MAP-01-011 HFI Technical Guide - Human Factors Integration ...

MAP-01-011 – HFI Technical Guide (STGP 11)17.1.4 Working EnvironmentHFI Technical IssuesEquipment may need to be operated within relatively poor environments.Combinations of factors like poor air quality, atmospheric pollutants e.g. smoke,chemical emissions from equipment, Chemical Biological Radiation and Nuclear(CBRN) conditions, shock, vibration and ship motion all need to be taken intoconsideration. Close attention therefore needs to be paid to the use and designof protective clothing and equipment, the provision of shock damping inworkspaces, the regulation of air quality and measures for noise reduction withincompartments. Hazard zoning, the provision of effective warning labels and theuse of active alarms and warnings when equipment is about to operate or movealso form important health hazard control measures.17.1.5 General Vessel SafetyThe nature of the Ship’s environment increases the risks of accidents andinjuries. The crew works, lives and moves within confined spaces in a platformthat may be subject to extreme motion. The crew themselves have to performphysical activities including operating equipment, handling materials, movementthrough passageways and hatches, movement up and down ladders and acrossdecks while interacting with potentially hazardous machinery, objects orsubstances.An analysis of 603 accidents affecting vessels over 100 tonnes registered in theUK in 1988 1 found that 37% were due to slips and falls, 16% involved manualhandling and 16% involved machinery and tools.A further analysis of 377 accident reports raised for personnel on board RNvessels between 1986 and 1991 2 showed that nearly a third of the accidentsinvolved falls. The majority of these (16% of the total) were falls betweendifferent levels in the platform usually involving ladders. Falls on the same level(13% of the total) included tripping over objects on the deck and slipping andfalling on greasy decks. Accidents also included burns, moving machinery,lifting, chemicals and hatches - each accounting for between 5-10% of the total.The locations on the platform most consistently associated with accidents were(in order of frequency) ladders (12%), passageways and access points (9%), thehanger and the flight deck (9%), the mess and dining hall (8%), the engine room(5%), the galley (4%) and boat handling (4%). Out of this total, 25% of theaccidents led to the crew members involved taking time off work, either confinedto the sick bay or evacuated to a shore hospital. In 9% of cases the crewmembers were declared unfit for duty at sea hence reducing the availablecomplement. The accidents resulted in various injuries to the hands and feet(42% of the total), the head (19%), the limbs (19%) and the neck and back(12%). Table 17-1 summarises the frequency and medical consequences ofeach cause of accident.1‘Casualties to Vessels and Accidents to Men: Vessels registered in the UK – return for 1988’ [Ref 29].2INM R9208 ‘An Analysis of the Main Causal Factors of Shipboard Accidents in the Royal Navy’ [Ref 30].Nov 2006 Page 17-6 Issue 4