SOLAS: Mandatory drills for entry into enclosed spaces - Skuld 12/15/16, 4)27 PM

/ SOLAS: MANDATORY DRILLS FOR ENTRY INTO

ENCLOSED SPACES
Published 06 January 2015

Advisory to Members

Applicability: Shipowners and Technical managers

From the beginning of this year, SOLAS Regulation III/19 required mandatory enclosed
space entry drills as well as rescue drills, to be conducted every two months. Given the
continued occurrence of tragic accidents, members need to pay special attention to
this risk.

The Association is grateful to Dr. John Allum of Hannaford Forensic Services (Asia)
Limited for contributing to this article.

Demonstration of the use of breathing equipment

Source: Skuld

The risk
Over the years the Association has had to deal with a number of accidents resulting in
fatalities which followed the entry in to an enclosed space starved of oxygen or
containing harmful gasses, typically due to a failure to follow safety procedures, and

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this has affected both crew as well as people coming on board such as stevedores.

Incidents have included oxygen starved holds resulting from the carriage of organic
cargoes including wheat, timber and logs, but also of mineral cargoes such as DRI or
coal. At other times, accidents happened while tanks and / or cargo holds were being
inspected or maintenance was carried out.

Tragically, these accidents have at times been compounded, because once it became
clear that someone was in trouble, someone else rushed to help them - but without
themselves first taking proper precautions and using appropriate safety equipment. On
occasion a number of fatalities resulted from such an incident.

The fatality risk

At sea-level, humans require air that contains a certain minimum quantity of oxygen,
and that is a requirement for at least 19.5% oxygen. Below that, an environment will be
unsafe for human life, basis oxygen % alone.

It must be stressed, however, that even at 19.5% oxygen the air may be unsafe, given
that the basic oxygen level of air is 20.9% at sea level.

Where, for instance, the 1.4% difference is taken up by a gas such as carbon
monoxide then a person may fall unconscious within a few breaths, and death may
follow within 3 minutes.

Hannaford Forensic Services (Asia) Limited, have prepared a note on oxygen level
issues that is republished alongside this bulletin.

Regulatory development
Following a deterioration in accidents over time, the IMO developed Regulation III/19
of SOLAS as a way of changing this trend. As of 1 January 2015 mandatory entry and
rescue drills will be required every two months. All crew members who have
responsibilities for entry in to enclosed spaces, or rescue therefrom, will have to
participate in these drills. IMO Resolution MSC.350(92) on this development is
published alongside this advisory.

Guidance with respect to these matters can be found in the recommendations for
enclosed space entry from IMO Resolution A.1050(27), republished alongside this
advisory.

Drills shall include the following:

1. checks and use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

2. checks and use of communications equipment and procedure
3. checks and use of atmosphere measuring devices
4. checks and use of rescue equipment

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5. instruction on first aid and resuscitation

It must be stressed that all such drills are meant to be properly planned and carried out
with a "safety first" approach. As such no entry in to an enclosed space should be
made, other than may be strictly necessary, and while all due safety precautions are
fully observed, i.e.: such space should not be opened purely for the drill itself.

The intention of the new regulation is to ensure that all relevant personnel have the
necessary awareness of the risks, and are properly trained to follow all the procedures
to ensure that any actual enclosed space entry will be done in as safe a manner as
possible.

Loss prevention
Given that the risk of an accident is very high, as well as the risk of such accident
leading to a fatality, it cannot be stressed enough how serious this issue needs to be
taken.

Every crewman should be aware of the risk that an oxygen starved environment
presents, and only those crew who have received the necessary training should
conduct any entry in to an enclosed space or perform any rescue operation.

Vessels need clear policies that govern the entry in to enclosed spaces and all crew
should be advised of the same, with such advice repeat at periodic safety briefings on
board.

As for either a drill or an actual entry, this needs to cover the following:

1. be properly planned, in particular for a time and place where safety can be prioritised
2. a safety assessment needs to be conducted
3. specific vessel SMS and ISM procedures need to be followed
4. all crew concerned should, with the appropriate Officer, conduct a safety briefing before proceeding
5. all crew concerned with possible rescue and first aid should be given advance notice, and given time to ready themselves for
possible action
6. throughout the entry and until its completion, careful monitoring of the crew involved until all are safe and accounted for outside of
the enclosed space
7. proper logs and records should be kept of every drill and every actual entry

Further reading
The Association has published a Pocket Safety Guide to the risk of entry into enclosed
spaces.

Further, an in-depth guide book (Fresh air in dark places) is also available.

For further information, members are asked to contact the Association:

lossprevention@skuld.com

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Christian Ott
Vice President Head of Claims, Skuld Singapore Branch
Loss Prevention and Recurring Claims Team Leader

Disclaimer
The above article has been produced by or in co-operation with correspondents or other external
sources and is reproduced here with their kind permission for general information purposes only.
Reference is made to the Legal disclaimer governing use of this website.

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