InterManager conducted a survey focusing on the danger of enclosed spaces aboard vessels. InterManager published the results and the feedback of the survey to highlight the risks hiding in that sector of the shipping industry, while also alert the industry of the importance of eradicating these risks.
The survey was conducted in the timeframe of three months, while crew, representing more than 5,000 seafarers, from about 250 vessels provided feedback.
The Association aspires to make stakeholders aware of the fact that they are part of the problem and to encourage them develop potential solutions.
The survey addressed what is believed by the majority; Seafarers and dock workers are still dying while working in enclosed spaces onboard vessels because there is not enough understanding throughout the shipping industry of the risks.
It revealed a perception that safety improvements do not happen because shipping industry investigations encourage a ‘blame culture’. Dangerous and unrealistic timeframes imposed for the completion of hazardous tasks also put at-risk staff under unnecessary extra pressure.
In addition, the survey focused on the continuous lack of improvement in the design of the vessels, and to the fact that not enough consideration is being given to access areas and people working in them. In light of this, the respondents said ‘enclosed spaces are frequently impossible to properly ventilate or to measure the atmosphere in.’
Moreover, the respondents commented that cargo hold and tank preparation was almost like ‘bullying on an industrial scale’, given that seafarers supported that the timeframe to conduct this job is really tight.
Additionally, respondents also asked for more training, mostly those who work in commercial offices, as charterers. They suggested the ‘fear factor’ to raise awareness of the dangers of working in enclosed spaces. Specifically, respondents recommended changing the phrase to ‘dangerous space’ or even ‘fatal space’ to hit the message home.
InterManager added that
The survey revealed a wide-spread belief that a blame culture is deeply rooted within the shipping industry. Respondents felt that the majority of accident investigations stop at finding the ‘guilty party’ and very rarely go further to discover why the accident occurred or what were the reasons for the actions of those killed or injured.
As a result, the survey showed that respondents believe that accident investigation results are inconsistent, implying that a standard investigation format prevents a proper and thorough analysis of accidents and the ready identification of potential improvements.
InterManager Secretary General, Captain Kuba Szymanski noted that
Unfortunately, people are now so used to the situation that it is extremely difficult to challenge their point of view. Seafarers, and more importantly ship managers, are not thinking outside of the box.
He continued that according to him, the industry focuses so much in training seafarers that they ignore the implementation of new procedures or the eradication of enclosed spaces from future vessel design.
Meanwhile, except of focusing on the problems, InterManager’s survey asked recipients to identify potential solutions to avoid further losses.
Consequently, the seafarers called for clearer identification of hazardous spaces, suggesting access should be restricted by senior management onboard or ashore.
Also, they asked for better training to improve awareness, while other supported that it would be better if they accessed enclosed spaces using safety equipment such as Emergency Escape Breathing Devices (EEBDs) or Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCABs).
Other stated that technology is a solution to limit human presence in enclosed spaces.
- adequate ventilation (whole space)
- adequate fixed gas detection systems
- accessibility for humans in order to perform search and rescue operations.
Based on the feedback of the survey, Mr Kuba added
Seafarers seem to believe that this unsafe environment is created by designers and enforced by manuals and procedures, and therefore cannot be disputed and has to be followed – even if it results in death…It is rather sad to see so many seafarers losing hope that their situation will ever improve. As a result the suggestions from those individuals do not stretch beyond improving training and procedures.
