13.12.1993 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 307/1 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 93/103/EC of 23 November 1993 concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for work on board fishing vessels (thirteenth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 118a thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), drawn up after consultation with the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work, In cooperation with the European Parliament (2), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Whereas, in its resolution of 21 December 1987 on safety, hygiene and health at work (4), the Council noted the Commission's intention of submitting to it minimum requirements concerning the organization of the safety and health of workers at work; Whereas occupational safety and health measures should be introduced as part of the various Community measures for the fisheries sector; Whereas compliance with the minimum requirements for ensuring a better level of safety and health on board fishing vessels is essential to ensure the safety and health of the workers concerned; Whereas, because of the specific and particularly difficult working and living conditions on board fishing vessels, the incidence of fatal accidents among workers engaged in sea fishing is very high; Whereas, on 15 April 1988, the European Parliament adopted a resolution recognizing the importance of the preventive aspects of safety at work on board fishing vessels; Whereas, for the safety and health of the workers concerned, prominence should be given to locating fishing vessels in an emergency, particularly through the use of new technologies; Whereas this Directive is an individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work (5); whereas, therefore, the provisions thereof are fully applicable to work on board fishing vessels, without prejudice to more stringent and/or specific provisions contained in this Directive; Whereas the individual Directives already adopted in the field of safety and health at work apply, unless otherwise specified, to sea fishing; whereas, therefore, it may in some cases be necessary to specify the particular characteristics of this activity in order to ensure that the individual Directives are applied in the best way; Whereas Council Directive 92/29/EEC of 31 March 1992 on the minimum safety and health requirements for improved medical treatment on board vessels (6) is applicable in full to the sea fishing industry; Whereas this Directive constitutes concrete progress towards the achievement of the social dimension of the internal market, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 Object 1. This Directive, which is the thirteenth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC, lays down minimum safety and health requirements applicable to work on board the vessels defined in Article 2. 2. The provisions of Directive 89/391/EEC are fully applicable to the field referred to in paragraph 1, without prejudice to more stringent and/or specific provisions contained in this Directive. Article 2 Definitions For the purposes of this Directive, the following terms shall have the meanings hereby assigned to them: (a) fishing vessel: any vessel flying the flag of a Member State or registered under the plenary jurisdiction of a Member State used for commercial purposes either for catching or catching and processing fish or other living resources from the sea; (b) new fishing vessel: a fishing vessel with a length between perpendiculars of 15 metres or over and for which, on or after the date specified in the first subparagraph of Article 13 (1): (i) the building or major conversion contract is placed; or (ii) the building or major conversion contract has been placed before the date specified in the first subparagraph of Article 13 (1) and which is delivered three or more years after that date; or (iii) in the absence of a building contract: — the keel is laid, or — construction identifiable with a specific vessel begins, or — assembly has commenced, comprising at least 50 tonnes or 1 % of the estimated mass of all structural material, whichever is the lesser; (c) existing fishing vessel: any fishing vessel with a length between perpendiculars of 18 metres or over and which is not a new fishing vessel; (d) vessel: any new or existing fishing vessel; (e) worker: any person carrying out an occupation on board a vessel, including trainees and apprentices but excluding shore personnel carrying out work on board a vessel at the quayside and port pilots; (f) owner: the registered owner of a vessel, unless that vessel has been chartered by demise or is managed, either wholly or in part, by a natural or legal person other than the registered owner under the terms of a management agreement; in that case, the owner shall be construed as the demise charterer or natural or legal person managing the vessel, as appropriate; (g) skipper: the worker who, in accordance with national legislation and/or practice, commands the vessel or has responsibility for it. Article 3 General provisions 1. Member States shall take the measures necessary to see that: (a) owners ensure that their vessels are used without endangering the safety and health of workers, in particular in foreseeable meterological conditions, without prejudice to the skipper's responsibility; (b) account is taken of any hazards faced by the rest of the workers when Article 8 (4) of Directive 89/391/EEC is applied; (c) any occurrences at sea which affect or could affect the safety and health of the workers on board are described in a detailed report to be forwarded to the relevant competent authorities and are recorded carefully and in detail in the ship's log, where the national regulations or legislation in force require such a log to be kept on the type of vessel in question or, in the absence of such a log, in a document required for the purpose. 2. Member States shall take the measures necessary to ensure that, as regards compliance with this Directive, vessels are subject to regular checks by authorities specifically empowered to carry out such checks. Certain checks concerning compliance with this Directive may be carried out at sea. Article 4 New fishing vessels New fishing vessels must comply with the minimum safety and health requirements laid down in Annex I at the latest by the date referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 13 (1). Article 5 Existing fishing vessels Existing fishing vessels must comply with the minimum safety and health requirements laid down in Annex II within seven years of the date referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 13. (1). Article 6 Extensive repairs, conversions and alterations Where vessels undergo extensive repairs, conversions and alterations on or after the date specified in the first subparagraph of Article 13 (1), such extensive repairs, conversions and alterations must comply with the relevant minimum requirements laid down in Annex I. Article 7 Equipment and maintenance 1. For the protection of the safety and health of workers, Member States shall take the measures necessary to ensure that, without prejudice to the skipper's responsibility, owners: (a) ensure that the vessels and their fittings and equipment, particularly those referred to in Annexes I and II, are technically maintained, and that any defects found which are likely to affect the safety and health of workers are rectified as quickly as possible; (b) take measures to ensure that the vessels and all fittings and equipment are cleaned regularly in order to maintain an appropriate standard of hygiene; (c) keep on board the vessel an adequate quantity of suitable emergency and survival equipment in good working order; (d) take account of the minimum safety and health requirements concerning life-saving and survival equipment given in Annex III; (e) without prejudice to the provisions of Council Directive 89/656/EEC of 30 November 1989 on the minimum health and safety requirements for the use by workers of personal protective equipment at the workplace (third individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (7), take account of the personal protective equipment specifications given in Annex IV to this Directive. 2. Member States shall take all necessary measures to ensure that, for the protection of the safety and health of workers, the owner supplies the skipper with the means needed to enable him to fulfil the obligations imposed upon him by this Directive, Article 8 Information for workers 1. Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 10 of Directive 89/391/EEC, workers and/or their representatives shall be informed of all measures to be taken regarding safety and health on board vessels. 2. The information must be comprehensible to the workers concerned. Article 9 Training of workers 1. Without prejudice to Article 12 of Directive 89/39I/EEC, workers shall be given suitable training, in particular in the form of precise, comprehensible instructions, on safety and health on board vessels and on accident prevention in particular. 2. The training referred to in paragraph 1 shall cover in particular fire fighting, the use of life-saving and survival equipment and, for the workers concerned, the use of fishing gear and hauling equipment and the use of various types of signs including hand signals. Such training shall be subject to the necessary updating where this is required by changes in the activities on board. Article 10 Detailed training of persons likely to command a vessel Without prejudice to Article 5 (3) of Directive 92/29/EEC, any person likely to command a vessel shall be given detailed training on: (a) the prevention of occupational illness and accidents on board and the steps to be taken in event of accident; (b) stability and maintenance of the vessel under all foreseeable conditions of loading and during fishing operations; (c) radio navigation and communication, including procedures. Article 11 Consultation and participation of workers The consultation of workers and/or their representatives and their participation in discussions on the matters covered by this Directive and its Annexes shall take place in accordance with Article 11 of Directive 89/391/EEC. Article 12 Adaptation of the Annexes Purely technical adaptations of the Annexes to take account of: — the adoption of directives in the field of technical harmonization and standardization concerning certain aspects of safety and health on board vessels, and/or — technical progress, changes in the international regulations or specifications and new findings in the field of safety and health on board vessels, shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 17 of Directive 89/391/EEC. Article 13 Final provisions 1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 23 November 1995, They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof. When Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such a reference shall be laid down by the Member States. 2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the texts of the provisions of national law which they have already adopted or adopt in the field covered by this Directive. 3. Member States shall report to the Commission every four years on the practical implementation of the provisions of this Directive, indicating the points of view of employers and workers. The Commission shall inform the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work thereof. 4. The Commission shall periodically submit to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee a report on the implementation of this Directive, taking into account paragraphs 1, 2 and 3. Article 14 This Directive is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 23 November 1993. For the Council The President M. SMET (1) OJ No C 337, 31. 12. 1991, p. 21; OJ No C 311, 27. 11. 1992, p. 21. (2) OJ No C 241, 21. 9. 1992, p. 106; and Decision of 27 October 1993 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (3) OJ No C 169, 6. 7. 1992, p. 46. (4) OJ No C 28, 3. 2. 1988, p. 1. (5) OJ No L 183, 29. 6. 1989, p. 1. (6) OJ No L 113, 30. 4. 1992, p. 19. (7) OJ L 393, 30. 12. 1989, p. 18. ANNEX I MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW FISHING VESSELS (Articles 4, 6 and 7 (1) (a) Preliminary note The obligations laid down in this Annex apply whenever required by the features of the workplace, the activity, the cirumstances or a risk on board a new fishing vessel. 1. Seaworthiness and stability 1.1. The vessel must be maintained in a seaworthy condition and be properly equipped appropriate to its purpose and use. 1.2. Information on the vessel's stability must be available on board and must be accessible to the men on watch. 1.3. All vessels must be sufficiently stable when intact in the conditions of service for which they are intended. The skipper must take the precautionary measures necessary to maintain adequate stability of the vessel. Instructions supplied concerning the vessel's stability must be strictly observed. 2. Mechanical and eletrical installations 2.1. Electrical installations must be designed and constructed so as not to present any danger and so as to ensure: — protection for the crew and vessel from electrical hazards, — the proper functioning of all equipment necessary to maintain the vessel in normal operational and living conditions without recourse to an emergency power supply, — the operation of electrical equipment essential for safety in all emergencies. 2.2. An emergency electrical power source must be provided. Except in open vessels, it must be located outside the engine room and must, in all cases, be so arranged as to ensure in the event of fire or other failure of the main electrical installation, simultaneous functioning for at least three hours of: — the internal communication system, fire detectors and emergency signals, — the navigation lights and emergency lighting, — the radio installation, — the emergency electrical fire pump where present. If the emergency electrical power source is an accumulator battery and the main electrical power source fails, the accumulator battery must be automatically connected to the emergency electrical switchboard and supply power for an uninterrupted period of three hours to the systems referred to in the first, second and third indents of the second subparagraph. The main electrical switchboard and the emergency switchboard must, to the extent possible, be installed in such a way that they cannot be exposed simultaneously to water or fire. 2.3. Switchboards should be clearly marked; fuse boxes and fuse holders should be checked at regular intervals to ensure that the correct rating of fuse is being used. 2.4. Compartments housing electrical storage batteries must be adequately ventilated. 2.5. Electronic aids to navigation should be tested frequently and well maintained. 2.6. All equipment used in hoisting should be tested and examined at regular intervals. 2.7. All parts of hauling gear, hoisting gear and related equipment should be maintained in good repair and working order. 2.8. Where refrigeration plants and compressed air systems are installed they should be well maintained and examined at regular intervals, 2.9. Cooking and domestic appliances using heavy gases should be used only in well ventilated spaces and care should be taken to avoid any dangerous accumulation of gas. Cylinders containing flammable and other dangerous gases should be clearly marked as to their contents and stowed on open decks. All valves, pressure regulators and pipes leading from the cylinders should be protected against damage. 3. Radio installation The radio installation must permit contact at all times with at least one coastal or land-based station, taking into account the normal conditions for propagation of radio waves. 4. Emergency routes and exits 4.1. Routes and exits which can be used as emergency routes and exits must be unobstructed and easily accessible at all times and lead out as directly as possible to the open deck or to a safe area and thence to the survival craft so that workers can evacuate their workstations or living areas quickly and as safely as possible. 4.2. The number, distribution and dimensions of the routes and exits which can be used as emergency routes and exits must depend on the use, equipment and dimensions of workplaces and living areas and on the maximum potential number of persons present. Exits which can be used as emergency exits and which are closed must be immediately and readily operable in an emergency by any worker or by rescue teams. 4.3. Emergency doors and other emergency exits must be adequately weatherproof and watertight for their location and particular function. Emergency doors and other emergency exits must be as fire-resistant as the bulkheads. 4.4. Emergency routes and exits must be indicated by signs in accordance with national provisions transposing Directive 92/58/EEC (1). Such signs must be placed at appropriate points and be made to last. 4.5. Escape routes and facilities and emergency exits requiring illumination must be provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity in case the lighting fails. 5. Fire detection and fire fighting 5.1. Depending on the dimensions and use of the vessel, the equipment it contains, the physical and chemical properties of the substances present and the maximum potential number of persons present, living quarters and enclosed workplaces, including the engine-room and the fish hold if necessary, must be equipped with appropriate fire-fighting equipment and, as necessary, with fire detectors and alarm systems. 5.2. Fire-fighting equipment must always be kept in its proper location, maintained in good working order, and be available for immediate use. Workers must be familiar with the locations of fire-fighting equipment, the way it works and how it should be used. The presence of extinguishers and other portable fire-fighting equipment must always be checked before the vessel gets under way. 5.3. Manually-operated fire-fighting equipment must be easily accessible and simple to use and must be indicated by signs in accordance with the national provisions transposing Directive 92/58/EEC. Such signs must be placed at appropriate points and be made to last. 5.4. Fire-detection and alarm systems should be regularly tested and well maintained. 5.5. Fire-fighting drills shall be carried out at regular intervals. 6. Ventilation of enclosed workplaces Steps must be taken to see that there is sufficient fresh air in enclosed workplaces, having regard to the working methods used and the physical demands placed on the workers. If a mechanical ventilation system is used, it must be maintained in good condition. 7. Temperature of working areas 7.1. The temperature in working areas must be adequate for the human body during the hours of working, having regard to the work methods used, the physical demands placed on the workers and the actual or potential weather conditions in the area in which the vessel operates. 7.2. The temperature in living quarters, sanitary facilities, canteens and first-aid rooms must, where those areas exist, be appropriate to the particular purpose of such areas. 8. Natural and artificial lighting of workplaces 8.1. Workplaces must as far as possible receive sufficient natural light and be equipped with artificial lighting suitable for the fishing operations in hand, without placing workers' safety and health in danger or jeopardizing other vessels. 8.2. Installations for the lighting of working areas, stairs, ladders and passageways must be placed in such a way that the type of lighting provided poses no risk of accident to workers and no hindrance to the navigation of the vessel. 8.3. Workplaces in which workers are especially exposed to risks in the event of failure of artificial lighting must be provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity. 8.4. Emergency lighting must be maintained in an efficient operating condition and be tested at regular intervals. 9. Decks, bulkheads and deckheads 9.1. Spaces accessible to workers must be non-slip or anti-slip or be provided with devices to prevent falls and kept free of obstacles as far as possible. 9.2. Workplaces containing workstations must be adequately soundproofed and insulated, bearing in mind the type of tasks involved and the physical activity of workers. 9.3. The surface of decks, bulkheads and deckheads in working areas must be such that they can be cleaned or refurbished to an appropriate standard of hygiene. 10. Doors 10.1. Means should be provided so that doors can at all times be operated from the inside without special equipment. The doors must be operable from either side when workplaces are in use. 10.2. Doors, and in particular sliding doors, where such have to be used, must function as safely as possible for the workers, especially in adverse weather and sea conditions. 11. Traffic routes — danger areas 11.1. Passageways, trunks, the outer part of deckhouses and all traffic routes in general must be equipped with guard rails, grab rails and lifelines or other means of ensuring the safety of workers in the course of activities on board. 11.2. If there is a risk that workers may fall through openings in the deck, or from one deck to another, adequate protection should be provided wherever possible. Where guard rails provide such protection, they must be at least one metre high. 11.3. Access to installations above the deck for operations or maintenance purposes must be such as to ensure workers' safety. Guard rails or similar protective devices of appropriate height must be provided to prevent falls. 11.4. Bulwarks or other means provided to prevent persons falling overboard must be maintained in an efficient condition. Bulwarks must be fitted with freeing ports or other similar devices to enable water to drain away quickly. 11.5. On stern trawlers with ramps, the upper part of the ramp must be fitted with a gate or other means of securing it of the same height as the bulwarks or other adjacent means, to protect workers from the risk of falling into the ramp. This gate or other device must be easily opened and closed, preferably by remote control, and must be open only for casting the net or for hauling it in. 12. Layout of workstations 12.1. Working areas must be kept clear and, as far as possible, be protected from the sea and provide adequate protection for workers against falling on the vessel or falling overboard. Handling areas must be sufficiently spacious, in terms of both height and surface area. 12.2. If the engines are controlled from the engine room, they must be controlled from a separate area, soundproofed and insulated from the engine room per se and accessible without entering the latter. The navigating bridge is considered to be an area that meets the requirements of the first subparagraph. 12.3. The controls for the hauling gear must be installed in an area sufficiently large to enable operators to work unhindered. The hauling gear must also have appropriate safety devices for emergencies, including emergency stop facilities. 12.4. The hauling gear operator must have an adequate view of the hauling gear and the workers at work. If the hauling gear is controlled from the bridge, the operator should also have a clear view of the workers at work, either directly or via any other suitable medium. 12.5. A reliable communications system must be used between the bridge and the working deck. 12.6. A sharp look out should always be maintained and the crew warned of the imminent danger of heavy oncoming seas during fishing operations or when other work is being done on deck. 12.7. Contact with bare ropes and warps and with moving parts of the equipment must be minimized by installing protective devices. 12.8. Controls must be installed for moving masses, particularly on trawlers: — devices to immobilize the otter boards, — devices to control the swinging motion of the codend. 13. Living quarters 13.1. The location, structure, soundproofing, means of insulation and layout of the workers' living quarters and facilities, where these exist, and means of access thereto should be such as to provide adequate protection against weather and sea, vibration, noise and unpleasant odours from other parts of the vessel likely to disturb the workers during their period of rest. Where the design, dimensions and/or purpose of the vessel allow, the workers' living quarters must be located so as to minimize the effects of motion and acceleration. Appropriate measures should be taken as far as possible to protect non-smokers from discomfort caused by tobacco smoke. 13.2. The workers' living quarters should be properly ventilated to ensure a constant supply of fresh air and prevent condensation. Appropriate lighting must be provided in the living quarters, with: — adequate normal general lighting, — reduced general lighting to avoid disturbing workers who are resting, and — local lighting in each berth. 13.3. The galley and mess, where these exist, should be of adequate size, well lit and ventilated and easy to clean. Refrigerators or other low-temperature food-storage equipment must be provided. 14. Sanitary facilities 14.1. On vessels with living quarters, shower facilities with hot and cold running water, wash-basins and toilets must be properly equipped and installed and the respective areas must be properly ventilated. 14.2. Every worker must have the use of a place where he can keep his clothes. 15. First aid On all vessels first-aid equipment must be available which fulfils the requirements in Annex II to Directive 92/29/EEC. 16. Accommodation ladders and gangways An accommodation ladder, gangway or other similar equipment providing an appropriate, safe means of boarding the vessel must be available. 17. Noise All appropriate technical measures must be taken to reduce the noise level at workplaces and in the living quarters as far as possible, taking into account the size of the vessel. (1) OJ No L 245, 26. 8. 1992, p. 23. ANNEX II MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING FISHING VESSELS (Articles 5 and 7 (1) (a)) Preliminary note The obligations laid down in this Annex apply, in so far as the structural characteristics of the existing fishing vessel permit, whenever required by the features of the workplace, the activity, the circumstances or a risk on board an existing fishing vessel. 1. Seaworthiness and stability 1.1. The vessel must be maintained in a seaworthy condition and be properly equipped appropriate to its purpose and use. 1.2. Where it exists, information on the vessel's stability must be available on board and must be accessible to the men on watch. 1.3. All vessels must be sufficiently stable when intact in the conditions of service for which they are intended. The skipper must take the necessary precautionary measures in order to maintain adequate stability of the vessel. Instructions supplied concerning the vessel's stability must be strictly observed. 2. Mechanical and electrical installations 2.1. Electrical installations must be designed and constructed so as not to present any danger and so as to ensure: — protection for the crew and vessel from electrical risks, — the proper functioning of all equipment necessary to maintain the vessel in normal operational and living conditions without recourse to an emergency power supply, — the operation of electrical equipment essential for safety in all emergencies. 2.2. An emergency electrical power source must be provided. Except in open vessels, the emergency electrical power source must be located outside the engine room and in all cases be so arranged as to ensure, in the event of fire or other failure of the main electrical installation, simultaneous functioning for at least three hours of: — the internal communication system, fire detectors and emergency signals, — the navigation lights and emergency lighting, — the radio installation, — the emergency electrical fire pump where present. If the emergency electrical power source is an accumulator battery and the main electrical power source fails, the accumulator battery must be automatically connected to the emergency electrical switchboard and supply power for an uninterrupted period of three hours to the systems referred to in the first, second and third indents of the second subparagraph. The main electrical switchboard and the emergency switchboard must, to the extent possible, be installed in such a way that they cannot be exposed simultaneously to water or fire. 2.3. Switchboards should be clearly marked; fuse boxes and fuse holders should be checked at regular intervals to ensure that the correct rating of fuse is being used. 2.4. Compartments housing electrical storage batteries must be adequately ventilated, 2.5. Electronic aids to navigation should be tested frequently and well maintained. 2.6. All equipment used in hoisting should be tested and examined at regular intervals. 2.7. All parts of hauling gear, hoisting gear and related equipment should be maintained in good repair and working order. 2.8. Where refrigeration plants and compressed air systems are installed, they should be well maintained and examined at regular intervals, 2.9. Cooking and domestic appliances using heavy gases should be used only in well ventilated spaces and care should be taken to avoid any dangerous accumulation of gas. Cylinders containing flammable and other dangerous gases should be clearly marked as to their contents and stowed on open decks. All valves, pressure regulators and pipes leading from the cylinders should be protected against damage. 3. Radio installation The radio installation must permit contact at all times with at least one coastal or land-based station, taking into account the normal conditions for propagation of radio waves. 4. Emergency routes and exits 4.1. Routes and exits which can be used as emergency routes and exits must be unobstructed and easily accessible at all times and lead out as directly as possible to the open deck or to a safe area and thence to the survival craft so that workers can evacuate their workstations or living areas quickly and as safely as possible. 4.2. The number, distribution and dimensions of the routes and exits which can be used as emergency routes and exits must depend on the use, equipment and dimensions of workplaces and living areas and on the maximum potential number of persons present. Exits which can be used as emergency exits and which are closed must be immediately and readily operable in an emergency by any worker or by rescue teams, 4.3. Emergency routes and exits must be indicated by signs in accordance with national provisions transposing Directive 92/58/EEC. Such signs must be placed at appropriate points and be made to last. 4.4. Escape routes and facilities and emergency exits requiring illumination must be provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity in case the lighting fails. 5. Fire detection and fire fighting 5.1. Depending on the dimensions and use of the vessel, the equipment it contains, the physical and chemical properties of the substances present and the maximum potential number of persons present, living quarters and enclosed workplaces, including the engine-room and the fish hold if necessary, must be equipped with appropriate fire-fighting equipment and, as necessary, with fire detectors and alarm systems. 5.2. Fire-fighting equipment must always be kept in its proper location, maintained in good working order, and be available for immediate use. Workers must be familiar with the location of fire-fighting equipment, the way it works and how it should be used. The presence of extinguishers and other portable fire-fighting equipment must always be checked before the vessel gets under way. 5.3. Manually-operated fire-fighting equipment must be easily accessible and simple to use and must be indicated by signs in accordance with the national provisions transposing Directive 92/58/EEC. Such signs must be placed at appropriate points and be made to last. 5.4. Fire-detection and alarm systems should be regularly tested and well maintained. 5.5. Fire-fighting drills shall be carried out at regular intervals. 6. Ventilation of enclosed workplaces Steps must be taken to see that there is sufficient fresh air in enclosed workplaces, having regard to the working methods used and the physical demands placed on the workers. If a mechanical ventilation system is used, it must be maintained in good condition. 7. Temperature of working areas 7.1. The temperature in working areas must be adequate for the human body during the hours of working, having regard to the work methods used, the physical demands placed on the workers and the actual or potential weather conditions in the area in which the vessel operates. 7.2. The temperature in living quarters, sanitary facilities, canteens and first-aid rooms must, where those areas exist, be appropriate to the particular purpose of such areas, 8. Natural and artificial lighting of workplaces 8.1. Workplaces must as far as possible receive sufficient natural light and be equipped with artificial lighting suitable for the operations in hand, without placing workers' safety and health in danger or jeopardizing the navigation of other vessels. 8.2. Lighting installations in working areas, stairs, ladders and passageways must be placed in such a way that the type of lighting envisaged poses no risk of accident to workers and no hindrance to the navigation of the vessel. 8.3. Workplaces in which workers are especially exposed to risks in the event of failure of artificial lighting must be provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity. 8.4. Emergency lighting must be maintained in an efficient operating condition and be tested at regular intervals. 9. Decks, bulkheads and deckheads 9.1. Spaces accessible to workers must be non-slip or anti-slip or be provided with devices to prevent falls and kept free of obstacles as far as possible. 9.2. Workplaces containing workstations must, in so far as possible, be adequately soundproofed and insulated, bearing in mind the type of tasks involved and the physical activity of workers. 9.3. The surface of decks, bulkheads and deckheads in working areas must be such that they can be cleaned or refurbished to an appropriate standard of hygiene. 10. Doors 10.1. Means should be provided so that doors can at all times be operated from the inside without special equipment. The doors must be operable from either side when workplaces are in use. 10.2. Doors and in particular sliding doors, where such have to be used, must function as safely as possible for the workers, especially in adverse weather and sea conditions. 11. Traffic routes — danger areas 11.1. Passageways, trunks, the outer part of deckhouses and all traffic routes in general must be equipped with guard rails, grab rails and lifelines or other means of ensuring the safety of workers in the course of activities on board. 11.2. If there is a risk that workers may fall through openings in the deck, or from one deck to another, adequate protection should be provided wherever possible, 11.3. Access to installations above the deck for operation or maintenance purposes must be such as to ensure workers' safety. Guard rails or similar protective devices of appropriate height must be provided to prevent falls. 11.4. Bulwarks or other means provided to prevent persons falling overboard must be maintained in an efficient condition. Bulwarks must be fitted with freeing ports or other similar devices to enable water to drain away quickly. 11.5. On stern trawlers with ramps, the ramp must be fitted with a gate or other means of securing it of the same height as the bulwarks or other adjacent means, to protect workers from the risk of falling into the ramp. This gate or other device must be easily opened and closed and must be open only for casting the net or for hauling it in. 12. Layout of workstations 12.1. Working areas must be kept clear and, as far as possible, be protected from the sea and provide adequate protection for workers against falling on the vessel or falling overboard. Handling areas must be sufficiently spacious, in terms of both height and surface area. 12.2. If the engines are controlled from the engine room, they must be controlled from a separate area, soundproofed and insulated from the engine room per se and accessible without passing through the latter. The navigating bridge is considered to be an area that meets the requirements of the first subparagraph. 12.3. The controls for the hauling gear must be installed in an area sufficiently large to enable operators to work unhindered. The hauling gear must also have appropriate safety devices for emergencies, including emergency stop facilities. 12.4. The hauling gear operator must have an adequate view of the hauling gear and the workers at work. If the hauling gear is controlled from the bridge, the operator should also have a clear view of the workers at work, either directly or via any other suitable medium. 12.5. A reliable communications system must be used between the bridge and the working deck. 12.6. A sharp look out should always be maintained and the crew warned of the imminent danger of heavy oncoming seas during fishing operations or when other work is being done on deck. 12.7. Contact with bare ropes and warps and with moving parts of the equipment must be minimized by installing protective devices. 12.8. Controls must be installed for moving masses, particularly on trawlers: — devices to immobilize the otter boards, — devices to control the swinging motion of the codend. 13. Living quarters 13.1. The workers' living quarters, where they exist, must be such as to minimize noise, vibration, the effects of motion and acceleration, and unpleasant odours from other parts of the vessel. Appropriate lighting must be installed in the living quarters. 13.2. The galley and mess, where they exist, should be of adequate size, adequately lit and ventilated and easy to clean. Refrigerators or other low-temperature food-storage equipment must be provided. 14. Sanitary facilities On vessels with living quarters, toilets, wash-basins and, if possible, a shower must be installed and the respective areas must be properly ventilated. 15. First aid On all vessels first-aid equipment must be available which fulfils the requirements in Annex II to Directive 92/29/EEC. 16. Accommodation ladders and gangways An accommodation ladder, gangway or other similar equipment providing an appropriate, safe means of boarding the vessel must be available. ANNEX III MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR CONCERNING LIFE-SAVING AND SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT (Articles 7 (1) (d)) Preliminary note The obligations laid down in this Annex apply wherever required by the features of the workplace, the activity, the circumstances or a risk on board a vessel. 1. Vessels must carry adequate life-saving and survival equipment, including adequate means of recovering workers from the water, and radio rescue, in particular an emergency position-indicating radio beacon with a hydrostatic release mechanism, taking account of the number of persons on board and the area in which the vessel is operating. 2. All items of life-saving and survival equipment must be kept in their proper locations, maintained in good working order and be available for immediate use. They must be checked by the workers before the vessel leaves port and during the voyage. 3. The life-saving and survival equipment must be inspected at regular intervals. 4. All workers must receive proper training and appropriate instructions in anticipation of an emergency. 5. If the length of the vessel exceeds 45 metres or if five or more workers are carried, a muster list must be provided with clear instructions for each worker which must be followed in case of emergency. 6. Musters of workers for survival drill should be carried out each month in port and/or at sea. These drills must ensure that the workers thoroughly understand and are exercised in the duties which they have to perform with respect to the handling and operation of all life-saving and survival equipment. Workers must be trained in the setting up and operation of the portable radio equipment, where carried. ANNEX IV MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (Articles 7 (1) (e)) Preliminary note The obligations laid down in this Annex apply whenever required by the features of the workplace, the activity, the circumstances or a risk on board a vessel. 1. Where risks to the safety and health of workers cannot be prevented or sufficiently limited by collective or technical means of protection, they must be provided with personal protective equipment. 2. Personal protective equipment in the form of clothing or worn over clothing must be in bright colours, contrasting with the marine environment and clearly visible.

Summary: Fishing vessels — health and safety of workers on board Fishing vessels — health and safety of workers on board SUMMARY OF: Directive 93/103/EC — minimum safety and health requirements for work on board fishing vessels WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DIRECTIVE? It outlines measures and responsibilities intended to improve health and safety on board fishing vessels. KEY POINTS Owners of fishing vessels must ensure that their use does not endanger the safety and health of workers, considering foreseeable weather conditions. Under the terms of Directive 89/391/EEC, they must also consider any hazards faced by remaining workers when their co-workers leave their workstations to respond to dangerous situations. New fishing vessels and major repairs and alterations to existing vessels had to comply with minimum safety and health requirements by 23 November 1995, while existing vessels had a further 7 years to comply. Any occurrences at sea affecting the safety and health of the workers on board must be reported to the relevant authorities and in the ship’s log. EU countries must ensure that vessels are checked regularly by specifically empowered authorities to ensure compliance with the directive. Owner obligations Owners must ensure that vessels and their fittings and equipment are clean and well-maintained and must follow the detailed requirements listed in the annexes to the directive in the following areas: seaworthiness and stability; mechanical and electrical installations; radio installation; emergency routes and exits; fire detection and fire fighting; ventilation of enclosed workplaces; temperature of working areas; natural and artificial lighting of workplaces; decks, bulkheads and deckheads; doors; traffic routes — danger areas; layout of workstations; living quarters; sanitary facilities; first aid; accommodation ladders and gangways; noise. Adequate and suitable emergency and survival equipment should be kept on board. Training and consultation Workers should be kept informed of all health and safety measures and should be appropriately trained, in particular in accident prevention and the use of life-saving and survival equipment. Anybody likely to be in command should be additionally trained in the prevention of occupational illness and accidents, the stability and maintenance of the vessel under all foreseeable operational conditions, and radio navigation and communication. Workers, or their representatives, should be consulted on safety and health measures in accordance with Directive 89/391/EEC. Representatives should be given the means to carry out these activities, including time off without loss of pay, and must not be penalised because of them. They must also have the opportunity to submit their observations during inspection visits under the worker participation terms outlined in Directive 89/391/EEC. Implementation EU countries must report to the European Commission every 5 years on the practical implementation of the directive, including the points of view of employers and workers. A 2009 report from the Commission assesses practical implementation of this directive, as well as the 1992 directive on the minimum safety and health requirements for improved medical treatment on board vessels. FROM WHEN DOES THE DIRECTIVE APPLY? It has applied since 2 January 1994. EU countries had to incorporate it into national law by 23 November 1995. BACKGROUND For more information, see: ‘Directive 93/103/EC — work on board fishing vessels’ on the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work’s website MAIN DOCUMENT Council Directive 93/103/EC of 23 November 1993 concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for work on board fishing vessels (thirteenth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (OJ L 307, 13.12.1993, pp. 1–17) Successive amendments to Directive 93/103/EC have been incorporated in to the original document. This consolidated version is of documentary value only. RELATED DOCUMENTS Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work (OJ L 183, 29.6.1989, pp. 1–8) See consolidated version Council Directive 92/29/EEC of 31 March 1992 on the minimum safety and health requirements for improved medical treatment on board vessels (OJ L 113, 30.4.1992, pp. 19–36) See consolidated version Report from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the practical implementation of Health and Safety at Work Directives 93/103/EC (fishing vessels) and 92/29/EEC (medical treatment on board vessels) (COM(2009) 599 final of 29.10.2009) last update 18.08.2016