Eiffel 101: Barge Safety Checklist

Tips & Advice

Barges are indispensable in many industries for storage and transportation of equipment and materials and for use as work platforms on water. Barge accidents involving injury to crew members and damage to property are not uncommon, but they can be prevented in many cases with the correct safety protocols in place. The United States Coast Guard (USCB) has some particular suggestions for maintaining safety on barges. Below are some recommendations based on their safety advice for those working on barges:

INSPECTIONS

  • If they don't have current ABS classification, barges should be thoroughly inspected annually by a USCG official or an experienced marine surveyor with accreditation from the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (SAMS) or National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS).

  • Annual inspections should, minimally, assess overall structural conditions of a barge. Beyond this, they should also be specific to the particular type of barge, i.e. spud barge, deck barge, sectional barge, etc. and specific to the particular type of equipment used on the barge.

  • All equipment used on a barge should be inspected on a regular basis as recommended by the equipment’s manufacturer.

  • All materials should be stored securely at all times, and barges should be inspected on a regular basis to ensure that materials are in their proper places.

  • Results of inspections should be carefully documented, and inspection reports should be stored in an established location onboard a barge for crew members to reference if needed.

  • If a barge is deemed unsafe or not in proper working order during an inspection, it should be taken out of commission and not used until all safety issues are properly addressed and all necessary repairs are made.

  • If any equipment on a barge is deemed unsafe or in need of repair, it should be promptly removed from the barge until it passes further inspections.

  • Before a barge is filled or emptied, it should be inspected for leaks.

PREPAREDNESS

  • Barge decks should be organized well, and all equipment and materials not in use should be stored properly.

  • Employees should be informed of where all safety equipment is on the barge. Safety equipment stock checks should be performed regularly to ensure that all necessary equipment is available to crew members. If safety equipment is damaged, it should promptly be replaced with new equipment.

  • Employees should be well-aware of the locations of all openings and hatches on deck.

  • A disaster preparedness plan should be in place so there is a protocol to minimize harm to workers and property in the event of a hurricane, tropical storm, flood, or other weather event.

  • As a part of disaster preparedness, employees should be well aware of the conditions in which a barge must be relocated to a more protected area based on tide/river gauge readings. If a barge is not self-propelled, a plan should be in place to move it using a self-propelled vessel like a tug boat or pull boat.

  • If a barge is not self-propelled, it’s a good idea to always have a pull boat, tug boat, or similar boat in the area should the barge have to suddenly be relocated.

  • All crew members should complete required safety trainings on a regular basis that cover both barge safety and safety regarding the specific duties of their positions.

As we mentioned, there are some safety concerns that are specific to the type of barge or the type of equipment being used. This list doesn’t cover all the bases of barge safety, but it covers many of the important ones. Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure in terms of keeping workers safe and that training and inspections can ultimately save you a lot of trouble.

BUY AND SELL WITH EIFFEL TRADING

Eiffel Trading’s online marketplace hosts a wide variety of used barges, including but not limited to deck barges, accommodation barges, sectional barges, and much more. Additionally, our construction material inventory ranges from used sheet pile, to used HDPE pipe, and everything in between.

All of our listings are constantly being updated, but if you don’t see what you’re looking for, create a wanted listing for free.

Ready to sell your used heavy equipment or construction material? List your products today for free on Eiffel Trading’s online marketplace.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please call us at 1-800-541-7998 or email sales@eiffeltrading.com.