In its latest report, IMCA informs about a potentially risky situation, where the wrong was in place to enter the CO2 fire-fighting activation panel.
The incident
During a weekly inspection it was revealed that the key for the CO2 fixed firefighting system compartment, which was stored in a break glass box adjacent to the entrance, did not fit the padlock – it was the wrong key. This could have lead to unavailability of access to the CO2 fire-fighting activation panel in the event of an emergency.
Probable cause
- Lack of awareness and non-compliance with both regulatory and company requirements;
- Lack of emergency preparedness.
To ensure this incident will not happen in the future, operators installed a new padlock as well a key, with the key in the break glass box alongside.
Operators might care to have a thorough check of all very rarely used keys, switches, buttons et cetera, particularly those that would be used in an emergency
IMCA stated.
