As the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council informs, a seafarer fell from a gangway, losing his life, and provides lessons learned from the incident.
The incident
The Deceased stepped onto a gangway to disembark from a vessel back to the wharf after checking the lifting points of cargo onboard the vessel. The gangway tipped over the edge of the wharf and the Deceased fell into the sea together with the gangway. The end of the gangway was resting on the edge of the wharf, but it was not properly secured.
The Deceased was rescued but subsequently pronounced dead by attending paramedics on scene.
Probable cause
- Failed to ensure that workers are only allowed on barge when the gangway is secured, failed to ensure that workers don life jackets when working near bodies of water, and safe work procedures were not established for stevedore operations.
- Worker did not don life jacket when he started work.
- Unsafe method to board and disembark from the vessel before the gangway was secured.
Lessons learned
- Conduct a thorough RA before any work commences. RA should identify falling into the sea as a hazard.
- Secure the gangway properly at both ends, i.e. vessel and wharf side.
- Maintain and check the gangway at regular intervals according to the maintenance regime to ensure it is in proper condition for use.
- Ensure all moving parts are in good working conditions and are well greased.
- There should also be at least one crew member (often referred to as the gangway watch) on board the vessel tending the gangway and observing passenger movement. The gangway watch would be able to initiate emergency response should an accident occur.
- Do a thorough work planning before works start (e.g. gangway is secured). The owner, agent, master, or person-in-charge of a vessel must ensure that all railings and fencing of hatchways, accommodation ladders and gangways are of substantial construction, constantly maintained and kept in position during use.
