Skip to content

Confined space entry fatality

What happened?

A sad incident has come to IMCA’s attention in which one person lost his life and another was injured, as a result of confined space entry.  The incident occurred on a vessel within a shipyard.

Two workers were assigned the task of spray painting the inside of a fresh water tank inside the steering gear room.  One of them was spraying inside the tank while his colleague was outside the tank assisting the spraying activity.  During the spraying activity, an explosion suddenly occurred; the ignition source is still under investigation.  The person outside the tank was rescued and was conscious at time of rescue. However, the person inside the tank was found unconscious in the tank by the Emergency Response Team.  Both were transferred to a local hospital.  Upon arrival at hospital, the person who had been found unconscious, was declared dead by a doctor. Investigation is on-going with all relevant government authorities.

Safety Event

Published: 10 November 2020
Download: IMCA SF 31/20

Relevant life-saving rules:
IMCA Safety Flashes
Submit a Report

IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of all. The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on Members sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Please consider adding [email protected] to your internal distribution list for safety alerts or manually submitting information on incidents you consider may be relevant. All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate.

IMCA’s store terms and conditions (https://www.imca-int.com/legal-notices/terms/) apply to all downloads from IMCA’s website, including this document.

IMCA makes every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained in the documents it publishes, but IMCA shall 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.