Safety Meeting Guide

The American Waterways Operators Coastal Safety Committee

TO: All Captains and Mates

FROM: AWO Coastal Safety Committee

SUBJECT: Lesson Plan on Line Handling- Terminology; Safe Use and Application; Proper Leads and Securing

The attached lesson plan covers the terminology of lines and line handling equipment. The goal of the plan is to familiarize you with these definitions and help you in understanding the importance of the safe use and application of line handling. Leads must be secured properly to be used safely.

Please use the enclosed materials to conduct a vessel safety meeting in accordance with your company’s policy. If you have any questions, contact your company’s safety office.

Keith Kirkeide Chairman, AWO Coastal Safety Committee

Attachments

1) Safety Meeting Guide – Line Handling: Terminology; Safe Use and Application; Proper Leads and Securing 2) Practical Demonstration 3) Practical Demonstration Checklist 4) Lessons Learned Submission Form 5) Safety Meeting Follow-Up Form

Lesson Plan on Line Handling: 1 Terminology; Safe Use and Application; Proper Leads and Securing (May ’04) SAFETY MEETING LESSON PLAN – INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONDUCTING LINE HANDLING TRAINING: TERMINOLOGY; SAFE USE AND APPLICATION; PROPER LEADS AND SECURING

Step I: Preparation

 Make sure all the materials listed above are included in this package.

 Review all the material before conducting the meeting.

Step II: Presentation

 Gather the crew.

 Conduct the meeting (approximately 15 – 20 minutes).

Step III: Follow Up

 Ask crewmembers to share a “near miss” or lessons learned.

 Log the record of the meeting as per your company’s policy.

 At the end of the meeting, complete the Safety Meeting Follow-up Form and return it as per company policy.

 Retain the Lesson Plan information for future use and reference.

NOTE! PLEASE CONTACT YOUR COMPANY’S OPERATIONS OR SAFETY DEPARTMENT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS CONCERNING THIS LESSON PLAN.

Note! This lesson plan and all the material it contains should be considered suggestions and helpful hints to assist you in conducting your vessel safety meeting. You are encouraged to use your own words and experiences when presenting the material contained in this lesson plan.

Lesson Plan on Line Handling: 2 Terminology; Safe Use and Application; Proper Leads and Securing (May ’04) SUGGESTIONS FOR CONDUCTING THE MEETING

I. Discuss the objectives of the lesson plan:

1. To explain terminology; safe use and application; proper leads and securing. 2. To identify various lines and uses; demonstrate proper coiling, faking and storage; gain proficiency in securing lines and catching bitts. 3. To share and collect “lessons learned.”

II. Deliver the training. (The script is in bold italic.)

This lesson plan is an introduction to line handling. Since many of you may already know much of this information, you can help those who don’t. This is basic information that all crewmembers should know.

Terminology

Let’s start out with some basic terminology.

In general, fiber ropes are called lines and wire rope is referred to as cable or just wire. Line refers to a piece of fiber rope that is in use or has been cut or spliced for a specific purpose, such as a bow line, stern line or heaving line. Lines are usually identified by size, manufacturing process and designated usage, such as a “9-inch, 3-strand stern line.” There are predominantly two types of lines used— 3-strand and braided. Sizes are determined by diameter or thickness up to about 2-inch line and larger line sizes are described by circumference, which is the distance around the line. Lines can range from 3/8-inch diameter to 10-inch working lines. Lines under ¾ of an inch are called “small stuff.”

The term “lay” of the line refers to the manufacturing process of the lines and the way the rope yarns are twisted together to make the line. All 3-strand line is right-hand lay, identified by following the direction of the lay up and to the right. Lay is important because 3-strand lines will always follow the lay of the line when coiling them. Since 3-strand line is “right handed,” it should always be coiled clockwise, or to the right. Failure to do so will unlay the line, resulting in a “hockle,” which is a small kink in the line. Hockles can diminish the strength of a line 50-60 percent. Right-hand laid lines should be fastened around capstans and deck fittings with right-hand turns as well. Failure to use lines with the lay Lesson Plan on Line Handling: 3 Terminology; Safe Use and Application; Proper Leads and Securing (May ’04) can damage and weaken them if the hockles are not unwound from the line.

Braided line can be identified by the opposing directional lay of the strands. Because braid is manufactured with opposing strands, it is not as sensitive to the direction of its coiling as 3-strand line is. That difference makes braided line a better choice when tightening with machinery such as a capstan, because the line can be turned in both directions and “end for ended”—swapping the ends— periodically to prolong its life.

A bight is the part of the rope between the end and the standing part. It can also be a loop formed by folding the rope back on itself. Getting caught in a bight can cause severe injury.

An “eye” is a loop in the end of a line made by knotting, seizing or splicing. Seizing is wrapping twine or tape around two lines to bind two parts of line side-by-side. Splicing is weaving strands of a line into itself or into a second piece of line.

The following terminology should become second nature to you:

Slack (Slip and/or surge) the line: to ease off the strain of a tight line. If you have never slacked a line under extreme tension, ask for the guidance of an experienced crewmember. Lines under tension can jump or recoil off the deck fitting with the speed of a gunshot and cause severe injury.

Catch a line: to lasso a tie-up line to a piling, deck or dock fitting.

Make it fast: to tie the line off to a deck fitting.

Take a strain: to place tension on a line before spotting a vessel into place.

Take up the slack: to haul in all the excess loose line between the deck fitting on the boat and what the other end is made fast to.

Hold the line: to wrap the line up without making it fast, since the line will be adjusted before the job is finished.

Lesson Plan on Line Handling: 4 Terminology; Safe Use and Application; Proper Leads and Securing (May ’04) Check the line: to hold a prescribed amount of strain on a line while slipping or surging it to avoid parting it.

Let go (turn loose): to release the line from its attachment in preparation for departure.

Fake a line: to lay a line on deck in a series of figure eights so the line will run free without tangling.

Flake a line: to lay out line on deck in parallel rows. (Don’t confuse with faking a line.)

Line Usage Backing (spring) line: Used to keep barges from running ahead when backing the tow. Breast line: A line that is perpendicular to the side shell to hold a vessel alongside. Take care with large tidal ranges to avoid damage to the vessel or the line. Check line (forward spring): Used to check the forward motion when stopping the boat or barge. Handy line: Small line for general work. Mooring line: Vessel to dock, pier wharf, lock wall, etc. May be a head line, forward spring, back spring, and/or stern and may be doubled due to weather. Stern line: Long quartering line. Spring line: Used in mooring. Fore spring and back spring being useful for getting close alongside during approach then secures vessel fore and aft while alongside. Generally need to use both leads.

Safe Use and Application

Now that we’ve covered some basic terminology, let’s go over the safety guidelines to remember when handling line.

Inspect lines before each use: remove damaged or questionable lines from service. Lines should always be coiled or faked neatly when not in use and the unused portion, or “bitter end,” of lines that are being used should always be coiled neatly around the bitt and off the deck to avoid creating a tripping hazard.

Lesson Plan on Line Handling: 5 Terminology; Safe Use and Application; Proper Leads and Securing (May ’04) Stay out of the bight and be aware of the line snap-back danger zone. Never step over a line under strain and avoid stepping on lines. Inspect deck fittings for cracks and corrosion that may damage lines.

Protect your back by using proper techniques for lifting, carrying and dragging lines.

Proper Leads and Securing

To maintain the integrity of the line, there are guidelines to remember when handling line. Avoid leading lines around sharp angles.

To throw a line, hold it properly. Hold the “eye” about a foot from the splice against the standing part of the line to allow the “eye” to hang open. Hold at least two coils in the other hand to give you all the slack you need before you throw it. Make sure the remainder of the line is laid out clear of your feet and ready to be made fast as soon as you lasso the post. Practice on tow pins or fitting on dock at increasing distances until proficiency is established.

Turning a line loose (letting it go) can be easy. The farther you are from the post, the more difficult it is to turn a line loose. However, the easy way to accomplish this is simply by throwing a “roll” into the line. Toss the line up and over in as wide an arc as you can, since the roll will diminish with the added distance. A little practice at this and you will be lifting the “eye” off posts and bitts with little effort. Other possibilities are to use a slip line (bight around clear) or bollards, cleats (kevel), bitts or posts.

Lines are used to moor vessels. They can be made fast to fittings, shackles, cleats and posts.

Lesson Plan on Line Handling: 6 Terminology; Safe Use and Application; Proper Leads and Securing (May ’04) III. Practical Demonstration

Now, we’re going to have a demonstration of what we’ve just discussed. (Demonstrate to the crew the following items/tasks. Have each crewmember identify the item or complete the following practical task.)

Item “Small stuff” Deck lines Spring lines Tow lines

Task Tie on a line Coil a line Fake a line Stow a line Secure a line on a bitt Secure a line on a cleat/cavel Secure a line on a vertical spar/post Catch a line on a bitt Tend a line on a bitt Tend a line on a cleat Throwing a line

Lesson Plan on Line Handling: 7 Terminology; Safe Use and Application; Proper Leads and Securing (May ’04) IV. Practical Demonstration Checklist

Knowledge of/Proficiency Item “Small stuff” Deck lines Spring lines Tow lines

Task Tie on a line Coil a line Fake a line Stow a line Secure a line on a bitt Secure a line on a cleat/cavel (kevel) Secure a line on a vertical spar/post Catch a line on a bitt Tend a line on a bitt Tend a line on a cleat Throwing a line

Lesson Plan on Line Handling: 8 Terminology; Safe Use and Application; Proper Leads and Securing (May ’04) V. Review the objectives of this safety meeting: 1. To explain terminology; safe use and application; proper leads and securing. 2. To identify various lines and uses; demonstrate proper coiling, faking and storage; gain proficiency in securing lines and catching bitts. 3. To share and collect “lessons learned.”

VI. Hold a discussion/share “lessons learned.”

 Encourage an open discussion of this subject between crewmembers, asking them if they think they understand the information contained in this lesson.  Relate any of your experiences.

(Script) Does anyone have any line handling lessons learned to share? (If no crewmember offers an example, give one yourself or continue to “lessons learned.”)

(Hand out the “lesson learned” submission forms and ask crewmembers to share their experiences for future lesson plans.)

VII. Fill out the safety meeting follow-up form.

Lesson Plan on Line Handling: 9 Terminology; Safe Use and Application; Proper Leads and Securing (May ’04) LESSON LEARNED SUBMISSION FORM

Do you have a lesson learned to share as part of a future lesson plan? You can use this sheet or submit this information in a similar format.

Type of incident:

Weather Conditions:

Location/Milemarker:

Tow make-up:

Explanation of incident:

Please give this form to your operations or safety department. It will be passed on to the AWO Interregion Safety Committee for its “lessons learned” library. Thank you for your contribution to making our industry safer.

Lesson Plan on Line Handling: 10 Terminology; Safe Use and Application; Proper Leads and Securing (May ’04) SAFETY MEETING FOLLOW-UP FORM MEETING TOPIC: Line Handling: Terminology, Safe Use and Application; Proper Leads and Securing

FACILITY/VESSEL ______DATE OF MEETING: MONTH: ______DAY: ______YEAR: ______TIME STARTED: ______TIME ENDED: ______MATERIAL LISTED ON COVER PAGE RECEIVED? YES _____ NO _____ SAFETY MEETING INFORMATION:

1. WAS THE MEETING TOPIC TIMELY/HELPFUL? YES _____ NO _____ 2. DID THE CREW PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING? YES _____ NO _____ 3. INFORMATION FOR THE MEETING WAS FACTUAL? YES _____ NO _____ 4. DID YOU MAKE AN ENTRY IN INK IN THE VESSEL LOG DESCRIBING DATE, TIME AND TOPIC OF MEETING? YES _____ NO _____ 5. ANY COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS CONCERNING THE MEETING: ______

6. WHAT TOPIC/TOPICS WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS IN FUTURE MEETINGS? ______

EVERYONE ATTENDING THE MEETING MUST SIGN BELOW:

______

MEETING CONDUCTED BY: ______

DATE: ______

Lesson Plan on Line Handling: 11 Terminology; Safe Use and Application; Proper Leads and Securing (May ’04)