This article is cited from Skuld website and the author is Mr. Martin Ohre.
Introduction
Failure to comply with company procedures regarding entry into enclosed spaces can be fatal.
This key shipboard operation sadly continues to cause injury and take lives every year, and in the following we briefly deal with the hazards, regulations and procedures involved in entering enclosed spaces.
The most frequent hazards when entering an enclosed space are the following:
Enclosed space means a space which has any of the following characteristics:
Limited openings for entry and exit;
Inadequate ventilation; and
Is not designed for continuous occupancy.
Regulations
The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974 caters for, and regulates, the risk associated with entering enclosed spaces.
The shipping company must provide a Safety Management System (SMS) which takes into consideration the SOLAS requirements and supports the crew with instructions, procedures and checklists for them to mitigate known risks associated with such entries. The SMS should be tailored to the respective vessel and be designed as an intuitive system supporting the crew to perform their onboard duties in a safe manner.
Procedures and precautions
Investigations show that accidents, in most cases, are caused by insufficient knowledge of the need to take precautions when entering enclosed spaces. Crew directly or indirectly engaged in entering enclosed spaces must accordingly be familiarized with the company Safety Management System (SMS) mentioned above.
Skuld would like to emphasize and highlight the importance for ship managers to assess the key aspects of enclosed space entry operations, including, but not limited to, the following:
Risk assessment
Roles and responsibility
Communication
Ventilation
Testing of atmosphere
Authorisation for entry
Continuous testing
Also, in accordance with IMO resolution A. 1050 (27) supplied from SOLAS, training should include as a minimum:
Identification of the hazards likely to be faced during entry into enclosed spaces;
Recognition of the signs of adverse health effects caused by exposure to hazards during entry; and
Knowledge of personal protective equipment and correct use.
Skuld notes that most such casualties could have been avoided if company procedures and SOLAS requirements had been complied with. We therefore urge shipping companies to ensure that their Safety Management System is intuitive, short and to the point, supporting the crew members and protecting lives at sea.
