In this video, West P&I Club talks about the risks of engine room floor plates, providing guidance on how to secure them. As the club says, major accidents involving slips, trips, and falls comprise a significant proportion of personal injury claims.
The work of a seafarer is inherently risky. Injuries at sea occur in various forms and personal injury is one of the most frequent among all P&I-related occurrences. Many minor injuries, such as bumps, bruises, sprains, etc., are not reported and do not make it into the P&I statistics at all.
However, operators should be extra vigilant of the engine room. According to the video, this area is a complex compartment full of different sized machinery and equipment.
Most of the machinery requires access for service, and monitoring the approach structures and floor plates may be disassembled to provide access to machines from different angles and levels.
For this reason, the following must take take place to ensure a safe operation:
- Whenever floor plates or handrails are removed warning notices should be posted;
- The openings should be effectively fenced or guarded;
- The area should be well illuminated;
- Floor plates and handrails should be secured in place on completion of the work being undertaken.
What is more, loose plates and grids are difficult to spot unsecured, as well as missing, and damaged flats can easily cause a personal injury incident. In fact, the International Labour Organization Code sets out minor deficiencies in the structure equipment or furnishings, such as uneven and damaged flooring, that may cause cuts, bruises, trips and falls.
Furthermore, a common failing is missing screw fastenings leading to loose plates. Taking this into consideration, ensuring that the plates are secured in place will reduce the risk of injury damaged.
Additionally, floor structures must be repaired as soon as possible, while the floor structures need to be included within the onboard planned maintenance system and monitored closely.
