Lessons learned: Ensure worksite is left safe for other users
IMCA draws lessons learned from an incident where a worker sustained discomfort to the right shoulder and abrasions to the left leg when the grating they stepped on gave way.
What happened?
A worker sustained discomfort to the right shoulder and abrasions to the left leg when the grating they stepped on gave way, causing them to slip into grillage space, whilst holding onto lashings used as sea-fastenings. The incident occurred when the worker was positioned on the Multiple Reel Drive System (MRDS) steel rails while securing sea-fastening lashings. While holding a lashing, they stepped over a rail onto an external grating panel. The grating panel gave way, causing the individual to slip between the grating panels into the grillage space to deck (<1m) below.
What went wrong?
- As part of mobilisation activities, a third-party hot work subcontractor had been engaged to cut and weld sections of grating panel to provide a safe walkway around the Multiple Reel Drive System.
- Before finishing the task, the hot work subcontractor was redirected to complete another task deemed of higher priority at the time.
- The area was not made safe with barricading – this would have signalled that the grating installation had not been fully completed before the hot works subcontractor moved to the different task.
- The grating panel installation was not completed before the injured person accessed the walkway, which the injured person assumed was safe to walk on.
Lessons learned
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If you have to leave a task unfinished to do something else:
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Assess the risk to other people of leaving the task unfinished.
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Ensure the unfinished state of the task is communicated to your supervisor and your colleagues so that they are fully aware.
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Install barricades as a visual signal if the work area should not be accessed.
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Ensure that the worksite is made safe for other users.
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Check the worksite is checked before starting work.
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