CHIRP annual digest 2016 flip

CHIRP Maritime
blanks were located at the manifold. The necessary
replacement components were fitted in due course.
Lessons to be learnt
The company was correctly concerned with this report. It
emerged that there had been no previous order for a new
valve, no record or explanation of the blanks, and no
discussion at the time with the company office or at ship
staff handover.
CHIRP Suggests
The company took admirable steps to emphasise the
importance of timely and open ship/shore dialogue.
Frequent communication between the office super -
intendent(s) and the vessel can assist with this. In the first
instance a material defect was concealed, and not rectified,
with potentially severe consequences: pollution, injury,
and/or pipeline damage. We may surmise, but cannot
know, the original reasons. The case is a clear illustration
of poor prevalent safety culture at the time.
The above article was published in MFB44
Article. 41
Ouch! – Bad Ship Designs
We encourage seafarers to submit examples of bad design.
Please include photographs, since a picture speaks a
thousand words! We can share two such reports with you
here.
What did the reporter tell us?
A photograph of a poorly designed pilot boarding area. The
pipes are tripping hazards and there is an irony of
positioning them in an area that has a clear to read sign
stencilled onto the deck telling people to keep the area
clear. Also, please find attached a photo showing poor
design onboard a ship I piloted. I am 188 cm tall and as
you can see, the light fitting comes down to less than
180,cm right in the middle of the bridge toilet room. I have
found this same situation on a number of vessels. Although
it didn’t cause injury it has the potential to do so.
CHIRP Comment
The risks associated with the walkway design hazards had
clearly not been reduced to ‘As Low as Reasonably
Practical’ (ALARP) and creates an unacceptable risk of
personal injury as a result of a slip, trip or fall. The risk
should have been mitigated by a post build design
initiative to have a grated walkway over the top of the
pipes.
Please refer to article in Alert! Number 01275 –
http://www.he-alert.org/en/utilities/download.cfm/fid/
E9558858-316B-4C74-87DD26DE5E815204.
CHIRP comment on the second photograph, the
minimum head clearance at all locations onboard is
stipulated as 2.1 Metres: This was not complied with in
this case.
The above article was published in MFB45
Article. 42
Machinery Space Finger Injuries
This joint article includes reports relating to fingers being
caught in the belt of an air conditioning blower and
fingertips amputated during maintenance of an auxiliary
engine.
What did the reporters tell us?
Apparently E/O fingers got trapped
between the belt and the pulley
(1) The electrical officer (E/O) and fitter were performing
routine maintenance on the air conditioner blowers.
After completion of greasing of the two blowers, the
E/O switched on the power of the system to test the
system. The no. 2 blower was observed by the E/O to
be drawing excess current. To investigate the case, he
switched off the power to the No. 2 blower with the
intention to check the tension of the belt between
the blower’s motor and the fan. For this purpose, after
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