Aquaculture Safety & Hazard Management: Confined Spaces, Lockout, PPE, and Emergency Procedures

Keep yourself safe

Above all else in aquaculture safety.

Safety oversight in Ontario

Ontario Ministry of Labour.

Worker rights under OHSA

Right to refuse unsafe work; to be informed; to participate.

Common hazards in aquaculture

Slips, trips, heavy lifting, RSI, extreme temperatures, confined spaces, oxygen deficiency, electrocution, diving, chemicals.

Employer responsibilities

Provide training, inform of hazards, ensure safe procedures, supply PPE.

Worker responsibilities

Use PPE, report hazards, don't use equipment without training.

Confined space definition

1) Fully/partially enclosed 2) Not designed for human occupancy 3) Atmospheric hazard may occur.

Examples of aquaculture confined spaces

Tanks, silos, boilers, pits, pump wells, ducts, piping, effluent rooms.

Confined space criteria

If an atmospheric hazard may exist → treat as a confined space.

Dangerous oxygen levels

<19.5% or >23%.

Requirements of a confined space program

Written program, hazard ID, training, entry permits, rescue plan, LOTO, testing, ventilation.

Entry permit requirements

Location, work description, hazards, controls; available for review.

Purging vs Ventilation

Purging = remove hazardous air. Ventilation = continuous fresh air supply.

Examples of hot work

Welding, grinding, soldering, non-explosion-proof pumps.

Examples of cold work

Painting, inspection, valve adjustments.

Lockout definition

Isolation of energy to prevent accidental startup. Must use padlock-secured device.

What is not a lockout

Push buttons, switches, tape, zap straps.

Tag requirements

Reason, time, name of installer.

Lock/tag removal

Only the installer.

Stored energy examples

Electrical (capacitors), mechanical (springs), gravitational, chemical, hydraulic/pneumatic, thermal.

Lockout verification

Test start switch; test circuits.

Criteria for a good knot?

Holds securely, easy to untie, can be tied quickly.

Five common knots?

Half hitch, clove hitch, bowline, sheet bend, cleat hitch.

When does hypothermia start?

Body temp <35°C. Normal = 37°C.

How fast do you lose heat in water?

25× faster vs cold air.

First reflex when you fall in?

Torso reflex — involuntary gasp. Keep head up.

Mammalian diving reflex?

Cold water on face → HR drops, blood to core, survival reflex.

Major heat-loss areas?

Head, armpits, sides, groin. ("Beaver tail").

Treatment of hypothermia?

Stop heat loss, rewarm, remove wet clothing, get medical help.

Who yields when overtaking?

Overtaking boat must steer clear.

Approaching on port side?

Give way. Other vessel maintains course.

Head-on situation?

Both vessels turn starboard; pass port-to-port.

Red Right Returning?

Keep red buoys on your right when returning to harbour.

CDC estimate for sharp injuries?

~15% of sharp-using operations have injuries.

Scalpel best practices?

Don't touch blade, use disposable, cut-proof gloves, no sawing motion.

Knife safety?

Sharp blade, inspect often, cut away, no catching falling knives.

Needle best practices?

Visual at all times, expect fish movement, change every 5 fish, know injection risks.

Sharps container rules?

Never overfill, never remove items, use secondary container if liquid present.

Main hazards of lead-acid batteries?

Hydrogen gas, sulfuric acid, shock, weight.

Hydrogen gas properties?

Produced during charging, flammable, explosive at 4-74%, lighter than air.

Acid safety?

pH <2, severe burns, never look over caps.

Electrical hazards?

Even disconnected batteries can shock; shorting causes arcs/explosions.

Fire/explosion precautions?

No sparks/flames, ventilate, avoid static, ABC extinguisher, no metal on battery.

Cause of battery explosions?

Overcharging, wrong charger, sparks, poor ventilation, shorted terminals.

If electrolyte contacts eyes?

Flush 15 min, seek immediate care.

Mixing electrolyte rule?

Acid → water (never water → acid).

Jump-start order?

+ dead → + good → - good → - engine block. Remove in reverse.

Required PPE for acid?

Goggles, gloves, face shield, chemical apron, boots.

Eyewash requirements?

15-min flushing, within 25 ft of battery area.

What is an electrolyte?

35% sulfuric acid and 65% water and it initiates a chemical reaction that produces electrons

Jump starting a vehicle order?

1. Other + end → positive terminal (good battery).

2. – cable → negative terminal (good battery).

3. Final – cable → engine block/frame of dead vehicle (away from battery).

Respirator types

APR (air purifying) and SAR (supplied air)

What PPE must employers supply?

Safety eyewear, high-visibility jackets, respirators, hearing protection, and life jackets.

What is a key worker responsibility when using PPE?

Inspect PPE for damage before use and report malfunctions.

What are the three main types of APR respirators?

Disposable (dust mask), half-mask, and full-face.

What does a negative pressure seal check confirm?

When you inhale with the inlet covered, the mask should collapse slightly with no air leaks.

Common PPE errors

reversing hard hat + stickers, removing side shades on safety eye wear, filters on respirators