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Confined spaces warning
18 Mar 2008
ICHCA has launched a major publicity drive on the dangers of working in confined spaces on ships after reports of a number of fatalities involving both dockers and seafarers.
A ship’s hold with the hatches on is a confined space and certain cargoes can absorb oxygen out of the air, making it fatal to enter, emphasises ICHCA. Even overnight, a scrap metal cargo can affect the atmosphere sufficiently for someone to die of lack of oxygen.
ICHCA says workers should be reminded not only that they should not go into a confined space without checking first, but that they should not go in to rescue someone else unless they have breathing apparatus. Double or even triple fatalities have happened this way.
“The first thing when working in this type of situation is to ventilate; don’t go in unless the hatches are off and there is clear air. There are ways of testing and until it is known to be safe, nobody should go in.”
