The Management of Enclosed Spaces


At sea, this is not yet seen as a problem that assists with the prevention of accidents in these spaces yet as has been shown, in many cases, it is the lack of knowledge of a space that has contributed towards an accident and hindered the rescue attempt.


As many surveyors will know, each space on a ship can present different problems. Ladders may have rungs missing. One entry point may be difficult and another easier. Walkways may be unguarded in one space but guarded in another. Ventilation and lighting differ. There are so many variables yet too often we find that a risk assessment is made to cover all spaces and no detail of individual spaces and their problems recorded.


This meant that when entry was required, specially by those unfamiliar with a space, there was no information that could be given prior to entry to enable that person to understand what particular problem would be encountered.


Based on MRSL’s experiences on many ships and rigs, a computerised management system has been designed to enable all such information to be recorded on each space and better still to allow such information to accumulate over time and not leave the ship with each change of personnel.


Better still the required documentation for entry such as work permits can be printed out together with a report of any particular space and forwarded ahead of the ships arrival at a port where the space will be entered. This enables those about to enter have a preliminary report on the space and any pertinent information. If there is any perceived problem it at least


58 | The Report • March 2017 • Issue 79


allows this to be discussed with the ship managers prior to the ships arrival and, if necessary either rectified or precautions such as a standby rescue team or specialist equipment be supplied.


There is however a motto beloved of ship owners and managers. ‘If it is not legally required, then don’t supply it.’


The answers, as always, are in equipment and training. Safety conscious companies will do what they can but it is always the same few companies that do this while many do not. If a ship does not have the correct equipment and there is a serious doubt that a rescue can be affected from a space that crew are entering, then if a full check of the entire space cannot be carried out properly, it must be questioned as to why persons are willing to enter that space, regardless of the seemingly urgency of the task.


Those most at risk are the shore personnel, such as surveyors, who attend a vessel for a few hours, with no knowledge of that specific ship and the spaces, and have to enter spaces and are reliant on the crew to respond aptly and promptly in an emergency.


I remember a time in my career when I was trading regularly to the Gulf and being appointed ashore there for some time. During this period I was asked to do surveys on behalf of a classification society and boarding a number of ships, had a chance to see the other side of the coin. In some cases, when I had to survey a tank, they could not even find the correct entry point never mind prepare the tank for inspection. On one ship I walked off and refused to carry on. When the class surveyor tried to urge me to go back, I suggested that he do the survey instead.


It is our experience in MRSL that there are very few ships that have adequate rescue equipment or the training in rescue. If this is the case, it makes it essential that those entering these spaces, especially surveyors who are completely reliant on the safety regime of the ship, take every precaution they can before entering.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76