Person injured going down ladder

What happened

A person was descending the fixed ladder of a carousel manhole. He lost his footing on the last three rungs, approximately 87 cm from the flooring. Falling backward, his helmet came off, and his head struck the edge of a steel structure and he was injured. Immediate medical attention was provided on board by the ship’s medic. A follow-up medical assessment was subsequently organized ashore, where he received stitches.

Possible causes (as indicated by the member)

• Inattention: Misjudgement of the remaining steps while descending the ladder contributed to the slip;
• Improper PPE Use: The IP did not properly secure the chinstrap of his safety helmet, causing it to fall off during the incident;
• Inadequate Working Environment: Poor lighting at the bottom of the carousel manhole may have contributed to the incident;
• Lack of Signage: No signage was present to indicate the mandatory use of safety harnesses for work in the carousel’s manhole.

Actions taken

• Improved lighting in the area;
• Be aware of your working environment and keep a focus when you are moving – watch out for complacency;
• Ensure that all PPE, especially the helmet, is worn and secured correctly.

Members may wish to refer to:

• Falls from step ladders
• Safe Use of Ladders and Stepladders
• ‘Routine’ task, non-routine result: A fall from a crane ladder leads to an LTI