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INCIDENTS IN THE FLEET
Volume 50, No. 14, August 09, 2007 |
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A LSMT recently received an electrical shock while instructing an ABMT on how to repair an industrial toaster. Fortunately, the member did not receive any major injuries; however, the cause of this incident is distressing. The breaker to the toaster had been danger tagged prior to repairs by the LSMT i.a.w. Ship policy and DI(N) Log 72-5; however, an unknown person ignored the danger tag and remade the breaker. This stupid, unthinking act had the potential to place a life in danger. The quick thinking LSMT immediately tripped the breaker rendering the faulty cabling safe, preventing further injuries. This incident highlights the importance of ensuring that electrical items are isolated prior to performing maintenance, and checking it’s safe by also conducting voltage checks before starting maintenance. Sadly, we cannot always trust our shipmates to do the right thing.
Still on-board
The importance of the Gangway Peg Board was realised when a patrol boat was being lifted out of the water for upcoming planned maintenance at the Darwin Naval Base. Although the peg board indicated that all personnel had disembarked the ship, it was noticed during the evolution that a member of the crew was still onboard.Once the ship was in a safe position, a gangway was erected and the member disembarked.
How could this have happened? There were several contributing factors:
- the main broadcast was not working due to power being removed
- the member was pegged off however, they were still onboard;
- the crew were moved off the wharf before a second physical check could account for all personnel
- fatigue could have been an issue as most of the Ship’s Company had a 0300 start; and
- there were extended idle periods while the ship was fitted for the lift exacerbating possible restlessness and frustration.
This message is extremely important as in 1997 HMAS Gawler fell off the synchrolift at the Darwin Naval Base when a cable spool failed resulting in a damage bill of approximately $4 million. If someone had inadvertently been onboard at the time of the Gawler incident, the potential for serious personal injury was significantly high. What’s more, in the event of a fire, toxic hazard or any other emergency, it is imperative that the Officer of the Day accurately know who is still onboard as other lives may be jeopardised whilst searching for missing crew members.
To prevent this occurrence from happening again, a 100 percent physical muster of all personnel will be conducted as well as a through search of the vessel prior to the ship being lifted.
Care must also be taken by every crew member to make sure that they do not remove other persons peg when pegging themselves ashore and that each individual does peg themselves off regardless of whether they are ‘just ducking down to the wharf’. |
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