Accommodation Ladder Rigging Safety Precautions

An accommodation ladder is a portable set of stairs or steps used to board and disembark from a ship. They are heavy and often clumsy pieces of equipment. These devices are meant for the use of public passengers as well as crew and must therefore be rigged properly to avoid safety risks. Anyone who is not very confident in their ability to help with rigging should be very closely monitored.

Instructions

• It is important to have a set of instructions posted near the boarding zone so that even personnel who are not familiar with their location will see them. Personnel responsible for rigging accommodation ladders must demonstrate a strong familiarity with the operating instructions. They should also be able to describe the consequences associated with any given mistake. Frequent refreshers on how to operate these devices may also decrease safety risks.

Equipment

• Suitable protective equipment must also be worn during the rigging process. This includes a personal floatation device (PFD) that has been equipped with a whistle, reflective materials, an arrestor harness (not a falling harness) and lights that self-activate in the event of harness failure. Arrestor harnesses must be firmly attached to a part of the ship that will never move.

Surveyors

• Surveyors often conduct inspections to ensure the quality of the rigging equipment. Be sure regular surveillance is undertaken to ensure accommodation ladders are being rigged safely and appropriately. A common mistake found by surveyors is the hanging of safety nets along either side of the ladder. Nets hung in this way will simply catch a person before allowing him to fall into the water. Safety nets must be hung so that they lead away from the ladder toward the safety of the ship's deck or the dock.

Additional Precautions

• It is also highly recommended that accommodation ladders be kept free of barriers and obstacles, such as boxes. Check the rope guardrails frequently to ensure that they are free of damage. Steps should be promptly cleansed of all grease and oil that could contribute to a fall. Lights must also be fixed nearby in case of a night boarding or disembarkment, which happens frequently. Always ensure the inclination angle of the ladder is appropriate for the ladder's design. Over extending the ladder's angle can result in failure, potentially causing injury or death.