Edges and ledges – a slip on deck resulted in injury
- Safety Flash
- Published on 9 May 2018
- Generated on 20 November 2025
- IMCA SF 10/18
- 2 minute read
A crewman slipped on a step grating and twisted his ankle.
What happened?
The incident happened as he stepped through a hatch on his way to a job. Initially he did not feel any pain, so he did not report the incident and continued work. However, as time passed, the pain increased and after three hours he reported the event to the officer on watch (OOW). The OOW contacted the client’s medical service, who provided an ambulance and evacuated the injured person from the vessel to the clinic. The injured person was assessed at the clinic in the middle of the night, and the vessel informed the office the next morning. Investigation highlighted the fact that client’s medics reported the incident to the company before the vessel.
What went wrong? What were the causes?
- With regard to reporting:
- the injured person did not follow company procedures and immediately report the incident to the OOW.
- the vessel management did not inform the designated person ashore when the incident occurred – again, not following company procedures.
- With regard to the slip/trip:
- lack of hazard identification will have been a contributing factor.
- the incident is still under investigation.
What actions were taken? What lessons were learned?
- Discuss the lessons learnt with all crew members, particularly the requirement to report incidents immediately.
- Consider efforts to identify the need to mark steps, especially when there is no colour contrast.
The company has a permanent “Edges and Ledges” campaign to identify all edges and ledges and mark all hazards.
Members may also wish to make further use of the IMCA promotional material on this topic:
- Preventing slips and trips (pocket card)
- Preventing slips, trips and falls (poster)
- Look where you are going (poster)
- Take care on the stairs (poster)
Related Safety Flashes
-
IMCA SF 20/15
3 December 2015
-
IMCA SF 17/14
31 October 2014
IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.
The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.
All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.
IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.
The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual's or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.
Share your safety incidents with IMCA online. Sign-up to receive Safety Flashes straight to your email.