(a) No later than July 22, 2019, the owner or managing operator must implement a health and safety plan. The health and safety plan must document compliance with this part and include recordkeeping procedures.

(b) The owner, managing operator, or master must ensure that all persons on board a towing vessel comply with the health and safety plan.

(a) The owner or managing operator must implement procedures for reporting unsafe conditions and must have records of the activities conducted under this section. The owner or managing operator must maintain records of health and safety incidents that occur on board the vessel, including any medical records associated with the incidents. Upon request, the owner or managing operator must provide crewmembers with incident reports and the crewmember's own associated medical records.

(b) All vessel equipment must be used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended practice and in a manner that minimizes risk of injury or death. This includes machinery, deck machinery, towing gear, ladders, embarkation devices, cranes, portable tools, and safety equipment.

(c) All machinery and equipment that is not in proper working order (including missing or malfunctioning guards or safety devices) must be removed; made safe through marking, tagging, or covering; or otherwise made unusable.

(d) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). (1) Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be made available and on hand for all personnel engaged in an activity that requires the use of PPE.

(2) PPE must be suitable for the vessel's intended service; meet the standards of 29 CFR part 1910, subpart I; and be used, cleaned, maintained, and repaired in accordance with manufacturer's requirements.

(3) All individuals must wear PPE appropriate to the activity being performed;

(4) All personnel engaged in an activity must be trained in the proper use, limitations, and care of the PPE specified by this subpart;

(e) The vessel, including crew's quarters and the galley, must be kept in a sanitary condition.

(a) The owner or managing operator must implement procedures to identify and mitigate health and safety hazards, including but not limited to:

(1) Tools and equipment, including deck machinery, rigging, welding and cutting, hand tools, ladders, and abrasive wheel machinery found on board the vessel;

(2) Slips, trips, and falls;

(3) Working aloft;

(4) Hazardous materials;

(5) Confined space entry;

(6) Blood-borne pathogens and other biological hazards;

(7) Electrical;

(8) Noise;

(9) Falls overboard;

(10) Vessel embarkation and disembarkation (including pilot transfers);

(11) Towing gear, including winches, capstans, wires, hawsers and other related equipment;

(12) Personal hygiene;

(13) Sanitation and safe food handling; and

(14) Potable water supply.

(b) As far as practicable, the owner or managing operator must implement other types of safety control measures before relying on Personal Protective Equipment. These controls may include administrative, engineering, source modification, substitution, process change or controls, isolation, ventilation, or other controls.

(a) All crewmembers must be provided with health and safety information and training that includes:

(1) Content and procedures of the owner or managing operator's health and safety plan;

(2) Procedures for reporting unsafe conditions;

(3) Proper selection and use of PPE appropriate to the vessel operation;

(4) Safe use of equipment including deck machinery, rigging, welding and cutting, hand tools, ladders, and abrasive wheel machinery found onboard the vessel;

(5) Hazard communication and cargo knowledge;

(6) Safe use and storage of hazardous materials and chemicals;

(7) Confined space entry;

(8) Respiratory protection; and

(9) Lockout/Tagout procedures.

(b) Individuals, other than crewmembers, must be provided with sufficient information or training on hazards relevant to their potential exposure on or around the vessel.

(c) Crewmember training required by this section must be conducted as soon as practicable, but not later than 5 days after employment.

(d) Refresher training must be repeated annually and may be conducted over time in modules covering specific topics. Refresher training may be less comprehensive, provided that the information presented is sufficient to provide employees with continued understanding of workplace hazards. The refresher training of persons subject to this subpart must include the information and training prescribed in this section.

(e) The owner, managing operator, or master must determine the appropriate training and information to provide to each individual permitted on the vessel who is not a crewmember, relative to the expected risk exposure of the individual.

(f) All training required in this section must be documented in owner or managing operator's records.