Safety Flash
Fall from a height into a ballast tank
Fall from a height into a ballast tank
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 19/20
- Confined SpaceControl of WorkWorking at Height
- Confined space hazardsFalls from height
- Confined space entryHot workWorking at height
- Scaffold
- Competence and trainingPermit to workRisk assessmentStop-work authority
- Marine industry
- Vessel
Summary
A welder helper fell through a tween-deck opening while accessing work inside a vessel’s ballast tank. The flash identifies inadequate route assessment, job-specific permit shortcomings and a late team change. It describes safer access, revised confined-space risk assessments, retraining and renewed emphasis on stop-work authority; the cause of the fall remains unknown.
Classifications: Confined space hazards; confined-space hazards.
Classifications: Falls from height; fall from height.
Classifications: Confined space entry; tank entry; enclosed space entry.
Classifications: Hot work; welding and cutting.
Classifications: Working at height; work at height.
Classifications: Scaffold; scaffolding.
Classifications: Competence and training; competency assurance; safety training.
Classifications: Permit to work; PTW; work permit.
Classifications: Risk assessment; hazard assessment.
Classifications: Stop-work authority; stop work; stop-work intervention.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Vessel; aboard ship; onboard vessel.
Summary
A worker inside a ballast tank fell from height
IMCA SF 19/20. Themes: confined space, control of work, working at height.