Ship’s Electrician Died While Changing Lights in Cargo Hold

By
Mfame Team
-
6195

The ship’s electrician succumbed to his injuries after climbing into cargo hold for routine work. 

Incident:

The 58-year-old ship’s electrician was occupied with checking the lighting in the cargo holds and replacing or repairing light sources where necessary. He climbed into cargo hold 9 to carry out this work. A deckhand and the bosun found him lying prone on the tank deck.

On the day of the accident, when the Bosun and a deckhand had to clean the cargo hold and the top of the casing with water, it was noticed that only a few fluorescent tubes were on in the cargo hold and the main floodlights were defective. The electrician had to change the light sources to re-establish good illumination in the cargo hold.

Access-to-Cargo-Hold-9-from-Main-Deck.JPG

Image: Access to Cargo Hold # 9 from Deck.

The electrician climbed down to the bosun, who was already in the cargo hold. He immediately repaired one of the main floodlights, which was located on the casing when the deckhand noticed the electrician lying prone deep on the top of the tank.

The bridge was alerted immediately, and attempts at resuscitation carried out in the cargo hold. However, the electrician succumbed to his injuries on the spot. No eyewitnesses observed the course of the accident directly.

Accident-Scene-Cargo-Hold-9.JPG

Image: Accident Spot shown in General Arrangement Plan.

Findings:

  • The Weather was smooth and nice, and thus it could not have caused such a fall from heights.
  • The electrician had sufficient experience in the operation of the ship.
  • Hours of work and rest were observed.
  • There is a possibility that he stumbled in the water hose or otherwise slipped in the process and fell onto the tank deck.
  • There were many tube lights broken near the accident spot where the electrician was lying on the tank.
  • It could have been a case, where the electrician tried to climb the ladder with one hand on the ladder and other carrying the defective tube lights and thus without proper support for him.
  • The electrician was not wearing the ‘Hard Hat’.

Lesson learnt:

  • Seamen must wear fall protection equipment onboard for safety.
  • Attention to be taken while walking/working inside the Cargo hold.
  • It is essential that when climbing ladders, both the hands must support the climb and not any other objects.
  • It is better to have a stand-by man for tasks involving lifting through heights.
  • It cannot be further emphasized that whosoever it may be, even the most experienced sailing staff, must adhere to the safety rules and wear appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).

General Personal Protective Equipment Notes:

  1. Wear or use the required PPE to do your assigned work. If the required equipment isn’t available, or if you need instruction on how to wear or use the equipment, notify your superior or the safety officer immediately.
  2. Face shields protect your face and neck from flying particles and chemical splashes, but they don’t protect your eyes. If you are required to use a face shield while working, you must also wear either safety glasses or chemical‐splash‐ proof goggles.
  3. What provides more protection, earplugs or earmuffs?                                                   Each hearing protection device has a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR), which tells how much that particular device will reduce the noise. Earplugs generally have a greater NRR than ear‐muffs. Note that some tasks (as specified in the industrial hygiene survey) require both earplugs and muffs
  4. During underway replenishment, hard hats, life jackets and safety shoes are required on station. Make sure that you have your pants bloused and that you have removed all rings and watches.
  5. Read and follow the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and warning labels while handling flammable or toxic liquids used for cleaning. Required PPE includes goggles, gloves, aprons and respirators.
  6. When ships are in overhaul or other sorts of shipyard work, personnel are required to wear hard hats and safety shoes because of falling objects and obstacles on the deck. Ear and eye protection is also required in many areas.

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Source: BSU

2 COMMENTS

  1. Inspite of all the safety norms to be followed while working, surpervision of job is also equally important which was not the case here. even though people were working in near vicinity.

  2. Cannot emphasise more the need to comply with laid down Safety Procedures and wearing the right PPE for the assigned job as also of strictly avoiding shortcuts.

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