There may be significant differences in size and usage but all marine vessels, boatsand offshore oil rigs have one thing in common, an absolute commitment to avoiding a fire on board.
The risks for those who work on board are the most varied, but the most obvious is the risk of fire. After all, work in the petrochemical industry involves highly flammable materials.
The aggravating factor is that the fires or explosions we are talking about will not happen on land, but on the high seas.
Therefore, the crew must be prepared to fight fires without the external assistance of specialized support teams.
Therefore, the best way to put out a fire is to take preventive measures.
It is necessary to avoid the accumulation of oils, greases and fuels in basements, as well as on electrical instruments and equipment that work at high temperatures;
Avoid keeping cloths and rags in corners and near electrical equipment;
Do not operate overloaded electrical equipment;
Avoid the use of chemical and flammable products close to electrical equipment in operation and in places that operate with high temperatures;
Do not store used oils for frying in the kitchen oven;
Never weld or cut materials without the presence of a support person with a suitable fire extinguisher.
Implementing basic prevention practices such as these is the duty of all occupational safety professionals. These are procedures that must be adopted in the daily activities of everyone on board and for everyone’s safety.
This is the only way to prevent fires that can cause many deaths and the total loss of facilities and infrastructure.
