An engineer was conducting a safety round in the engine room workshop welding area while the vessel was underway. Some welding had been done earlier, but was not yet finished and the welding curtain was still in place. As he walked, he hit his foot on a loose pipe on the deck that had been hidden by the welding curtain.
The Nautical Institute gathers reports of maritime accidents and near-misses. It then publishes these so-called Mars (Mariners’ Alerting and Reporting Scheme) Reports (anonymously) to prevent other accidents from happening. This is one of these reports.
The engineer lost his balance and fell on the deck, with the left side of his back hitting the flange of the pipe. He was able to stand back up and immediately informed the chief engineer. The victim was given preliminary first aid and 10 days later sent ashore for an examination. He was diagnosed with bruised ribs and was proactively repatriated five days later.
Also read: ‘Use high visibility paint markings for tripping hazards on ships’
Advice from The Nautical Institute
- Every close call or incident/accident should immediately be reported, as in this case.
- Simple good housekeeping habits can help avoid such tripping accidents.
- Even mundane trips can cause injuries severe enough to lead to repatriation.
Also read: Keep an eye out for hazards in plain view
Mars Reports
This accident was covered in the Mars Reports, originally published as Mars 202503, that are part of Report Number 387. A selection of the Mars Reports are also published in the SWZ|Maritime magazine. The Nautical Institute compiles these reports to help prevent maritime accidents. That is why they are also published (in full) on SWZ|Maritime’s website.
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.
Picture: Simulation of the accident (by The Nautical Institute).
