IMCA has reported an incident in which a crewman slipped on deck and fell, resulting in a broken arm. The incident occurred when the chief engineer was returning to the engine room from the bridge via the accommodation. In spite of instructions to stop personnel going on deck during heavy weather, the chief engineer decided to leave the accommodation in the winch housing area to return to the machinery spaces.
Outside, there was a small raised deck area, with two steps down to the main deck. The non-skid paint in this area was worn and as the chief engineer stepped out onto this area he slipped and fell forward. His fall and impact caused a fracture of his right upper arm. He received first aid treatment onboard, before being medevac’d ashore for further treatment.
The diagram below shows the injured persons path and incident cause. He left the accommodation via Position 1 into the winch housing area.
At Position 2, there was a small raised deck area, with two steps down to the main deck. Here he slipped and fell. As he fell, he hit the watertight door in Position 3, which was secured open. This impact caused a fracture of his right arm.
Key Findings
- That morning, the vessel Master had held a training brief on the bridge, advising all personnel of:
- hazards during heavy weather;
- the need to keep all external doors closed;
- restrictions on using external decks.
- The chief engineer misunderstood and/or chose to ignore the instructions in the briefing and the instructions painted on doors themselves (see image, first right);
- Between the accommodation and the winch housing, the internal door was closed but the external, weathertight door remained open (see image, second right);
- Between the winch housing into the machinery space stairwell, the external watertight door remained open;
- The raised deck and steps in this area did not have any non-skid painting or coating applied – this was known but had not been previously addressed;
- Despite the proactive briefing held, there was no requirement to conduct rounds and verify that all weathertight openings had been closed and secured;
- No-one exercised the STOP WORK POLICY;
Lessons Learned
- Remain proactive – particularly in unusual operational or working conditions;
- Go beyond checklists – don’t be afraid to go above and beyond these requirements to further enhance safety;
- Safety briefing apply to ALL PERSONNEL – regardless of rank or role;
- Follow ALL warning signs – if a door says “KEEP CLOSED AT SEA”, then keep it closed at sea regardless of
previous practice; - Particular care should be taken with maintaining watertight integrity and ensuring that all watertight doors remain closed at all times when at sea. Always STOP WORK in unsafe conditions. If you encounter unsafe conditions, then STOP THE JOB and ensure all hazards are corrected before allowing anyone else to continue.
Source: IMCA Safety Flash
