One seafarer died falling six metres from a ladder not equipped with fall arrestor and another was injured by unsecured drums and bins holding lashing gear in heavy weather off Freemantle. The planning of securing the moving bins and drums was insufficient and no workplace risk assessments were worked out focusing on the specific work on board, says Demark’s Maritime Authority, DMA.
Thor Gitta left Fremantle 19 May in the afternoon on voyage to Dar Es Salaam with
a cargo of small trucks in the lower hold and containers on the weather deck.
After departure the ship encountered bad weather with strong winds, heavy seas and
swell. When sailing in bad weather it is custom to check the lashings on the cargo. In
the morning of 21 May the chief officer and two ratings entered the holds to inspect the lashings. On the way back from the lower hold they discovered that some bins and
drums on the tween deck filled with heavy lashing gear had broken loose and was sliding from side to side.
In order to lash the bins and drums one able seaman (AB) got caught between a sliding
bin and the ship’s side. Due to the imminent danger he ran to the ladder leading to the weather deck to escape from the tween deck. While climbing the ladder he lost his grip and fell into the lower hold. As a consequence of the fall he died.
Trying to lash the loose bins the chief officer suffered injury to his lower leg and foot.
- The DMA concluded: “ The causes that led to the fatality of the AB and injury of the chief officer were the following:
- The fatality was caused by a fall of 6 metres to a lower level.
- The lack of any kind of fall arrest appliances.
- The heavy metal bins sliding from side to side.
- The lashing bins were not fit for the service they were used in, and no risk assessments of the replacement of drums with the bins had been made.
- The unsuitable securing arrangements in he cargo spaces had enabled the lashing bins to work their way loose in heavy seas – The bins were originally secured in an area in the tween deck which did not have any dedicated lashing points on any vertical surface thus reducing the effectiveness of the lashing applied in Fremantle.
- Bad weather
- The planning of securing the moving bins and drums was insufficient.
- No workplace risk assessments were worked out focusing on the specific work
on board. - As a consequence of the fatality and injury the company has initiated following preventive measures:
- Metal drums are not used any more to store lashing gear. They are replaced by
metal bins. - The metal bins containing the lashing gear will be stored in open top containers.
The containers have 4 feet sides. The containers can be stores safely in any
container bay in both the holds and on the weather deck. The securing of the
container is done by help of twist locks. - Fall arrest systems have been mounted in the access shafts to the holds both
fore and aft. - The safety instructions and workplace risk assessments for entering the holds
have been revised. - To enhance safety extraordinary safety meetings will be held and work instructions given.
The full report is available here.
