MSC Siena’s safety management system procedure for working over the side required that a risk assessment be carried out, and necessary checks and precautions documented in a work permit. However, the procedure had not been effectively implemented on board the ship.
The ATSB is satisfied that the action taken by Allseas Marine, Greece will adequately address the safety issue because it significantly reduces the likelihood of a similar accident occurring on board this company’s ships in the future.
Allseas Marine advised the ATSB that a number of measures have been put in place to address the safety issue.
In summary, these corrective measures are:
• Major revision of the shipboard safety management system procedure that covers work over the side. The revised procedure for the work permit system specifically identifies the task of working on combination pilot ladders, including the applicable work permit form and risk assessment. The procedure describes a number of task specific precautions related to weather conditions, safety harnesses, fall arrest devices, inflatable buoyancy aids, communication and other relevant factors.
• Company procedures with regard to the induction and familiarisation of the crew of ships entering the fleet have been revised to enhance implementation of shipboard procedures.
• A pre-assignment crew induction program has been launched at company and manning agent offices. The program introduced the issue of personal pocket safety booklets, enhanced safe work practice presentations and safety equipment demonstrations related to work permits.
• Safety videos and computer based training programs with a focus on work permit systems and other other safety matters have been provided to enhance training on board company ships.
• A safety campaign promoting the principles of the work permit system has been carried out on board all ships in the fleet and the company’s office.
• A requirement to report all work for which a permit is necessary and to submit the permit forms to the company has been introduced to improve the implementation of the work permit system.
The ATSB is satisfied that the action taken by Allseas Marine, Greece will adequately address the safety issue because it reduces the likelihood of a similar incident to rare (more than once every 10 years or between 10 and 100 years).
