In its latest issue of Safety Digest, UK MAIB highlights an incident concerning an engineer who was informed by the captain that the engine’s exhaust temperature was higher than normal. Therefore, he went to the engine room to check. While losing his balance he placed both of his hands on an uninsulated section of the exhaust pipe. The engineer suffered crucial burns to his hands and was transferred ashore for hospital treatment.
The Incident
As the master of an offshore support vessel noticed that the starboard engine’s exhaust temperature was higher than normal, he informed the engineer, who went to the engine room to check.
As he lost his balance, he steadied himself by placing both hands on an uninsulated section of the exhaust pipe, which was below his knee level. The engineer suffered severe burns to his hands and was soon landed ashore for treatment at a hospital. At the time of the accident, the sea was calm and the vessel was pushing on to a wind turbine platform.
However, the engines had a history of exhaust pipe cracking and the starboard engine exhaust pipe had been replaced 20 days before the accident, but its lagging had not been refitted.
The vessel had a wet exhaust system and the exhaust pipe was raised above the sea level as a precaution against water flowing into a stopped engine.
Lessons Learned
- Exposed surfaces with temperatures above 220ºC are prohibited by SOLAS regulations as they are fire hazards.
- If it is necessary to remove exhaust lagging for access, always ensure it is refitted as soon as the work has been completed.
