Access Rail System – R27
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Appendix A
2. Installation
2.1 Any newly installed rail and trolley system used should be tested, certified and approved to a recognised European
Union standard for fall protection equipment (EN 795:2012) and should display the CE mark. More information
on these requirements is contained in Annex 2.
2.2 Where it is proposed to use a rail and trolley system, or other system, (ie. a system already fitted) that has not
been specifically designed for supporting crew members over the side, its use for overside work is not permitted
without written confirmation having been received from the manufacturer, preferably by means of a certificate,
that use for such purposes is permissible including any conditions attached to its use for that purpose.
3. Operation
3.1 Before use the employer should ensure that:
3.1.1 the manufacturers’ instructions are read and understood by the persons who will be using the equipment;
3.1.2 a risk assessment is carried out and an appropriate rescue plan developed to recover persons who fall into
the water; and
3.1.3 crew members are competent to use the equipment and are aware of any conditions relating to its use
and their safety.
3.2 Rail and trolley systems for working overside should not be used whilst the vessel is underway.
3.3 These systems are designed to be used with the appropriate PPE (harnesses, lanyards, fall arresters and other
devices).
3.4 On systems referred to in paragraph 2.1 there is a single attachment on each traveller designed to accommodate a
single line such as a harness. One of the travellers is fitted with a locking device. The device which locks the
traveller in position along the rail rail must ONLY be disengaged from the rail rail while the user is changing
position. Once the user is in position, the locking MUST be re-engaged to hold the car in position and limit the
user’s movement along the rail rail.
3.5 The user must NEVER rely on only one attachment point for personal protective equipment. The working harness
should be attached to one traveller and a fall arrestor, or other safety device, to the other. A third traveller could
be used to attach work tools.
3.6 More guidance can be found in the Code of Safe Working Practices Chapters 4 and 15.
3.7 The use of systems for overside work that do not meet the requirements of either paragraphs 2.1 or 2.2 above, or
fail to provide instructions in the use of such equipment in accordance with paragraph 3.1, could potentially place
the employer of the crew, and also the master, in breach of their obligations under relevant Merchant Shipping
health and safety legislation and render them liable to prosecution and a fine for non-compliance. Further
information on relevant legislation is set out in Annex 1.
4. Maintenance
4.1 Where systems meeting the requirements of either paragraphs 2.1 or 2.2 are used for overside work, relevant
information regarding the maintenance and testing of such systems should be obtained from the system
manufacturer. Such information is to be in written form and a copy of it is to be kept on board the vessel
to which it applies.
4.2 More information on the use of these systems is contained in Annex 2.
