Date of occurrence
Vessel type
Location
: February 2018
: Merchant vessels of 5000 GT or over
: Ship was alongside, discharging cargo and preparing for the discharge of oily-water and sludge from the Engine Room
The gratings of an opening from the third deck in the Engine Room through to the Engine Room tank-top (bottom platform) were opened. This was done so that the portable pump could be lowered to the bottom platform to discharge sludge and oily-water from the Ship to the Sludge Barge that was tied alongside.
However, during this operation, no barriers or notices were placed to alert crew of the open deck gratings. A crew member, unaware of the unguarded opening in the Engine Room deck, fell through the open deck gratings. He landed onto the bottom platform, about nine (9) metres height and eventually succumbed to his injuries.
The Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers deals with such areas of concern including the guarding of openings and the posting of safety signs. The Code states that where a normal transit area becomes unsafe to use for any reason, that area should be closed until it can be made safe for use again.
Lessons Learnt
- If the opening is exposed, edge protection (eg. guardrails) around the perimeter of the opening should be installed;
- Warning signs should be prominently posted to alert or warn the crews of the on-site hazard. This can be done by roping off or cordoning or barricading off the area.
- Shipowners/managers and master should establish a fall prevention plan and conduct necessary risk assessment;
Recommendation
Ship owners, managers and masters should review operational procedures to assess and ensure that unguarded openings on board are adequately safeguarded.
