By; Dharmveer Singh, GP 25
1.
Smoking and Naked Lights
Careless smoking tops the list of causes of fire. Smoking is a
strong habit and as such not only people tend to smoke
without any regard to circumstances or location but also they
hardly pay any heed to the safe disposal of lit cigarettes, cigars,
pipe tobacco and matchsticks.
Temperature of a burning cigarette is about 500° Celsius. Thus
glowing ashes and tobacco contain enough heat to start a fire
in such materials as dunnage, paper, cardboard, cordage, linen
and beddings.
If a person is tried after a busy day and smoking in bed, a
smoldering fire can result if the glowing tobacco touches the
bedding, resulting smoke will most certainly cause drowsiness and possible suffocation or asphyxiation
of this person before the fire is discovered.
A person who has been drinking alcohol and smoking too, tends to be careless and has to be observed
carefully by other crew members so that his careless actions do not jeopardi ze safety of crew and vessel.
Thus open flames, glowing embers and smoke can prove dangerous as well as unhygienic. Smoking is
therefore permitted on board a ship, only in designated smoking areas. These areas must be identified and
clearly marked thus.
In port, shore personnel boarding vessel for various works should be apprised of shipboard smoking
regulations as well as locations of designated smoking areas on board. Safety matches and / or cigarette
lighters must never be carried on person outside ship’s accommodation.
NEVER SMOKE IN BED
Within the accommodation, shipboard smoking policy must be conspicuously displayed.
Never smoke in bed under any circumstances.
On-board, “Designated Smoking Area” will be identified in the shipboard smoking policy and
clearly marked thus.
Carrying of Lighters and or Safety Matchboxes
on person out on main deck is expressly
forbidden.
SMOKING POLICY ONBOARD
At Sea, Designated Smoking Areas are:
Officers Smoke Room
Crews Smoke Room
Wheel House
Engine Control Room (ECR)
In Port Designated Smoking Areas are:
Crews Smoke Room
Master’s Cabin
Officer’s Smoke Room
2.
Spontaneous Combustion and Auto Ignition