Oil tanker safety tips

Oil tankers bring valuable resources to New York but working on them is not without some form of hazard. At Tabak Mellusi & Shisha LLP, we know that the wrong action can result in the death of a loved one or in severe injuries. If you work on an oil tanker, you should be aware that there are several ways you can protect yourself from unnecessary harm during a cargo operation.

Marine Insight points out that your company should be providing you with regular training that emphasizes how to conduct a cargo operation of this nature safely. During the training and even between those times, one of the biggest things to watch out for is weather. If a storm has rolled in, lightning is flashing or the sea is rough, the operation itself should immediately cease and then start up again when the weather has cleared.

Mooring ropes can lead to accidents if they are not properly monitored. During the operation, there should be someone assigned to the watch and the activity should be halted if it is determined that “excessive drifting” is occurring. Ice is another threat and should be removed from any equipment before it is used.

When working with hoses, you should make sure that, to prevent stretching of them as the depth of the water inside the ship fluctuates during the operation, you adjust them. Additionally, supports should be used to keep them from twisting, and they should be carried rather than dragged. Emergency response equipment should also be kept in a place where it is easy to access if an oil spill, a fire or an explosion occurs. For more information on accidents that occur on ships, please visit our web page.