To ensure that protective equipment is provided for crew members, taking into account
both routine operations or emergency situations and possible short-term or long-term
effects of the product being handled.
14.1 Protective equipment
14.1.1 Suitable protective equipment, including eye protection to a recognized national
or international standard, should be provided for protection of crew members engaged in
normal cargo operations, taking into account the characteristics of the products being
carried.
14.1.2 Personal protective and safety equipment required in this chapter should be kept
in suitable, clearly marked lockers located in readily accessible places. Special
arrangements should apply to contaminated clothing as appropriate.
14.2 First aid equipment
14.2.1 A stretcher that is suitable for hoisting an injured person from spaces below
deck should be kept in a readily accessible location.
14.2.2 The vessel should have on board medical first aid equipment, including oxygen
resuscitation equipment, based on the provisions of the Medical First Aid Guide for Use
in Accidents Involving Dangerous Goods (MFAG) for the cargoes listed on the Certificate
of Fitness.
14.3 Safety equipment
14.3.1 Vessels carrying cargoes for which "15.12", "15.12.1" or "15.12.3" is indicated
in column o in the table of chapter 17 of the IBC Code should have on board sufficient but not less than
three complete sets of safety equipment, each permitting personnel to enter a gas-filled
compartment and perform work there for at least 20 min. Such equipment should be in
addition to that required by SOLAS regulation II-2/10.10.
14.3.2 Each complete set of safety equipment should consist of:
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.1 one self-contained positive pressure air-breathing apparatus incorporating full
face mask, not using stored oxygen and having a capacity of at least 1,200 l
of free air; each set should be compatible with that required by SOLAS
regulation II-2/10.10;
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.2 protective clothing, boots and gloves to a recognized standard;
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.3 steel-cored rescue line with belt; and
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.4 explosion-proof lamp.
14.3.3 For the safety equipment required in 14.3.1, all vessels should carry either:
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.1 one set of fully charged spare air bottles for each breathing apparatus;
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.2 a special air compressor suitable for the supply of high-pressure air of the
required purity;
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.3 a charging manifold capable of dealing with sufficient spare air bottles for
the breathing apparatus; or
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.4 fully charged spare air bottles with a total free air capacity of at least
6,000 l for each breathing apparatus on board in excess of the requirements
of SOLAS regulation II-2/10.10.
14.3.4 A cargo pump-room on vessels carrying cargoes which are subject to the
requirements of 15.18 of the IBC Code or cargoes for which in column k in the table of
chapter 17 thereof toxic-vapour-detection equipment is required but is not available
should have either of the following:
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.1 A low-pressure line system with hose connections suitable for use with the
breathing apparatus required by 14.3.1. This system should provide sufficient
high-pressure air capacity to supply, through pressure-reduction devices, enough
low-pressure air to enable two men to work in a gas-dangerous space for at least 1
h without using the air bottles of the breathing apparatus. Means should be
provided for recharging the fixed air bottles and the breathing apparatus air
bottles from a special air compressor suitable for the supply of high-pressure air
of the required purity.
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.2 An equivalent quantity of spare bottled air in lieu of the low-pressure air
line.
14.3.5 Safety equipment as required by 14.3.2 should be kept in a suitable clearly
marked locker in a readily accessible place near the cargo pump-room or cargo area.
14.3.6 The breathing apparatus should be inspected at least once a month by a
responsible officer, and the inspection recorded in the vessel's logbook. The equipment
should be inspected and tested by an expert at least once a year.
14.4 Emergency equipment
14.4.1 Vessels carrying cargoes, for which "Yes" is indicated in column n of chapter 17 of the IBC Code, should be provided with suitable respiratory and
eye protection sufficient for every person on board for emergency escape purposes,
subject to the following:
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.1 filter-type respiratory protection is unacceptable;
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.2 self-contained breathing apparatus should have a duration of service of at
least 15 min; and
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.3 emergency escape respiratory protection should not be used for fire-fighting or
cargo handling purposes and should be marked to that effect.
14.4.2 One or more suitably marked decontamination showers and eyewash stations should
be available on deck, taking into account the size and layout of the vessel. The showers
and eyewashes should be operable in all ambient conditions.