MAR/General/TBT-MAR-001

Marine Works Safety Awareness

Marine & Coastal Works › General › Marine Works Safety Awareness

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Marine construction involves working on, over, or adjacent to water including coasts, rivers, harbours, and estuaries.
Drowning is the primary fatal hazard — all marine workers must wear personal flotation devices at all times.
Tidal conditions create constantly changing water levels, exposing different hazards at high and low tide.
Man overboard procedures must be briefed, understood, and practised before any marine work begins.
Working from vessels, barges, and pontoons introduces motion, instability, and restricted space hazards.
Weather conditions at coastal and marine sites can change rapidly — wind, waves, and visibility affect safety.
Lifting operations over water require additional precautions due to vessel movement and limited escape routes.
Marine plant such as floating cranes, jack-up barges, and workboats require specialist operator competence.
Access to marine work sites often involves boat transfers, gangways, and ladders over water.
Environmental protection is critical — marine pollution from fuel, concrete, or sediment carries severe penalties.

Prevent drowning	Falling into water during marine works is often fatal without a PFD — they must be worn at all times.
Tidal hazards	Tides create constantly changing conditions — what was dry ground an hour ago may be submerged without warning.
Rapid weather change	Coastal and marine weather changes quickly — monitoring forecasts and having stop-work triggers prevents exposure to danger.

Don't

Wear a personal flotation device at all times when working on, over, or near water.
Attend the man overboard briefing and know the rescue procedure before starting work.
Check tidal times and plan work activities around safe tidal windows each day.
Monitor weather forecasts and stop work when conditions exceed safe working limits.
Use designated access routes including gangways and secured ladders over water.
Ensure rescue equipment including lifebuoys and throw lines are in place and accessible.
Follow lifting procedures that account for vessel movement and restricted escape routes.
Maintain environmental controls to prevent fuel, concrete, or sediment entering the water.
Carry a marine VHF radio or other communication device as required by the site plan.
Report any concerns about vessel stability, weather conditions, or access safety immediately.

DON'T work on, over, or near water without wearing a personal flotation device.
DON'T start marine work without understanding the man overboard rescue procedure.
DON'T work beyond the safe tidal window — rising water cuts off access and escape routes.
DON'T continue working in deteriorating weather — follow stop-work triggers without delay.
DON'T jump between vessels or use improvised access — use designated gangways only.
DON'T ignore missing or damaged rescue equipment — report and replace it immediately.
DON'T carry out lifts over water without accounting for vessel motion and wind effects.
DON'T allow fuel, cement, or other pollutants to enter the water at any time.
DON'T work on marine sites without a reliable means of communication.
DON'T underestimate the power of moving water — even shallow tidal flows can knock you over.

See also: Tidal Working Procedures | Man Overboard Procedures

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