Following cargo discharge of a marine aggregate's dredger, an employee was detailed to washdown the hopper’s forward slope with a fire hose. The employee stood on a raised hatch cover, close to an unprotected edge with a significant fall from height potential. Another employee noticed this action and stepped in, explaining the danger. The work was then completed from the well deck (same area but lower as not on the hatch), affording protection due to a ledge.
The new employee had completed all familiarisation.
A point of work risk assessment (TAKE 5) was not completed prior to this task, it was not considered necessary being a common job, with no apparent danger.
Image below shows the position of operator on hatch lid
Key Findings
- Safe Systems - No work instruction, Risk Assessment or safe system of work existed for the task
- Risk Perception - Perception for the task was of trivial risk by employee and supervisors.
- Take - 5 - No Point of work risk assessment/TAKE-5) had been completed prior to the task.
- Process - The task was considered ‘routine’ and had been completed on many previous occasions, this may have led to complacency regarding the associated risk.