CHIRP reports an incident concerning a pilot ladder that did not meet SOLAS standards.
The incident
The pilot ladder had a broken strand. This was not visible before the pilot started to climb the ladder, as it was located at the top. However, it was clearly visible to the ship’s staff.
The Master was advised that the ladder must never be used again and must be taken out of service and destroyed.
Damage to pilot ladder side ropes is often caused by the ladder not being stowed away off the deck in a safe, well-ventilated storage locker. By being left in the open, the ladder is liable to damage by crushing or abrasion or can be damaged by chemicals, or cargo dust residues which can also chemically and physically attack the rope fibres.
Human factors
- Complacency: Check if everything is really ok.
- Culture: Does everyone really care about safety? How do you know?
- Capability: Is your team capable of spotting defects?
