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Boat or barge work involves construction, maintenance, and repair activities on marine vessels, requiring careful management of water hazards, vessel stability, and access safety.
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Boat or barge work involves construction and maintenance on marine vessels, requiring specialized safety controls for working over water, vessel movement, and marine environmental hazards.
Fully editable, audit-ready, and aligned to Australian WHS standards.
Marine vessel work creates extreme risks due to water proximity, vessel instability, and limited emergency response options. Falls overboard result in immediate drowning hazards, while vessel movement can cause multiple casualties simultaneously.
Reinforce licensing, insurance, and regulator expectations for Boat or Barge Safe Work Method Statement crews before they mobilise.
Surface the critical risks tied to this work scope and communicate them to every worker.
Working over water creates immediate drowning risk from falls off decks, ladders, or gangways. Water currents and cold temperatures accelerate incapacitation.
Consequence: Immediate drowning or near-drowning with high fatality rates due to rapid water immersion and potential for cold water shock.
Boats and barges can roll or capsize from wave action, uneven weight distribution, or equipment movement during work.
Consequence: Vessel capsize causing multiple workers to be thrown into water, with potential for severe injury or death from impact or entrapment.
Gangways and boarding procedures are affected by vessel movement, tides, and weather, creating fall hazards during access.
Consequence: Falls from height during boarding/disembarking, potentially falling between vessel and dock or into water.
Electrical systems in marine environments with water proximity and salt corrosion create severe shock and fire risks.
Consequence: Electric shock leading to falls into water, cardiac arrest, or fire hazards in marine environments.
Wind, waves, tides, and water temperature affect vessel stability and create hazardous working conditions.
Consequence: Vessel movement causing falls, cold water immersion leading to hypothermia, or slippery surfaces increasing accident risk.
Heavy equipment handling on moving vessel decks increases injury risk from unstable footing and vessel movement.
Consequence: Back injuries, falls, or dropped objects causing crushing injuries to workers or damage to vessel.
Deploy layered controls aligned to the hierarchy of hazard management.
Perform work on stable shore facilities rather than floating vessels where possible.
Implementation
1. Use dry docks for major work. 2. Conduct assembly on shore. 3. Schedule work during calm conditions. 4. Tow vessels to shore facilities.
Install stability systems including mooring, fenders, and weight distribution controls.
Implementation
1. Secure multiple mooring points. 2. Install vessel fenders. 3. Use stabilization weights. 4. Verify stability calculations.
Implement marine safety procedures including weather monitoring and emergency response.
Implementation
1. Monitor weather continuously. 2. Establish communication protocols. 3. Create man-overboard procedures. 4. Implement buddy system.
Provide marine-specific PPE including flotation devices and harnesses.
Implementation
1. Issue life jackets to all workers near water. 2. Provide safety harnesses. 3. Use non-slip marine boots. 4. Ensure marine-grade PPE.
Requirement: Level 50S or 100S life jacket meeting AS 4758.1
When: All work within 5 meters of water or on vessel decks
Requirement: Full-body harness with double lanyards
When: Work at heights over 2 meters on vessels
Requirement: Type 1 hard hat
When: All work on vessels
Requirement: Steel-capped marine-grade non-slip boots
When: All work on wet surfaces
Requirement: Clear safety glasses with side protection
When: All work activities
Give supervisors and crews a clear, auditable sequence for the task.
Conduct marine risk assessment including vessel stability, weather, water hazards, and emergency capabilities. Establish protocols and verify equipment.
Establish safe access with gangways or ladders. Install guard rails. Verify stability before boarding. Set up exclusion zones.
Secure work areas with barriers. Distribute weight evenly. Install safety systems. Establish work zones.
Transfer tools and materials safely. Secure equipment to prevent movement. Organize to minimize handling on unstable surfaces.
Perform work with continuous monitoring of stability, weather, and safety. Maintain communication. Stop if conditions deteriorate.
Perform electrical and mechanical work with isolation and testing. Use marine-grade equipment. Test before re-energizing.
Dismantle work areas systematically. Remove equipment safely. Conduct stability check before disembarking. Supervise departure.
All workers within 5 meters of water must wear Level 50S or 100S life jackets meeting AS 4758.1. Life jackets required during boarding/disembarking, working over water, and whenever vessel movement could cause falls. Inflatable life jackets preferred for comfort.
Check mooring with multiple anchor points. Verify vessel not listing. Calculate weight distribution. Monitor tide and current effects. Consider wave height and forecast. Stop work if unstable.
Establish man-overboard rescue with throw lines, life rings, rescue boats. Set up emergency communication. Have medical evacuation plans for remote locations. Train workers in emergency response. Maintain constant communication.
Use stable gangways meeting marine standards. Install guard rails. Ensure three-point contact on ladders. Work in daylight. Never jump between vessel and shore. Use spotters during access.
Stop work in winds over 20 knots, waves over 1 meter, electrical storms, heavy rain reducing visibility, or extreme temperatures. Monitor marine forecasts continuously. Have contingency plans.
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Boat or barge work includes construction, maintenance, repair, and modification activities on marine vessels including boats, barges, pontoons, and floating platforms. This work involves working over water, accessing vessels via gangways or ladders, and performing tasks on unstable floating platforms. Typical activities include hull repairs, mechanical installations, electrical work, structural modifications, and equipment maintenance. Work occurs in marinas, harbors, offshore locations, and waterways, with vessels ranging from small boats to large barges. This SWMS applies to all work on or around boats and barges, including access procedures, stability management, water safety, and emergency response.
Marine vessel work presents unique high-risk scenarios due to working over water, vessel movement, and limited emergency response options. Safe Work Australia reports show that construction work on water vessels contributes significantly to workplace incidents, with drowning being the most severe outcome. Australian WHS Regulations require specific controls for work over water, vessel stability, and marine electrical safety. Improper vessel access or failure to account for water movement can result in falls overboard, vessel capsize, or entrapment in rising water. The combination of working at heights over water, vessel instability, and remote locations requires comprehensive safety controls and compliance with maritime safety standards.
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