WORKING ALOFT
Working at height is potentially dangerous but risks can be reduced. The Ship’s Executive
insists that work aloft be carried out safely.
There is an obligation on crew to look out for themselves and their shipmates.
A Doctors certificate is required before any climbing can be undertaken.
Doctor’s Certificate and Climb Approval have a currency of two years.
Crew members are required to disqualify themselves from climbing as soon as they are
aware of a personal impediment that could affect their ability to climb and work aloft safely.
At all times, while climbing and working in the ship’s rigging crew are to be clipped on
with at least one hook. Thus the two hooks are in use all the time from the deck up,
alternating hooks as you move about.
NOTE; The equipment mentioned in this Module is for Safety purposes only. It is NOT
to be used to hold, support or suspend a wearer when working aloft. A special
working harness is to be used for this purpose.
Assessment:
Open book written assessment on the contents of this module.
A closed book pre climb check list is to be completed prior to practical assessment.
Physical and practical assessment.
Crew will satisfactorily carry out a climbing exercise. i.e. (Climb the shrouds, futtock shrouds
to the tops. Cross over and descend on the other side, 3 times. Then climb along the jib
boom and return on the other side.)
Climbing assessment at sea.
Successful completion of module is recorded in ‘Diary of Service and Experience Log’ book.
WORKING ALOFT RULES
It is not compulsory for all crew to climb, however all
crew will complete the training and be aware of the rules, especially
those who volunteer and wish to be sent and go aloft on the masts and
out on the jibboom. Crew are going to spend a lot of time aloft in all
types of weather and the sooner they get used to it the easier it will be.
You will be shown how to put on your safety harness, and told what to
do and what not to do based on the following.
Climbing.
No crewmember is to climb into the rig of the ship without approval
of their watchleader who will clear with the officer of the watch or
act under their instructions.
• Always use the weather rigging.
a. The wind is keeping it more rigid than the lee rigging.
b. If the ship is heeling it is at a better angle.
c. The yards and sails will be clear of the rigging.
• Use the shrouds as handholds, NOT the ratlines.
• It is important to “walk” up and over with legs rather than pulling up
using arms/upper body.
• Do not use knees to climb onto the tops.
• Clip on to static safety lines where fitted.
• When climbing aloft never let go with one hand until you have a
good grip with the other. Always remember one hand for yourself
and one hand for the ship. You have four available points of
contact when you are going aloft, two feet and two hands. Always
have three in contact with the rig. Do not overreach.
• Use both hands when climbing. Do not carrying anything aloft in
your hands while climbing. Haul tools etc aloft later.
• Never use running rigging as a grip as someone on deck may let it
go without warning.
• Never clip onto any running rigging or to a vertical part of the
standing rigging which will merely give you a rapid guided descent
to the deck. Best advice is, do not fall from aloft.
• Using clips. Reach up and clip on. Climb until the clip is level with
your waist then reach up with the other clip and clip on. Un-clip the
first clip and climb. Repeat the process.
• Straddle a shroud with your feet, do not have both feet on the one
ratline.
• When working aloft clip your safety harness to the safety line that
runs along the back of the yards or to a part of the rig that will not
move, such as the jackstay on a yard, or a fitting on the mast
where you are working.
• When waiting behind another crewmember, clip on and maintain a
safe distance below the other climber.
• At all times, while climbing and working in the ship’s rigging crew
are to be clipped on with at least one hook. Thus the two hooks
are in use all the time from the deck up, alternating hooks as you
move about.
• When stepping onto braced yards, use both hooks. One on the
shrouds while clipping the other onto yard safety wire.
• Do not drop your hooks as there may be someone below you.
• Call when clear of the tops on the way up or down.
Moving onto and along yards.
• Get on and off footropes carefully or you may bounce a
shipmate off a yard.
• When laying out onto or leaving a yard, call to others
“Stepping out starboard (or port)"or "Stepping off starboard
(or port)”. Get an acknowledgement from the climbers on the
yard, do not just talk to the mast in front of you.
• Only go onto hoisted yards with the Watch Leader’s approval
(the Watch Leader will have or will get approval from the
Officer of the Watch).
Precautions - Halyards have been made fast.
- Braces are taut
Dangers - Halyards parting
- Un-announced use of halyards.
• When going out on a hoisting yard make certain it is in its lifts
and the braces are set up taut. Yards can get stuck, and your
extra weight will bring it down with a jerk that can easily
throw you off. If the braces are slack the yard will jerk as the
ship rolls and again this can throw you off.
• When laying out on a yard, hold on to the jackstay, which is
on top of the yard.
Caution; with the sail furled on top of the yard, extreme care should
be used when selecting a handhold.
• Never use the following as handholds:
- A gasket, as it may be loose and give way.
- The bight of a sail, as the wind may suddenly get into it.
- The bunt-lines may not be made fast down on deck.
- The safety line, as you can push others off the yard.
• Never stand on a yard or straddle it unless ordered to for
some special task and, when you do, use great care.
Think what you will do if the sail suddenly fills with wind, so
always have a good grip of a part of the standing rigging.
• Climb directly up or down between the lower and upper
topsail yards should only be undertaken by crew who a
comfortable with the procedure.
DO NOT USE THE SAFETY WIRES AS FOOT ROPES.
Use the footrope stirrups as a good point for ascending or
descending.
Working sails on the yards.
• When loosing or furling sails, remember, loose from lee, furl
from windward.
• When casting off gaskets, make sure it is clear below before
releasing gasket or gasket coil, call warning "Rope below"
before dropping the gasket.
• Do not cast off gaskets until the timber hitches of ALL the
gaskets on the yard are undone.
• When pushing a sail off a yard make certain that all the
gaskets are off. If one is missed it will either carry away or
more probably tear the sail.
• When loosing topsails, loose the lower topsail first then the
upper topsail. The reverse applies when furling i.e. Furl the
upper then the lower.
• When loosing an upper topsail make certain there is no one
on the lower topsail yard before pushing it off into its gear.
• When the sail is in its gear always remember to coil the
gasket and place it onto the fore side of the sail . A loose
gasket can foul a clew line or buntline block and jam it. If this
happens someone will have to go aloft and clear it whilst a
thrashing sail tries to knock the person off.
• When calling instructions to the deck, be clear and concise.
Attract attention with call “Ahoy on deck”.
Tools.
• When you take tools aloft always put them on lanyards and
secures one end to your wrist or belt. You will also be working on
gear aloft that cannot be attached to you such as shackles and
pins, which are easily dropped with cold hands. If there is a
potential danger of you dropping something shout loud and clear
“Stand from under” so that anyone on deck has a chance to get
out of the way.
General.
• At first you will be very careful working aloft but it is easy to relax
and become over confident. Do not get casual or sooner or later
you will come to grief so always obey these rules and never fool
around aloft. It is a long way to the deck and few people survive
the journey.
• The safety harness is a piece of equipment to protect you from
hitting the deck if you slip when aloft.
• Always come on deck wearing it because you may be sent aloft
without warning.
• No crewmember is to be aloft during departure from, or arrival at, a
wharf.
• Do not change the position of another crewmember’s hook. Only
with their permission and they must check.
• Remember, at all times you must be attached to the rig from
the deck up.
• Report all falls and near misses to the watch Leader or Officer.
Details are to be recorded in the Incident Book kept in the Chart
Room.
