The flat-bottomed boats known as barges are mainly used for transporting heavy goods. Although there are several barges for sale and many barges are being used worldwide for river and canal transport, working in a barge is not an easy task.
Training employees working in barges is an essential part for safety and health aspects of their job. These programs help employees to protect them from injuries and illnesses. A training program on site or off site should be conducted to qualify them to perform their duty in the working environment, applying the regulations and avoiding unsafe conditions.
Most importantly these training must include prevention and protection from fire, explosives or other dangers. They should be well informed about the risks of carelessness while working. The cautions they must take when storing gases, fuels or other toxic substances. If anyhow an accident occurs, they ought to be given proper emergency plans that contain man overboard rescue procedures and drills. First aid lessons are also a must to know in these cases.
As barges are used to carry heavy and bulk goods, handling and storing these goods in a way they do not fall or get damaged should be a part of their training. In addition, the secure way of using different types of tools and protective equipments have to be included. As some barges need to towed by tugboats, procedures for securing barges to tugs is another main lesson that they should be given.
A training program consisting of all these factors is vital in order to reduce or get rid of the hazards. In this way they will be able to perform their job in the best way with securing themselves as well as without giving a huge loss to the employer.