Confined space fatality onboard fishing vessel

What happened?

A refrigerated saltwater tank was being prepared for cleaning on a fishing vessel.

The second engineer entered the tank and collapsed at the aft end of the tank. An alarm was immediately raised.

Three of the crew entered the tank and tried to resuscitate the second engineer, but they soon became dizzy, confused and short of breath.

One of the crew managed to climb out of the tank unaided, the other two crewmen and the second engineer were recovered by crewmen wearing breathing apparatus.

The two crewmen made a full recovery, but the second engineer could not be resuscitated and died.

Why did it happen?

The second engineer entered the tank to sweep the residual seawater that had settled at the aft end of the tank forward in to the tank’s bilge well.

No safety procedures for entering or working in refrigerated saltwater tanks had been completed before he entered the tank.

What did they learn?

Working in enclosed or confined spaces is potentially hazardous.

Procedures for entering and working in them should be robust, understood and used.

Enclosed space rescue plans need to be in place on all vessels. Risks must be understood, and rescue plans practised.

All crew members have a responsibility for their own safety. This is particularly important when working alone.

Ask yourself or your crew

How can something like this happen here?

Did you know that confined spaces are hazardous?

What are the hazards associated with confined spaces?

What controls do we have in place for entering confined spaces? How can we improve them?

What should we do if a colleague gets into trouble in a confined space?

What happened?

A refrigerated saltwater tank was being prepared for cleaning on a fishing vessel.
The second engineer entered the tank and collapsed at the aft end of the tank. An alarm was immediately raised.
Three of the crew entered the tank and tried to resuscitate the second engineer, but they soon became dizzy, confused and short of breath.
One of the crew managed to climb out of the tank unaided, the other two crewmen and the second engineer were recovered by crewmen wearing breathing apparatus.
The two crewmen made a full recovery, but the second engineer could not be resuscitated and died.
Why did it happen?

The second engineer entered the tank to sweep the residual seawater that had settled at the aft end of the tank forward in to the tank’s bilge well.
No safety procedures for entering or working in refrigerated saltwater tanks had been completed before he entered the tank.
What did they learn?

Working in enclosed or confined spaces is potentially hazardous.
Procedures for entering and working in them should be robust, understood and used.
Enclosed space rescue plans need to be in place on all vessels. Risks must be understood, and rescue plans practised.
All crew members have a responsibility for their own safety. This is particularly important when working alone.
Ask yourself or your crew

How can something like this happen here?
Did you know that confined spaces are hazardous?
What are the hazards associated with confined spaces?
What controls do we have in place for entering confined spaces? How can we improve them?
What should we do if a colleague gets into trouble in a confined space?