During a number of recent ship visits, UK P&I Club’s Risk Assessors have found many cases where the filter elements and filter chambers of the vessel’s tumble dryers (both domestic and industrial units) have not been cleared of lint build up. The Club highlights the dangers of blocked filters which may result in fire hazards onboard.
The Club stresses that if the filters are blocked, the airflow is also blocked and the heat will build up in the machine which can eventually lead to a fire starting in the machine.
The UK Club Risk Assessors recommend:
- All tumble dryer filters are cleaned either before every use or after every use of the machine to prevent the possibility of a serious fire on the vessel.
- Filter meshes should be washed periodically to ensure that they are clean.
- A notice by the machine to ensure all crew follow the cleaning procedures.
Source & Image Credit: UK P&I Club
