Page 9 - CHIRP annual digest 2016.pdf

CHIRPAnnual Digest 2016

happy that our safety culture is working … the positive Article. 03
reaction to this incident was that we worked as a team, ‘Don’t Get Wet Feet’ – Embarkation
procedures were used, and no dangerous situation and Disembarkation Risks
occurred’.
A major charterer and ship manager has reviewed
incidents involving injuries while embarking/disembarking
The lessons to be learnt
Notwithstanding the discrepancy between the report ships. Three are shared here; most of us will have seen near
misses like this in the past.
and the company’s comment, this case provides the
opportunity to air this vital issue. ■ Disembarking from a vessel to a boat alongside, using
the ship’s accommodation ladder; the person re -
Enclosed spaces are the 2nd biggest killer at sea. portedly lost his balance while stepping on to the
Consequently the correct safety precautions are widely boat, and fell into the water.
discussed. They are comprehensively described in the ■ Descending the vertical jetty ladder to board a barge,
UK’s COSWPs for Seafarers, and they feature in the a cargo surveyor lost his grip, hit the deck of the barge
IMO’s SOLAS framework. From 1 January 2015, bi- and fell into the water. He suffered a broken knee, and
monthly entry and rescue drills became mandatory. In injuries to his leg and head. The surveyor was carrying
addition remote testing equipment is mandatory sampling bottles in his jacket.
onboard ships from July 2016. ■ While boarding a vessel using the ship’s accom -
modation ladder, the boat engaged in the transfer
The CHIRP Maritime Advisory Board’s conclusions on operation rose with the swell causing the person to
this latest case emphasised the following points: ‘If in be hit by the ship’s ladder. The person suffered a
doubt, treat a space as enclosed’; for example the fracture to his leg.
existence of a gooseneck vent on a water tank does not
mean it is not ‘enclosed’. Nor is a space that is partially CHIRP Suggests
open necessarily safe. A crew member can be overcome ■ Guidelines for some of these operations, as well as
in seconds. A meter around his or her neck will not the equipment in use, are available. KNOW THE
necessarily prevent death, if the atmosphere ceases to EQUIP MENT, KNOW AND OBSERVE THE GUIDE-
have the required concentration of oxygen or contains LINES.
toxic gases. Once again, ship’s robust safety culture is ■ Scenarios, equipment and environmental conditions
crucial. Competence, training and experience comple - vary. PAY ATTENTION; KEEP ALERT. This applies to
ment Safe Systems of Work, Permits to Work and risk both those that transfer and those that supervise the
assessments. Regular emergency exercises for confined activity.
space entry and rescue drills are vital in good safety ■ DON’T TRANSFER, OR ALLOW TRANSFER, UNLESS IT
management systems and practice. Beware of com - LOOKS AND FEELS RIGHT. INTERVENE IF NEEDED.
placency; it leads to dangerous practices. Departmental
The above article was published in MFB42
briefings and debriefings, senior leadership by example,
and consistent use of language (as in the word
‘enclosed’) are all important in building a good safety Article. 04
culture”. Safely Moored?
A passenger ship was berthed close to the stern of another
An enclosed space is one that:
vessel. As the passenger ship cleared the berth on de parture,
IMO Resolution A1050(27): has limited openings the distance between the sterns of the two vessels reduced
for entry and exit; has inadequate ventilation; and to 20 metres. The other vessel (pictured) had crew standing
is not designed for continuous worker occupation by to tend ropes if required. As shown below, they were in
extremely hazardous positions. Fortunately, nothing went
wrong; but the combination of poor design, berths ill
CHIRP Suggests
matched to ships and snapback hazards can be lethal.
Can you ‘Walk the Talk?’ Double-check procedures.
Practice regularly. Lead by example. Make sure everyone What did the reporter tell us?
onboard knows this is the second biggest killer at sea. The moored vessel does not fit the berth since stern lines

The above article was published in MFB42 cannot be run and the back spring and breast lines have

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