SEAPRO Technical Manual

Section 1
Part 3 - Safety

SEAPRO Safety Information

The number one priority in any response is safety the safety of workers, property, and the environment. If requested to do so by a member company who has had a spill, the SEAPRO Safety Manager will assume the role of Safety Officer and perform the duties outlined for that position in SEAPRO Safety Checklist, including site assessment, site characterization, and the preparation of a Site Safety and Health Plan, as well as those duties described below. Specific information on SEAPRO safety policies and guidelines is presented in this section, as well as forms and guidelines for use by SEAPRO member companies in developing their own policies and plans.

Safety Officer Duties

General Duties

The Safety Officer is responsible for monitoring and assessing hazardous conditions and unsafe situations. This person is also responsible for developing the oil spill incident “Site Safety Plan” to assure personnel safety. The Safety Officer will correct unsafe acts or conditions through regular lines of authority, although the Safety Officer or his Field Safety Personnel may exercise emergency authority to stop or prevent unsafe acts when immediate action is required.

Specific Duties - Incident Objectives

• Provide for the safety and welfare of citizens and response personnel.
• Provide for the safety and security of responders, as well as maximize the protection of public health and welfare.
• Identify safety and risk factors and monitor for compliance for both the public and responders.
• Implement practices that allow for the safety and welfare of the passengers and non-essential crew.
• Conduct an Operational Risk Assessment and ensure controls are in place to protect responders and the public.
• Develop a site safety plan, including support facilities, and monitor for compliance.
• Report any serious incidents, accidents, or injuries immediately to Incident Command.
• Work closely with Logistics to ensure that appropriate communications are in place to support the response effort.

Duties outlined above are established in U.S. Coast Guard Incident Management Handbook (IMH (2014)) responsibilities for the incident Safety Officer.

SEAPRO Safety Policy

SEAPRO is responsible for providing safe working conditions for its response teams. These responsibilities are covered in various safety laws as well as OSHA HAZWOPER regulations, and include a requirement for the employer to provide both safety equipment (including personal protective gear) and safety training to a certain level. SEAPRO maintains compliance and provides its response pool members with both the proper equipment and the proper level of training (HAZWOPER as well as other training).

SEAPRO Safety Equipment

SEAPRO Air Monitoring Equipment

SEAPRO has available a variety of air monitors for establishing the safety of air quality at a spill site or work zone. All air monitors are caliberated and tested on a regular basis, as well as prior to any field deployment or use.

SEAPRO has the following air monitoring equipment in active inventory:

• BW Technologies Gas Alert Micro 5 PID Gas Monitor.

More detailed specifications on all of SEAPRO's air monitors can be found on the SEAPRO Website. The air monitoring equipment is stored at the SEAPRO office in Ketchikan.

All Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), except Mustang Suits, is stored in special responder bags inside certain SEAPRO containers. Mustang Suits are packed separately, 6 per box. The quantities, zone location, and container numbers for the responder bags and mustang suits can be seen by clicking on their respective hyperlinks.

SEAPRO Responder Safety Guidelines

Safety and health is the prime responsibility of all individuals during spill response activities. Anyone can stop any activity at any time if he/she believes there is a safety concern. Once stopped, the person in charge (generally the team leader) must resolve the safety concern(s), and only then can the response continue. Although SEAPRO's goal is to successfully clean up an oil spill, we will never place spill cleanup over the preservation of human health and safety.

All workers at a spill site should have received spill response training, during which safety training has been stressed. All personnel at a spill must remember that everyone is a safety observer and, regardless of what their job assignment may be, safety comes first.

The Minimum Elements to review at a spill site appear below and in the Safety Checklist. Each spill responder should review the Minimum Elements Checklist and sign at the bottom acknowledging such review.

Safety Checklist - Minimum Elements

ABATEMENT

• Engineering Controls
• Administrative Controls (Time)
• Personal Protective Equipment

BRIEFING WORKERS

• Information used will be in written plan
• Known or anticipated hazards identified
• Contaminants found
• Document the crew members present and information used

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

• Trained to task, Hazardous Materials Technician/Specialist

EMERGENCY MEDICAL

• Location, medical/decontamination procedures

COMMUNICATIONS

• Alerting methods/procedures
• Buddy system
• Personnel communications
• Supervisors
• Workers
• PPE limits/requirements

SITE SPECIFIC HEALTH and SAFETY PLAN

• Use attached guide
• Post where it can be read by all personnel involved

CHECKLIST REVIEWED ______/_______/_________ BY:___________________________

Basic Safety and Health Guidelines for Responders

The Site Safety and Health Plan (SSHP) that is specific to each incident contains information to help personnel work safely. Personnel at oil spill clean up sites should familiarize themselves with the SSHP, and sign it prior to starting response activities. Basic health and safety guidelines ar as follows;

• Safety and health takes precedence over any cleanup activities;
• Report any unsafe conditions or equipment promptly;
• Evaluate the risks of a task before starting work;
• Every response poses unique hazards, know your limitations;
• Know where the safety and first aid equipment is located;
• Wear hearing protection in areas where the noise is above 85 dBA. If you have to shout to be heard at a close distance, the sound levels are above 85 dBA;
• Never work alone, always use the “buddy” system;
• Do not work in areas that you have not been trained for;
• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment for the work environment and weather; and
• When working offshore on a boat, stay in contact with someone on shore.

Additionally, SEAPRO provides training and resource materials for responders and Response Team members. The SEAPRO RESPONDER HANDBOOK provides information regarding safe work practices, site management, clean up protocols, and best practices.

The following insert provides safety considerations outlined in the SEAPRO RESPONDER HANDBOOK.

Other SEAPRO Safety Equipment

SEAPRO safety equipment (which includes decontamination supplies, the "PPE/Safety Module", and Mustang Suits) is stored in 20-ft. containers along with SEAPRO oil spill response equipment (skimmers, boom, pumps, etc.). These response containers are located in each of SEAPRO's nine zones. (See Section 1 - SEAPRO Equipment for the specific location of the containers in each zone.)