Council Directive 92/91/EECShow full title

PART C Special minimum requirements applicable to the off-shore sector

1. Preliminary remark

1.1. Without prejudice to Article 3 (2), the employer who, in accordance with national legislation and/or practice, is responsible for the workplace covered by this Part C must ensure that the safety and health document shows that all relevant measures have been taken to protect the safety and health of workers in both normal and critical situations.

To this end, the document must:

(a)

identify the special sources of hazard associated with the workplace, including any concomitant activity which could cause accidents likely to have serious consequences for the health and safety of the workers concerned;

(b)

assess the risks involved in the special sources of hazard referred to in (a);

(c)

show that adequate precautions have been taken to avoid the accidents referred to in (a), to limit the spread of accidents and to allow efficient and controlled evacuation of the workplace in emergency situations;

(d)

show that the management system is adequate to comply with the provisions of Directive 89/391/EEC and this Directive in both normal and critical situations.

1.2. The employer shall observe the procedures and arrangements laid down in the safety and health document during the planning and implementation of all the relevant stages covered by this Directive.

1.3. Different employers who are responsible for different workplaces shall cooperate, where appropriate, in preparing safety and health documents and in measures necessary to ensure the safety and health of workers.

2. Fire detection and fire fighting

2.1. Appropriate precautions, as identified by the safety and health document referred to in 1.1, must be undertaken to protect against, detect and combat the outbreak and spread of fires.

Where appropriate, fire walls should be provided for the purpose of segregating fire risk areas.

2.2. Adequate fire detection and protection systems, fire-fighting systems and alarms must be provided at all workplaces in accordance with the risks identified in the safety and health document referred to in point 1.1.

These may include but are not limited to:

• fire detection systems,

• fire alarms,

• fire water mains,

• fire hydrants and hoses,

• water deluge systems and water monitors,

• automatic sprinkler systems,

• gas extinguishant systems,

• foam systems,

• portable fire extinguishers,

• fireman's equipment.

2.3. Non-automatic fire-fighting equipment must be easily accessible, simple to use and, where necessary, protected from damage.

2.4. A fire protection plan detailing the precautions to protect against, detect and combat the outbreak and spread of fires must be kept at the workplace.

2.5. Emergency systems must be segregated or otherwise afforded protection from accidents to the extent necessary to ensure that the emergency functions remain operational in an emergency.

Such systems shall be duplicated where appropriate.

2.6. The equipment must be indicated by signs in accordance with the national regulations transposing Directive 92/58/EEC into law.

Such signs must be placed at appropriate points and be made to last.

3. Remote control in emergencies

3.1. Where required by the safety and health document referred to in point 1.1, a remote control system in the event of an emergency must be set up.

That system must incorporate monitoring stations at suitable locations which may be used in the event of an emergency including, if necessary, monitoring stations at safe assembly points and evacuation stations.

3.2. Equipment capable of remote control as referred to in point 3.1 must at least include systems for ventilation, emergency shutdown of equipment which could give rise to ignition, the prevention of the escape of flammable liquids and gas, fire protection and well control.

4. Communication: general and emergency

4.1. Where required by the safety and health document referred to in point 1.1, every workplace at which workers are present must be provided with:

• an acoustic and optical system capable of transmitting an alarm to every manned part of the workplace as necessary,

• an acoustic system capable of being heard distinctly in all parts of the installation where workers are frequently present,

• a system capable of maintaining communication with the shore and rescue services.

4.2. Such system must be capable of remaining operational in the event of an emergency.

The acoustic system should be supplemented by communication systems which are not reliant on vulnerable power supplies.

4.3. Facilities for raising the alarm must be installed at suitable locations.

4.4. When workers are present at workplaces which are not normally manned, communications systems appropriate to the circumstances must be provided.

5. Safe assembly points and muster list

5.1. Adequate measures must be taken to protect evacuation points and safe assembly points from heat, smoke and, as far as possible, the effects of explosion, and to ensure that escape routes to and from evacuation points and safe assembly points remain passable.

These measures must be such as to provide protection to workers for a sufficient period to enable safe evacuation, escape and rescue to be organized and carried out where necessary.

5.2. Where required by the safety and health document referred to in 1.1, one of the protected locations specified in 5.1 must provide appropriate facilities to enable the equipment specified in point 3 of this Part C to be remote-controlled and the shore and emergency services to be communicated with.

5.3. Safe assembly points and evacuation points must be readily accessible from accommodation and work areas.

5.4. For each individual safe assembly point, a list containing the names of workers assigned to that safe assembly point must be kept up to date and displayed.

5.5. A list of persons assigned special duties in the event of an emergency must be provided and displayed at suitable locations at the workplace.

Their names must be noted in the written instructions referred to in point 3.6 of Part A.

6. Means of evacuation and escape

6.1. Workers must be trained in the appropriate actions to be taken in emergencies.

In addition to general emergency training, workers must receive training specific to the workplace which should be specified in the safety and health document referred to in point 1.1 concerning that workplace.

6.2. Workers must be given suitable training in survival techniques, taking into account the criteria laid down in the safety and health document referred to in point 1.1.

6.3. Suitable and sufficient means of evacuation in an emergency and means of escape direct to the sea must be provided at every workplace.

6.4. An emergency plan for sea rescue and workplace evacuation situations must be drawn up.

The plan, which must be based on the safety and health document referred to in point 1.1, must provide for the use of standby vessels and helicopters and include criteria concerning the capacity and response time of standby vessels and helicopters.

The required response time must be given in the safety and health document for each installation.

Standby vessels must be designed and equipped to meet evacuation and rescue requirements.

6.5. The minimum requirement for every survival craft (lifeboat), life-raft, life-buoy and life-jacket which is provided are that they:

• must be suitable and equipped to maintain life for a sufficient time,

• must be in sufficient number of all the workers likely to be present,

• must be of a type suitable for the workplace,

• must be properly constructed of suitable materials having regard to their life-saving function and the circumstances in which they may be used and kept ready for use, and

• must be of such colour as will make them conspicuous when in use, and equipped with devices such that the user can use them to attract the attention of rescuers.

6.6. Adequate life-saving appliances must be available for immediate use.

7. Safety drills

At workplaces at which workers are usually present, safety drills must be held at regular intervals in which:

• all workers to whom specific duties have been assigned involving the use, handling or operation of emergency equipment are trained and examined in the execution of such duties, taking into account the criteria laid down in the safety and health document referred to in point 1.1.

  Where appropriate, workers must also be drilled in the correct use, handling or operation of that equipment,

• all emergency equipment used in the drill is examined, cleaned and, where appropriate, recharged or replaced and all portable equipment so used is returned to the place where it is ordinarily kept,

• survival craft are verified for operation.

8. Sanitary equipment

8.1. Changing rooms and lockers

8.1.1. Appropriate changing rooms must be provided for workers if they have to wear special work clothes and where, for reasons of health or propriety, they cannot be expected to change in another rooms.

Changing rooms must be easily accessible, be of sufficient capacity and be provided with seating.

8.1.2. Changing rooms must be sufficiently large and have facilities to enable each worker to lock away his/her clothes during working hours.

If circumstances so require (e.g. dangerous substances, humidity, dirt), lockers for work clothes must be separate from those for ordinary clothes.

Provision must be made to enable wet work clothes to be dried.

8.1.3. Provision must be made for separate changing rooms or separate use of changing rooms for men and women.

8.1.4. If changing rooms are not required under point 8.1.1, each worker must be provided with a place to store his/her clothes.

8.2. Showers and washing facilities

In addition to those facilities provided in any accommodation area, suitable showers and washing facilities must if necessary be provided in the vicinity of workstations.

8.3. Lavatories and washbasins

In addition to those facilities provided in any accommodation, lavatories and washbasins must if necessary be provided in the vicinity of workstations.

Provision must be made for separate lavatories or separate use of lavatories for men and women.

9. First-aid rooms and equipment

9.1. One or more first-aid rooms must be provided according to the size of the installation and the type of activity being carried out.

9.2. The first-aid rooms must have suitable equipment, facilities and medicines and a sufficient number of specialized workers, as required by the circumstances, for giving first-aid or, where necessary, treatment under the direction of a registered medical practitioner (who may or may not be present).

They must be signposted in accordance with national rules transposing Directive 92/58/EEC into law.

9.3. In addition, first-aid equipment must be available in all places where working conditions require it.

This equipment must be suitably signposted and easily accessible.

10. Accommodation

10.1. If the nature, scale and duration of operations so require, the employer must also provide employees with accommodation which must be:

• suitably protected against the effects of explosion, the infiltration of smoke and gas and the outbreak and spread of fire as identified in the safety and health document referred to in point 1.1,

• suitably equipped with ventilation, heating and lighting facilities,

• provided at each level with at least two independent exits leading to escape routes,

• protected against noise, smells and fumes likely to be hazardous to health from other areas, and against inclement weather,

• separate from any workstation and located away from dangerous areas.

10.2. Such accommodation must contain sufficient beds or bunks for the number of persons expected to sleep on the installation.

Any room designated as sleeping accommodation must contain adequate space for the occupants to store their clothes.

Separate sleeping rooms for men and women must be provided.

10.3. Such accommodation must include a sufficient number of showers and washing facilities equipped with hot and cold running water.

Provision must be made for separate shower rooms or separate use of shower rooms for men and women.

Showers must be sufficiently spacious to permit each worker to wash without hindrance in suitably hygienic conditions.

10.4. The accommodation must be equipped with a sufficient number of lavatories and washbasins.

Provision must be made for separate facilities or separate use of such facilities for men and women.

10.5. The accommodation and its equipment must be maintained to adequate standards of hygiene.

11. Helicopter operations

11.1. Helicopter decks at workplaces must be of sufficient size and located so as to provide a clear approach to enable the largest helicopter using the deck to operate under the most severe conditions anticipated for helicopter operations.

The helicopter deck must be of a design and construction adequate for the intended service.

11.2. There should be provided, and stored in the immediate vicinity of the helicopter landing area, equipment needed for use in the event of an accident involving a helicopter.

11.3. On installations with a resident workforce, a sufficient number of emergency response trained personnel for the purpose must be available on the helicopter deck during helicopter movements.

12. Positioning of installations at sea — safety and stability

12.1. All the necessary measures must be taken to ensure the safety and health of workers in the mineral-extracting industries through drilling while off-shore installations are being positioned at sea.

12.2. Operations in preparation for the positioning of off-shore installations must be carried out in such a way as to ensure their stability and safety.

12.3. Equipment used and procedures followed for the activities referred to in point 12.1 must be such as to reduce any risk to workers in the mineral-extracting industries through drilling, having regard to both normal and critical conditions.