The 'Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers 2015, 2018 consolidated edition' provides guidance on improving health and safety on board vessels and articulates how statutory obligations should be fulfilled. It is intended primarily for merchant seafarers on United Kingdom registered vessels.

It is a statutory requirement for the Code to be carried on board all UK ships other than fishing vessels and pleasure craft. The Code contains essential health and safety information and it must be made available to any seafarer on board the ship who requests it.

COSWP provides guidance on improving health and safety on board vessels and articulates how statutory obligations should be fulfilled. The Code details the regulatory framework for health and safety on board ship, safety management and statutory duties underlying the advice in the Code and the areas that should be covered when introducing a new recruit to the safety procedures on board.

It is a statutory requirement for the current edition of the Code to be carried on board all UK ships other than fishing vessels and pleasure craft. The Code contains essential health and safety information and it must be made available to any seafarer on board the ship who requests it.

This complete set includes all of the latest amendments for the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers:

1) Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers 2015 edition

• A new chapter outlining the importance of a good safety culture, including revised guidance on risk assessment.
• New content on fatigue.
  
• Revised chapter on entry into dangerous spaces, reflecting new SOLAS requirements, IMO Resolution A.27/Res.1050 and other best practice.
• A new chapter on ergonomics.

2) Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers 2015 edition - Amendment 1 October 2016
ISBN: 9780115534904

Amendment 1 to the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seamen (COSWP) 2015 provides updated safety signs and a new chapter on Ships Serving Offshore Renewables.

Amendment 1 includes the following:

• New chapter (Chapter 32) covering Ships Serving Offshore Renewables.
• Updated signs in Chapter 9, Safety Signs.

3) Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers 2015 edition - Amendment 2 December 2017
ISBN: 9780115535765

Amendment 2 to the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers (COSWP) 2015 Edition provides new information on sunglasses, the risk from sharps, solid carbon dioxide, and safe access to small craft.

Amendment 2 includes the following:

• Update to Chapter 3, with the addition of information on sunglasses and risk from sharps.
• Update to Chapter 21, with information about solid carbon dioxide.
• Update to Chapter 22, with information about safe access to small craft.

4) Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers - Amendment 3, October 2018
ISBN: 9780115536212

Amendment 3 to the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers (COSWP) 2015 edition provides updates to chapters 18 and 19.

Amendment 3 includes the following:

• Update to Chapter 18, with text reordered to move standards for equipment to an annex.
• Update to Chapter 19, with text reordered to move standards for equipment to an annex.

5) Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers - Amendment 4, October 2019
ISBN: 9780115537127

Amendment 4 to the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers (COSWP) 2015 edition provides updates to Chapters 1, 3, 10, 13 and 24.

Amendment 4 includes the following:

• Update to Chapter 1, with risk assessment forms added.
• Update to Chapter 3, with updated information on the safe use of e-cigarettes.
• Update to Chapter 10, with updated information on the safe rigging of pilot ladders.
• Update to Chapter 13, with a list of human and organizational factors that may have contributed to an accident.
• Update to Chapter 24, with more information about welding fumes.

The Code details the regulatory framework for health and safety on board ships, safety management and statutory duties underlying the advice in the Code and the areas that should be covered when introducing a new recruit to the safety procedures on board.

5) Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers - Amendment 5, October 2020
ISBN: 9780115539770

Amendment 5 to the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers (COSWP) 2015 edition provides updates to Chapters 1-6, 8-12, 15, 18, 20-24, 26, and 28.

Amendment 5 includes the following updates:

Chapter 4

• New section on damage control drills
• New annex with table of emergency drills and their frequency
  

Chapter 12

• Updated info on vibration exposure limits
• Table of recommended maximum sound limits for different areas on board ship updated in annex
  

Chapter 15

• Updated info on personal monitoring equipment
• New table about testing for toxic gases
  

Chapter 20

• Updated info on isolation while working on powered machinery or equipment
• New section on critical equipment
• New info on the lock out, tag out (LOTO) safety procedure
  

6) Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers - Amendment 6, October 2021
ISBN: 9780115540646

Amendment 6 to the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers (COSWP) 2015 edition provides updates to Chapters 3, 4, 14, 18, 19, 20 and 26.

Amendment 6 includes the following updates:

• Chapter 3 - New section on the use of mobile phones and other personal electronic devices

• Chapter 4 - Addition of new sub-sections and an annex on launching drills for lifeboats and rescue boats

• Chapter 14 - Items added to the permits to work forms

• Chapter 18 - Ropes and wires information rearranged Chapter 19 Updated advice on the regular examination of lifting equipment or accessories

• Chapter 19 - Updated advice on the regular examination of lifting equipment or accessories

• Chapter 20 - Information added about assistive-start substances and maintenance-free storage batteries

• Chapter 26 - Addition of a new sub-section and annex on safe self-mooring operations and examples of mooring arrangements

The amendment consists of loose-leaf pages that replace select pages from the main edition binder.

For the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers collection, click here.