Knowledge and use of fall arrest safety equipment
Date issue released
Issue number
Issue Status
Closed – Adequately addressed
Transport Function
Marine: Shipboard operations
Issue Owner
Berge Bulk Maritime
Mode of Transport
Marine
Safety Issue Description

The fall arrest equipment used was incorrectly attached to the workers on the suspended platform. Consequently, had either of them fallen from the platform the equipment would not have worked correctly, resulting in serious or fatal injuries.

Issue Status Justification

The safety actions taken by Berge Bulk Maritime will significantly reduce the likelihood of a similar future occurrence.

The training, equipment and machinery changes implemented and progressing should greatly reduce the likelihood of similar issues with working aloft and appropriate use of PPE in the future.

Proactive action
Action number
MO-2018-001-NSA-003
Organisation
Berge Bulk Maritime
Action date
Action Status
Closed
Action description

Berge Bulk Maritime has advised the ATSB that it has taken the following actions to address this issue:

  • completed on board working aloft training of all staff
  • completed on board training in bulk carrier personal safety and environmental protection including working safely in cargo holds and the correct donning and use of personal protective equipment
  • added a mandatory working aloft training module to fleet‑wide on board training programmes, which is repeated every two years. This programme includes modules on working aloft risk identification, safe access at height and safe methods of work at height.