Mooring: increase in first aid cases involving over-exertion
What happened
A member has noted that in recent months, there have been several accidents related to over-exertion. Most of these incidents have involved mooring operations, a job that requires physical effort due to the handling of heavy lines.
What were the causes
- Excess load/over-exertion (perhaps due to not knowing the weight of the load);
- Improper load handling;
- Incorrect work position (bad posture);
- Difficult posture owing to location, hard-to-reach places etc.
Recommendations
- Warm up!! stretch before doing work that requires considerable muscle exertion;
- Think before moving in a way that may be deemed unsafe;
- Inspect the dock area where the work is to be done. Check for obstacles or elements that may hinder the maneuver;
- Check that mooring lines are clear and are not going to get caught;
- Anticipate maneuvers by checking that both the dock and the vessel are in good condition, and notify the required parties if necessary, to avoid unforeseen events.
Members may wish to refer to:
Safety Event
Published: 16 April 2021
Download: 
IMCA SF 11/21
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