2.2 The purpose of the Guidelines is to set up
a maintenance and monitoring programme with the principal objective
of minimising exposure to asbestos fibres of anyone on board (passengers,
crew, riding crews, maintenance personnel in port) while the ship
is “in service” (i.e., as opposed to when the ship is
in a repair or dry-dock status with minimal crewmembers or only shore-side
personnel on board).
2.3 The present Guidelines address the following
three situations:
-
.1 general exposure of crew/passengers to asbestos
which may be present on the ship;
-
.2 more direct exposure of crew members working
in areas where there is reasonable likelihood that asbestos is or
asbestos fibres are present; and
-
.3 specific exposure of crew members and other
workers when they are maintaining or repairing equipment or systems
known to contain asbestos-based insulated materials.
2.4 Planned repairs or removal of such materials
should be carried out by specialist personnel and not normally by
crew. In cases where the crew is involved in urgent repair work at
sea, special measures should be observed as listed in annex 1. Procedures should be developed
for the safe retention of any waste asbestos on board the ship before
it can be transferred and disposed of ashore.
2.5 The provisions of these Guidelines do not
apply to any warship, naval auxiliary or other ships owned or operated
by a State and used, for the time being, only on government non-commercial
service. However, each State should ensure, through the adoption of
appropriate measures not impairing operations or operational capabilities
of such ships owned or operated by it, that such ships act in a manner
consistent, so far as is reasonable and practicable, with these Guidelines.