431-Helicopter Operations Procedure / 748
H
elico
p
ter
Op
erations
BOS-PRD-07.900610
procedures, until such time as he is advised that the Flight Watch has been turned over to another agency.
The Lifting Call message will contain some or all of the following information:
a. call-sign or flight number;
b. departure point;
c. time of take off;
d. initial en route radial and intercept or track;
e. initial en route cruising altitude.
Immediately after take-off, a departure message in the format agreed on with the
H
elico
p
ter
Op
erator
shall
be sent to the
H
elico
p
ter
C
ontractor
. The departure message will include flight number,
Vessel
name,
departure time, destination, ETA, number of PAX, autonomy, and flying altitude.
4.
3 Equ
i
p
m
ent an
d m
aintenance
Weekly maintenance of the helideck and related equipment
shall
be performed in compliance with the
Weekly Helideck Checklist.
In addition, the equipment
shall
be inspected as described in the
planned
maintenance system (PMS)
.
4.4
S
a
f
et
y
on
h
eli
d
ec
k
The practice of exercising on helidecks has been common for as long as there have been helidecks on-
board platforms and vessels.
As the helideck provides a free and clear space enabling walking on-board, it is not intended to prohibit the
use of this facility.
However, some risks can exist and need to be mitigated.
These risks include:
- Risk of skin burns due to radar radiations.
- Fall from the helideck due to loss of balance, due to excessive vessel movement, or lack of
protection.
R
is
k
lin
k
e
d
wit
h
ra
d
iations
4.4.1
Marine radar systems operate in the high radio frequency and microwave range. Unlike X-rays and nuclear
radiation, the emissions from marine radar are non-ionizing radiation and do not penetrate the human body
but can cause heating of the surface, particularly of the skin and eyes.
Canadian Coast Guards have performed calculations on both rotating scanner antennas which are
commonly used on-board commercial vessels.
Their conclusion is that when a scanning antenna is rotating, the safe working distance is 20 cm away from
the antenna.
Other measures performed by the British government have shown that at 10 meters from 2 common
commercial marine radars the exposure rate was 10 times below the acceptable public exposure rate.
These two studies are showing that the risk is low on-board our vessel.
As there are other sources of radiation than the radars, and in order to be protective,
it is reco
mm
en
d
e
d
to
k
ee
p
at least a 5
m
d
istance
f
ro
m
an
y
rotating ra
d
ar antenna an
d
to li
m
it t
h
e ti
m
e s
p
ent on t
h
e
h
eli
d
ec
k
at least than 1 hour per day. These restrictions do not apply when radar is off or in standby.
R
is
k
o
f
f
all
f
ro
m
h
eli
d
ec
k
4.4.2
Some cases of suspicious fall from helideck have been reported in the industry. However given the
circumstances of these events, there is no evidence that it was directly linked to a trip hazard. Safety nets
should
always be fixed in place around helidecks and are designed to provide protection against falling.
Version 01. Original date: 8/8/2014. Version date:N/A. Valid version only on QMS site. Uncontrolled document when printed.
Procedure prepared by: BOS Ops Dpt Project Coordinator. Approved by: BOS Operations Department Director. Validated by: BOS Quality Representative.
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431