Transport Malta published a Safety Investigation Report concerning the injury of an AB, reporting that the factor of the accident was the release of the securing lashings at the time when the crew member was still on the mobile scaffold tower.
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The incident
On 6 October 2017, Delsa left from Tianjin, China, in ballast condition for the Port of Longview, Columbia River, Washington, US.
During the sailing, a number of crew members were cleaning and maintaining the cargo holds. On 19 October 2017, the crew were painting inside cargo hold no. 1. In order to get into the upper levels of the cargo hold, it was decided to erect the vessel’s mobile scaffold tower.
The operation was planned to last four hours, with the bosun being identified as the ‘Team Leader’. As part of this process, the ABs assigned with the task, were given a demonstration of how to assemble and disassemble the scaffold tower, and the safety precautions that had be taken during its use.
The work started as scheduled and continued until it was time for the afternoon break. After the break, the ABs changes positions and AB no. 2 climbed the scaffold tower. At around 1550, the crew, who were working in cargo hold no. 1, decided to shift the scaffold tower forward in order to continue with their work.
AB no. 2, who was on the top platform, unhooked his harness from the safety lifeline and started heading down the scaffold tower. In the meantime, the two ABs, who were helping down on the tank top of cargo hold no. 1, released the lashings, one by one, to make the mobile scaffold tower ready for shifting.
During that time, the brakes on the four wheels were on and the drop-down legs on the bottom trestle were still in the lowered position. The last lashing was released when AB no. 2 reached the third stage level. Then, the top part of the mobile scaffold tower toppled over, throwing AB no. 2 to the tank top.
The AB was evacuated by the USCG and was immediately transferred to the Providence Medical Center, at Anchorage, Alaska, USA, where multiple diagnostics had been completed.
The AB had suffered lung damages and a fracture / compression fracture. He had to be operated on and also required follow-up physiotherapy.
Probable cause
According to Transport Malta, the immediate cause of the accident was the releasing of the securing lashings when the AB was still on the mobile scaffold tower.
The crew members assumed that the mobile tower would still stable after releasing the securing lashings, since the wheels remained locked and the legs down.
Moreover, the ‘Risk Assessment’ and the ‘Permit’ documents did not address adequately the use of mobile scaffold towers and the hazards thast come with it.
Furthermore, the mobile scaffold tower was not assembled according with the drawing provided in the Instruction Manual, while there was LAO no task supervision inside the cargo hold just before the accident took place.
Recommendations
After the incident Franco Compania Naviera was recommended to make sure that climbing of scaffold is always done from the inside in order not to put in danger the horizontal position of the tower’s centre of gravity.
In addition, the company took the following measures:
- Deck officers and ratings serving on Delsa were provided ‘Extra Training’ on ‘Working Aloft Safety;
- A thorough review of the technical specifications of the mobile scaffold tower was conducted;
- The ship’s ‘Working Aloft Procedures’ have been reviewed;
- The Risk Assessment procedures have been reviewed and now include the hazards of “improper assembly of scaffolding as per manufacturer’s instructions” and “the lack of proper supervision”;
- The ‘Working Aloft/Over-side Permit Checklist has been reviewed and more “checks” have been included;
- The accident was discussed at the first Safety & Occupational Health Committee Meeting on board;
- A Fleet Circular has been prepared on the accident and shared on board all ships managed by the Company.
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