PANAJI
The recent fire at Vijai Marine Shipyard in Rassaim, which killed five of seven workers and critically injured the remaining two, who are undergoing treatment, has drawn attention to the stringent safety provisions mandated under the Factories Act for ship repair, shipbuilding, and dock maintenance work.
The law has already laid down comprehensive measures to safeguard workers engaged in hazardous operations such as welding, confined-space entry, and handling inflammable materials — precisely the conditions under which the tragedy unfolded.
Under the Act, ships being repaired or maintained in dry docks available for hire are explicitly covered by its provisions. The legislation has placed shared responsibility on both the dock owner and the ship owner or contractor, and while the dock owner is deemed the occupier for matters of licensing, sanitation, and welfare, the ship’s owner or master is treated as the occupier for safety and operational aspects. This ensures accountability across all entities involved in ship repair work.
While the Factories Act, 1948, has made it clear that safety in ship repair and dock work is a shared legal duty, it also demands pre-inspection, certification, protective gear, fire preparedness, and continuous medical oversight to prevent the kind of catastrophic event that struck Vijai Marine.
Section 7A of the Act lays down the general duties of an occupier, mandating that every employer must ensure, as far as practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of workers, including maintaining safe systems of work, providing protective equipment, ensuring proper supervision and training, and securing safe access routes and working environments.
A senior official told The Goan that in the context of shipyards, where workers often operate inside tanks or hulls filled with fumes or residues, these provisions are crucial.
The most critical safety provisions relevant to shipyard operations are contained in Sections 36 and 37, which deal with confined spaces and welding hazards. These sections prohibit workers from entering tanks, pits, or chambers unless the atmosphere has been tested and certified free from dangerous gases or fumes.
Where complete removal of fumes is not possible, the Act has mandated the use of breathing apparatus, safety harnesses, and external supervision. It also restricts the use of electrical equipment to low-voltage or flame-proof types and requires adequate ventilation to prevent explosions.
The law also mandates special oversight for hazardous work, requiring the appointment of qualified safety officers in every factory to monitor activities such as welding, painting, or working in confined spaces. These officers are responsible for maintaining health records, ensuring medical surveillance of exposed workers, and enforcing safety procedures.
Under the Goa Factories Rules, which have been amended from time to time, specific provisions have been laid down to ensure the safety of workers engaged in industrial and ship-related operations, particularly those involving electrical energy.
Mandatory precautions to prevent accidents, electrical hazards, and fire risks on board ships and at shipyards have been clearly defined, with the rule on earthing mandating that electrical energy, other than that generated by an independent unit on board, shall not be used in connection with any operation unless the body of the ship is securely earthed.
Arc welding
Electric arc welding must not be performed without separate, fully insulated return conductors of adequate capacity for carrying current back to the transformer or generator. The return end of the welding current source must never be earthed. Each welding job must be independently earthed to an earth electrode through conductors of sufficient capacity, unless the work is already part of the ship’s structure, providing effective earthing. These safeguards prevent electric shocks, short circuits, and other hazards during welding operations.
Cutting off electrical energy
Power supply must be completely disconnected from all portable electric tools and manual electrode holders used inside tanks, compartments, or confined spaces whenever they are not in use. Short breaks in normal work need not require disconnection, nor when a responsible person remains in charge of the equipment. However, switching off at the tool itself is insufficient, as total isolation from the power source is mandatory – all this to prevent accidental energisation that could lead to electrocution or ignition of flammable vapours.
Lighting
Every part of a vessel, including work areas and access routes, must be adequately and suitably illuminated. Lighting arrangements should avoid glare and shadows while ensuring the safety of workers, the vessel, and its cargo.
