor points - Remaining attached while the gangway is being raised, lowered, or repositioned
- Assuming gangway structure is suitable for fall arrest without certification
Recommended practice
Personnel working on or near gangways should utilize:
- A certified independent anchorage point; or
- An independent fall restraint or fall arrest system; or
- A properly secured safety line assessed as suitable for the task.
All arrangements should form part of a task-specific risk assessment.
Unsafe practices (do not)
The following practices are considered unsafe and should be avoided:
- Attaching safety harness lanyards directly to gangway handrails or gangway structures.
- Using stanchions, gangway nets, or portable fittings as anchorage points.
- Conducting work on gangways while the gangway is being raised, lowered, repositioned, or adjusted.
- Assuming gangway structures are certified or load-rated for fall arrest purposes.
Key safety considerations
Personnel and operators should ensure:
- Suitable certified anchorage arrangements are identified prior to commencing work.
- Task-specific risk assessments and safe systems of work are implemented.
- Personnel are able to be safely recovered in the event of an emergency.
- Vessel and gangway movements are to be considered during planning and execution of work.
Responsibilities and operator expectations
Masters, owners & operators, technical managers, contractors, and supervisors are responsible for ensuring:
- Appropriate safe systems of work, risk assessments, and control measures are implemented for gangway-related activities.
- Personnel are appropriately trained and competent in fall-from-height hazards and the correct use of fall protection equipment.
- Anchorage arrangements and fall protection systems are verified as suitable, fit for purpose, and appropriately certified where required.
- Unsafe practices are identified, corrected, and prevented from continuing.
- Personnel can be safely recovered in the event of an emergency.
Inspections
According to SteamShip Mutual P&I Club, checklists for the inspection and maintenance of accommodation ladders and gangways should include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Checking for distortion and cracks.
- Checking for corrosion, particularly where aluminum accommodation ladders or gangways have mild steel fittings.
- All moving parts such as turntables, sheaves, tracks, bearings and rollers should be free to turn and periodically greased with an appropriate grease product.
- Bent stanchions should be replaced and side ropes inspected along their entire length and replaced as necessary.
- The underside of an accommodation ladder or gangway should also be inspected for condition, distortion, cracks and corrosion.
- The structure of supporting points and winch beds should be inspected for distortion, cracks or corrosion.
- Where in use bulwark ladders should be closely inspected.
- Safety nets should be checked for wear, damage, the effects of actinic degradation, and for the impregnation of chemicals, grease or paint.
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