⚠️ SAFETY FIRST! What is allowed and what is NOT allowed in the ENGINE ROOM.

What is allowed and what is NOT allowed in the ENGINE ROOM (Regarding PPE)

The engine room is one of the most dangerous working environments on board a ship. High temperatures, moving parts, high pressures, noise, fuels, oils, electricity. It does not forgive mistakes.

That is why PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is not an “exaggeration.” It is a basic survival rule.

I have personally seen minor accidents happen in seconds — and be avoided simply because someone was wearing the proper equipment. PPE is not there just to be written in the SMS. It is there so you can return home safely.

In this article we will clearly see:

✔️ What is allowed in the engine room
✔️ What is NOT allowed
✔️ Which PPE is mandatory
✔️ When special equipment is required

What is PPE?

PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is the personal protective equipment worn by a seafarer to reduce the risk of injury.

MANDATORY PPE in the Engine Room

1️⃣ Safety helmet

Protects against:

  • Falling objects

  • Impact with low piping

  • Lifting operations

There is no such thing as “just for a moment.” If you enter, you wear it.

2️⃣ Safety shoes

With:

  • Steel toe protection

  • Slip-resistant sole

  • Oil resistance

There are always oils on the engine room floor.

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3️⃣ Work coverall

  • Heat-resistant

  • Covered sleeves

  • No loose ends

Loose clothing near rotating parts = danger.

4️⃣ Gloves (depending on the job)

  • Mechanical gloves for heavy work

  • Heat-resistant gloves for hot surfaces

  • Chemical-resistant gloves for chemicals

I never touch a hot surface without checking first.

5️⃣ Ear protection

Noise in the engine room can exceed 110 dB.

Long-term exposure causes:

  • Permanent hearing loss

  • Fatigue

  • Reduced concentration

6️⃣ Safety glasses

Required for:

  • Using compressed air

  • Grinding wheels

  • Cleaning jobs

  • Chemicals

A small particle can cause permanent damage.

Special PPE (When required)

🔹 Respirator / Mask

For:

  • Tank cleaning

  • Painting

  • Chemicals

🔹 Harness (safety harness)

For working at height.

🔹 Face shield

For cutting, grinding, and high-temperature work.

🔹 Fire suit

For emergency fire fighting.


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What is NOT allowed in the engine room

❌ Flip-flops or casual shoes
❌ Short sleeves / shorts
❌ Music headphones
❌ Hanging jewelry
❌ Loose long hair near moving parts
❌ Entering without PPE “for 1 minute”

I believe that “just for a little while” is the most dangerous phrase in the engine room.

The most common mistakes I see

  • Not wearing ear protection “because we are talking”

  • Wearing gloves on rotating machinery (entanglement risk)

  • Helmet removed “because I feel hot”

  • Glasses in the pocket instead of on the face

Safety is not a choice. It is a habit.

Why PPE saves lives

PPE:

✔️ Reduces the severity of injuries
✔️ Protects against burns
✔️ Reduces hearing loss
✔️ Prevents eye injuries
✔️ Prevents crushing injuries

In shipping, the human factor is critical. And protecting it is a priority.

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Safety Culture – It is not a formality

PPE is not there just to pass an inspection.
It is there so we can get through the watch safely.

I personally believe that a good engineer shows his quality by how he prepares before picking up a tool.

If you start without PPE, you have already made the first mistake.

Final Message

SAFETY FIRST is not a slogan. It is a way of life.

In the engine room:

✔️ Always wear PPE
✔️ Never make compromises
✔️ Never take risks for speed
✔️ Never neglect safety because “you have done it before”

I always say:
The machine can be repaired. The eye or the hand cannot.

📌 The video is intended for:

  • Merchant Marine Academy students
  • Merchant Navy engineers
  • friends of shipping

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⚓ Marine engineering is not just power — it is control, knowledge, and proper synchronization.

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