Transport Malta: fatality after steel plates fell onto crew member
- Safety Flash
- Published on 16 May 2025
- Generated on 24 August 2026
- IMCA SF 09/25
- 3 minute read
The Marine Safety Investigation Unit (MSIU) of Transport Malta has published Report 15/2024 relating to the tipping onto a crew member of some steel plates, which led to the death of the crew member.
What happened?
On a vessel on passage, the electrician found the second engineer unconscious, trapped by steel plates in the steering gear compartment. The electrician raised the alarm, and together with other crew members, freed the second engineer and attempted to resuscitate him. The Master sought medical help from the authorities, and although two medical teams boarded the vessel by helicopter, they were unable to revive the second engineer.
The safety investigation concluded that the second engineer was alone in the steering gear compartment. A stack of heavy steel plates that was stored vertically and free from its lashings, tipped over on him, possibly as a result of the natural movement of the vessel in a seaway. The weight of the plates meant that it was quite impossible for him to stop the plates falling on him, or to free himself. He was trapped against the store shelving in the steering gear compartment.
Showing stack of steel plates
Investigation findings
· The incident occurred with no witnesses present.
· Whatever work the second engineer had been or had intended to be doing, was unplanned.
· The stack of plates had a total estimated weight of approximately 1.2 tonnes. The first plate seen in front of the stack weighed about 188 kg.
· The lashings used to secure the stack of plates had been slackened.
· The safety investigation identified several weaknesses and limitations in the arrangement.
̶ In order to select and take out a steel plate from the stack, the complete lashing arrangement had to be released.
̶ The stowage position and lashing arrangements of the steel plates did not allow for the use of either a hoist or lifting clamps to transfer / shift the plates safely.
· The second engineer was in effect “working alone” and there was no system in place for raising the alarm or getting assistance.
Lessons
· Look closely and carefully at how to safely stow heavy steel plates – question the current arrangements. Could more safer and more formal arrangements be designed for storage of steel plates?
· Are we storing spare materials on board that need not be on the vessel at all? Could spares themselves become a hazard?
· Look closely at work arrangements where crew members are, in effect, working alone.
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