201023 Injury due to parted stage rope

Injury due to parted stage rope
MARS Report 201023

On a ship on voyage, two seamen were painting the ship’s funnel, working from a stage at the height of approximately two metres above the walk-around platform. After they had painted the accessible area from where the stage was positioned, both crew members decided to lower the stage to get access to the bottom part of the funnel where painting was to be continued. One of the seamen had already disconnected his lifeline in preparation for the descent and had secured the harness safety line to the ship’s fittings. The second seaman had just disconnected his lifeline but, before he could secure his harness safety line to the ship’s fitting, one of the stage ropes parted suddenly, causing the stage to drop and hang vertically.

The second seaman, who was not secured, fell off the stage on to the walk-around platform, a height of approximately two metres. He dislocated his right shoulder and also suffered some minor bruises and abrasions on his face. He was moved to the ship’s hospital for closer examination and administration of first aid.
The crew obtained medical advice from ashore, and under guidance from an orthopaedic surgeon, successfully reset the dislocated shoulder, while the ship deviated to the nearest port to disembark the casualty.

Results of investigation
1. The ropes used for securing the stage, including the parted rope, were 22 mm three-strand manila ropes, while those used for the safety lines were 22 mm three-strand polypropylene ropes, all of adequate strength for the purpose, using a maximum safety factor of 12, which exceeds the generally accepted safety factor of 10 for the use with personnel.
2. All ropes were personally inspected by the chief officer before work began and found in apparently good condition (although some random paint spots were observed).
3. The ropes were additionally checked by the ratings, who rigged the stage.
4. The point where the rope parted was not contaminated by paint. Therefore, it is presumed that this contamination did not cause the parting of the rope.
5. The rigging equipment was stored on board under acceptable conditions.
6. The work permit for working aloft and pre-work instructions for the workers were completed in accordance with the pertinent company procedures.
7. The painters working on the stage were wearing proper safety harnesses, with the safety line kept properly secured to ship’s fittings during all work, except for the periods when the painters had to change the positions of the securing points.

Root cause/contributory factors
1. Insufficient thoroughness during the inspection of the equipment by the ship’s crew – failure to detect internal rot by untwisting the manila rope’s strands;
2. The casualty was re-positioning the securing point of his safety line at the moment of the incident; therefore, it was not secured to any ship’s fittings;
3. Restricted access to the area to be painted, preventing the rigging of scaffolding.

Lessons learned
1. Although the ropes were reportedly inspected by the chief officer and then by the seamen rigging the stage before the work, all of them failed to detect deterioration of the fibre’s condition in the inner part of the ropes.
2. It cannot be overemphasised that a thorough inspection of each rope before its use is extremely important in preventing accidents on board.
3. In particular, such an inspection should include examination of the entire length of rope for wear, deterioration, abrasion, broken or cut fibres, displacement of yarns or strands, discoloration and internal rot.
4. To inspect the inner fibres, the rope should be untwisted in several places to make sure the fibres inside are clean and unaffected by rot.

Corrective/preventative actions
1. Management circulated additional information on the proper use and inspection of the fibre ropes by means of electronic fleet notice.
2. The instructions on the proper use of the fibre ropes are to be reviewed with all crew members and the knowledge of the crew to be verified by the master.