A toolbox meeting should cover all aspects of a job, even something as simple as tightening bolts. Two deck crew recently learned this the hard way as they were injured after being struck by an emergency towing arrangement’s motor coming off its mounting.
The anonymously reported incident was covered in the May Mars Reports.
While at sea, two deck crew were occupied with the maintenance of the emergency towing arrangement (ETA). This job was routine maintenance and was described in the company’s job-specific procedure for the ETA. The crew were new to this task, which included the lubrication of the ETA, the dismounting and maintenance of the airdriven motor and, as a last step, the operational test of the motor in its mounted position.
Before work started, the job was discussed and recorded via a toolbox talk. The two crew reviewed a risk assessment. However, this assessment covered only the lubrication aspect of the work and not the testing of the motor.
The motor, which weighed about fifty kilogrammes, was dismounted and transferred to the engine room for lubrication and maintenance. Once completed, the motor was brought back on deck and re-installed using the three mounting bolts. The bolts were inserted but, for reasons unknown, were not tightened up completely.
The air supply valve of the motor had been closed and properly tagged during the maintenance, but now the valve was reopened to proceed with the test. As the air pressure turned the motor, a strong torque developed and the motor began vibrating rapidly and unequally due to the unsecured bolts. The motor quickly came away from its mounting and struck the two crew members. Both were injured severely enough to require shore treatment and repatriation.
Lessons Learned
- Humans are fallible and a slip, lapse or mistake can happen. Always review and cross-check your work before testing a newly installed or maintained piece of machinery.
- Risk assessments should be completed for all aspects of a job and safeguards established against all identified risks.
Mars Reports
This is one of the May Mars Reports, originally published as Mars 201929, that are part of Report Number 319. A selection of this Report has also been published in SWZ|Maritime’s June issue.
Submit a Mars Report
More reports are needed to keep the scheme interesting and informative. All reports are read only by the Mars coordinator and are treated in the strictest confidence. To submit a report, please use the Mars report form and send it to mars@nautinst.org.
