Safety Flash
Near miss: engine room hatch left open without barriers
Near miss: engine room hatch left open without barriers
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 12/20
- Control of WorkSlips, Trips and FallsWorking at Height
- Falls from height
- Inspection and maintenance
- Fall preventionSafety communicationStop-work authority
Summary
This safety flash describes an engine-room hatch left open without barriers during routine maintenance. A crew member departed for an urgent task and forgot identified controls. It highlights hatch closure, barricades and warning communication when openings are needed, and a safety meeting reinforcing stop-work requirements.
Classifications: Falls from height; fall from height.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Fall prevention; edge protection; guardrails.
Classifications: Safety communication; toolbox talk; toolbox talks.
Classifications: Stop-work authority; stop work; stop-work intervention.
Summary
During routine maintenance, it was reported that the engine room hatch was left open with no physical barriers around, creating the potential for serious injury if distracted persons were to fall down the hatches.
IMCA SF 12/20. Themes: control of work, slips, trips and falls, working at height.