India presents best practices for working in enclosed spaces

The Indian Directorate General of Shipping has published a circular to inform of the dangers of enclosed spaces, following two unfortunate incidents that occurred recently at Indian Ports resulting in tragic loss of two stevedores and one excavator-operator onboard the vessels.

The Preliminary Investigation has revealed certain gaps in safety measures which may have contributed to the casualties. To prevent recurrence of such incidents in the future, stakeholders are urged to consider the following suggestions and amend their Safety Procedures in Ports and shipboard Safety Management Systems (SMS) accordingly:

Access Control: Vessels shall ensure that all enclosed and restricted spaces are not accessed by shore personnel unless duly authorized by the shipboard personnel. Booby hatches of unused cargo holds should be kept closed and locked. Access to shore personnel to enclosed spaces is to be authorized and controlled by ship’s personnel. All accesses should remain adequately marked for identifying the spaces they serve, especially when maintenance has been done on them.

Interface with Shore Personnel: Vessel to ensure adequate interface with shore personnel working on board, where all aspects of cargo operations are to be discussed with port representatives and agreed upon in a defined check-off list.

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Medical Equipment: Vessel to ensure that necessary medical equipment is arranged at an easily accessible place on the main deck. The supervisor of the Stevedore agency shall verify and confirm such arrangement. In one instance, the ship’s crew, although able to give CPR, were unable to use an oxygen resuscitator. Proper training of the ship’s crew is to be imparted in this regard.

Enclosed Space Entry Procedures: Depending on the cargo to be loaded/discharged, port representative/stevedore during the opening meeting agrees that all enclosed space entry procedures are complied with prior to entry into any enclosed spaces. Further, it is to be ensured that the vessel makes available necessary medical equipment at an easily accessible place on the main deck. All such areas are to be identified adequately marked by the ship’s staff.

Briefing to Shore Gang: Port shall provide adequate briefing to the shore gang about the nature of cargo, restricted areas, danger involved in the enclosed spaces, cargo loading/discharge plan, etc., and instruct shore gang to not enter any restricted or enclosed space unless authorized by vessels staff.

Medical Services: Ports shall ensure that sufficient medical services and emergency paramedical personnel are available in discharge/loading berths.

Training of Port Workers: The Port shall ensure that the stevedores and port workers are adequately qualified and trained about the hazards of enclosed spaces and hazards of cargoes.

Updated List of Stevedores: Port shall ensure that an updated list of stevedores entering on board each vessel shall be maintained ashore with the contact details of next of kin, etc. These recommendations are applicable to all vessels at Indian ports and all Indian ports. Any noncompliance with these guidelines will attract appropriate action.

To remind, InterManager has collected detailed information regarding enclosed space accidents spanning from 1996 to 1 May 2024, specifically focusing on incidents of asphyxiation.

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