UK MAIB recently released an investigation report, focusing on a fatal accident of a fish farm worker involving the workboat Beinn Na Caillich, back in February 2020.
The incident
At about 1510 on 18 February 2020, the Ardintoul fish farm assistant manager drowned after falling into the water from a feed barge access ladder during a boat transfer.
He stepped from the deck onto the ladder while Beinn Na Caillich was still moving forward and was crushed between the boat and the barge.
A fish farm technician on board the barge attempted to stop the injured assistant manager from falling in to the water by holding onto the back of his personal flotation device and oilskin jacket, but the severely injured casualty slipped out of them.
Despite the assistant manager being recovered from the water and the determined efforts of the fish farm workers, emergency services, and medical staff, the assistant manager could not be resuscitated.
The investigation concluded that the conduct of the boat transfer had not been properly planned or briefed and was not adequately supervised or controlled.
Findings
- Ardintoul’s assistant manager was crushed between Beinn Na Caillich and the feed barge because he stepped from the workboat on to the barge access ladder while the vessel was still moving ahead.
- He did not appreciate the risk he was taking and was able to step across because the bulwark gate had been left in the open position and there were no crew on hand to supervise the transfer.
- The assistant manager drowned because he slipped out of his lifejacket before he dropped into the water and, due to his injuries, was unable to keep his airways above the surface.
- The use of a crotch strap, in addition to correct ftting of the lifejacket, might have prevented the assistant manager’s lifejacket slipping of, and therefore would have increased his chances of survival once in the water.
- The crew on board Beinn Na Caillich were not fully prepared to deal with the emergency situation. They had not conducted regular manoverboard recovery drills and were not familiar with the use of the vessel’s manoverboard recovery equipment.
- The transfer of personnel by workboat had not been properly risk assessed, and the absence of a documented safe system of work meant that these operations were not being properly controlled.
- Despite the large number of vessels operated by Mowi, the company lacked both staf with the experience to oversee marine operations and an efective marine safety management system.
Actions taken
In light of the situation, Mowi (Scotland) Ltd has:
- Reviewed, revised, and developed policies and risk assessment method statements for: embarking and disembarking vessels, wearing of lifejackets and manoverboard emergency procedures.
- Introduced new equipment and training for recovery of a man overboard.
- Incorporated the lessons learned from this accident into its E-Learning package for employees during induction.
- Engaged external auditors to undertake an audit of its current health and safety management systems.
Recommendations
Following the fatal accident, recommendations have been made to the owners to apply the standards set out in the Workboat Code Edition 2 to all its existing workboats and, specifically, to fully implement a safety management system across its fleet, as well as ensuring that it has appropriate marine expertise to oversee its marine operations.
EXPLORE THE ACCIDENT REPORT HERE
