In the News
HSE remind that COVID-19 incidents should only be reported under RIDDOR when one of the following circumstances applies:
an accident or incident at work has, or could have, led to the release or escape of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). This must be reported as a dangerous occurrencea person at work (a worker) has been diagnosed as having COVID-19 attributed to an occupational exposure to coronavirus. This must be reported as a case of diseasea worker dies as a result of occupational exposure to coronavirus. This must be reported as a work-related death due to exposure to a biological agentThe Environment Agency and DEFRA have posted guidance on action to be taken if fluorinated gas (F gas) exports from the UK are rejected at an EU border control post. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/f-gas-exports-rejected-at-an-eu-border-control-post
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has issued a report and safety flyer following a fatal accident in an enclosed space on board the fishing vessel Sunbeam in Fraserburgh, Scotland. https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/entry-to-enclosed-space-on-fishing-vessel-sunbeam-with-loss-of-1-life. The second engineer was found collapsed inside a refrigerated salt water tank. Although he was rescued from the tank, he could not be resuscitated. Three of his crewmates went into the tank to help him. They all suffered breathing difficulties and one also collapsed. Two other crew members then donned breathing apparatus and rescued their struggling crewmates.
MAIB state that:
The accident happened because the second engineer entered the tank without any of the safety precautions normally associated with such a hazard being in place.Entry into the tanks without safety precautions had become routine as they had been completed without consequence over the many years of the vessel’s operations.However, on this occasion the atmosphere could not support life, as refrigerant gas had leaked into the space through failed evaporator tubes in one of the vessel’s refrigeration plants.MAIB also stress the need to ensure that well practiced rescue plans are in place.