You are decanting a concentrate into a spray bottle in the laundry with the door closed. The bottle you grabbed used to hold a bathroom acid and still has a little in the bottom. What happens next is a hospital case. Almost every serious interior incident starts with a small, ordinary shortcut.
COSHH and safety data sheets
Hazardous substances onboard are managed under a COSHH-type regime (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health). Every chemical carried must have a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) available to the crew.
The SDS tells you, among 16 standard sections: hazard identification, composition, first-aid measures, fire-fighting, accidental release measures, handling and storage, exposure controls / PPE, and disposal. Know where the SDS file lives before you open a bottle, not after.
- Understand the GHS pictograms — corrosive, irritant/harmful, flammable, toxic, environmental hazard.
- If a chemical comes aboard without an SDS, it does not get used.
PPE and safe handling
| Task | Minimum PPE |
|---|---|
| Routine cleaning | Nitrile gloves |
| Bathroom/WC cleaning | Gloves (red zone), apron |
| Decanting concentrate | Gloves and eye protection |
| Mould treatment / strong chemicals | Gloves, eye protection, ventilation, respiratory protection if the SDS says so |
- Decant safely: water first, then chemical; use a dosing device; label the bottle with the product name and hazard information; never use a food or drink container.
- Never mix chemicals. Chlorine bleach + acid = chlorine gas. Chlorine bleach + ammonia = chloramine. In a small, closed head or laundry these are life-threatening.
- Store chemicals upright, secured against motion, segregated (acids away from bleach), in a ventilated locker, away from heat and food.
- Ventilate every space you work chemicals in.
- Know the location of the eyewash and the first-aid kit, and report any exposure at once.
Waste and MARPOL Annex V
MARPOL Annex V governs garbage from ships. The practical rule for interior crew: plastic may never be discharged into the sea — and in practice yachts operate a total no-discharge policy for garbage, landing all waste ashore to licensed reception facilities.
- Segregate at source: plastics, glass, paper/card, food waste, metal, and hazardous waste (batteries, chemicals, aerosols, cartridges) — to the boat's system.
- Chemicals, empty chemical containers and contaminated cloths are hazardous waste, not general rubbish, and never go over the side.
- Special Areas (Mediterranean, Baltic) are strictest. The Garbage Record Book is the vessel's legal record — follow the boat's procedure exactly.
Working safely in a seaway
- One hand for the ship. Carry less, make two trips, use both feet on stairs.
- Slips and trips: dry as you go, never leave a wet sole, never leave a bucket or trolley unsecured, stow everything before departure.
- Safe lifting: feet apart, bend the knees not the back, load close to the body, no twisting, and get help for heavy or awkward loads (mattresses, full linen bags, provisions).
Onboard Notes
- Report near-misses: the stew who reports a loose chemical bottle prevents the next injury. Medication, sharps and batteries never go in general waste.
- These xplor lessons are preparatory study only — they build knowledge for GUEST Unit 32, which is governed by IAMI and must be completed at an accredited training centre.