Safety Flash
Portable electrical equipment – serious fire in the accommodation
Portable electrical equipment – serious fire in the accommodation
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 28/21
- Electrical SafetyHot Work and Fire
- Electrical safetyFire
- Breathing apparatus
- Emergency responseFire protection
- Marine industry
- Vessel
Summary
A kettle left switched on in an unoccupied cabin caused a serious accommodation fire aboard an anchored vessel. Failure of its cut-off switch was considered highly probable. The flash discusses firefighting access, boundary cooling, beard-related breathing-apparatus leakage and questions about permitted portable electrical equipment. No injuries occurred, but damage and off-hire losses were substantial.
Classifications: Electrical safety; electrical hazards.
Classifications: Fire; fire safety.
Classifications: Breathing apparatus; SCBA; self-contained breathing apparatus.
Classifications: Emergency response; emergency preparedness.
Classifications: Fire protection; fire suppression; fire detection.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Vessel; aboard ship; onboard vessel.
Summary
A Member reports a serious fire in the accommodation on a vessel at anchor. There was no injury nor loss of life, but there was significant and costly damage to the vessel, reputational damage and ten days loss of earnings whilst off-hire.
IMCA SF 28/21. Themes: electrical safety, hot work and fire.