Fatal Ship Elevator Accident Highlights Importance of Safety Management Procedures
The Australian Transportation Safety Bureau is highlighting the relevance of using existing safety and security administration treatments after a containership’s team participant was eliminated when he ended up being caught in between a lift cage and also a bulkhead.
The 3 June 2018 mishap took place when the electro-technical police officer (ETO) of the OOCL Kuala Lumpur, which was preparing to go into Port Botany, Sydney, was evaluating the ship’s workers lift after finishing mechanical repair work. While driving the lift from the cage top, the ETO ended up being caught in between the relocating cage and also the bulkhead, suffering deadly injuries.
The ATSB examination located that the ETO was last seen alone, in addition to the lift cage, in the suggested risk-free area with the lift control in‘MANUAL’ The precise conditions regarding exactly how and also why the ETO after that became caught while the lift relocated in between floorings might not be figured out, the ATSB stated.
However, for the mishap to have actually happened, the ETO needed to have actually relocated from the risk-free area, the lift control needed to have actually been transformed from ‘MANUAL’ to ‘AUTO’ and also the lift called, according to the ATSB.
The examination likewise located that safety and security obstacles suggested in the electric job authorization were not implemented prior to the lift upkeep job began. This consisted of that there had actually been no caution statement, and also, as a result, every one of the ship’s team had actually not been advised versus making use of the lift. There were likewise no indication published in all lift gain access to doors.
This permitted a lift contact us to be made while the job was underway, according to the ATSB.
“Elevator accidents continue to occur around the world and result in about one fatality per year,” stated ATSB Director Transport Safety Stuart Macleod.
“Many of these accidents involve the failure to apply existing safety management procedures and/or identified safety barriers that have proven effective in reducing the risks associated with elevator maintenance.”
The harmed individual was usually functioning alone and also riding the lift cage, Macleod kept in mind.
“For any task that is performed on multiple occasions without any adverse consequence, there is the potential for an individual’s perception of risk, or expectancy of a problem, to decrease,” Macleod stated.
“This makes it all the more important to always follow documented procedures and safe working practices, even when the operation is considered safe.”
The mishap likewise highlights that it is essential that close and also mindful guidance is kept for any kind of lift screening and also jobs, the ATSB stated.
“Supervisory oversight provides an opportunity for experienced, senior technical staff to scrutinise and assess the plans and intentions of those completing the task. This provides an external check and safety barrier before, and during, the work,” stated Macleod.