Crewman found collapsed – Seasickness
- Safety Flash
- Published on 13 July 2017
- Generated on 19 September 2025
- IMCA SF 17/17
- 2 minute read
A trainee member of the crew was found lying unconscious on the deck between two cement tanks.
What happened?
In falling, the injured person (IP)'s left arm had twisted under him but there were no signs of physical injury at the time. The trainee suffered partial immobility of the left hand as a result of how he fell.
The IP was taken to the on-board doctor for medical attention. During subsequent consultation between platform and vessel doctors, it was decided to send him ashore for further assessment.
Medical assessment ashore found the IP suffering from acute oedema (swelling) over spinal discs C3, C4, C5. The IP is known to be recovering under continued medical treatment and he is able to move his left upper limb, left shoulder joint and left elbow without restriction.
What went wrong?
The IP had collapsed as a result of the combination of seasickness and medication he was taking to address seasickness.
What lessons were learnt?
- As a result of collapsing, this person suffered a potentially serious fall and injury which could have been a good deal worse.
- No account was taken of the fact that he was an inexperienced trainee. The likelihood of seasickness should be taken into account in risk assessment and informally, when inducting and training new personnel. A “buddy system,” or similar, to ensure new personnel are looked out for, may be beneficial.
- This incident is brought to you because we have received no reports of safety issues arising from seasickness – yet seasickness is a widely acknowledged and common issue, particularly for new seafarers or for project personnel spending only a short time offshore.
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