The Nautical Institute presents an incident where, a vessel underway at sea was experiencing some rolling under heavy weather conditions. Crew were undertaking normal housekeeping duties.
The incident
A crewmember slipped while descending a staircase and, with only his right hand lightly gripping the handrail, his efforts to stabilise his body were ineffectual. His small finger was bent back and sustained injury on the vertical post as he fell.
The company investigation found that although he had proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), his method of descending was suboptimal, in that, with only one hand on the right handrail, he was ignoring the good practice of having ‘three points of contact’ at all times. Risks were also more acute due to the rolling of the vessel.
Lessons learned
- Everyday tasks and movements can appear less risky over time due to familiarity. Don’t let your guard down!
- It is good practice to have a firm grip and use both hands on each handrail while using a staircase
