It is always sad to hear of incidents on board ship or in the marine environment when someone dies entering a confined space.

Oxygen is not the only thing missing on these occasions. Lack of oxygen is often accompanied by lack of training, lack of safety case procedures or a lack of equipment and it is a sad fact that we still have to look into reasons for these omissions in this day and age.

This is more than a generation after several major incidents were documented and reported upon, with ensuing notices and guidelines issued.

The largest problem is with spaces which are not perceived as dangerous – anchor lockers and deck stores which may suffer from oxygen depletion, for example. Deaths still happen despite having safety regimes, operational procedures manuals and assurance surveys in place and it is often during casual daily work schedules that these incidents occur.

If this is to change, there are four major areas which need to be tackled:

• Culture 

Safety culture needs to be implemented at all levels, starting from the top. Adopting a shipboard enclosed space management plan based on onboard audits is a good new initiative. Procedures for Permits to Work need to be addressed.

• Design
Shipboard design and operation should minimise the need to go into enclosed spaces in the first place; escape possibilities should be designed in.

• Equipment
In many cases, crews are expected to use equipment that is not fit for purpose, or that is complex to use. In particular, firefighting equipment is not suitable for evacuating casualties from enclosed spaces.

• Training and drills
Good, frequent training is needed. This is a human element issue; only by working with the human element can it be solved.

Further advice on enclosed space entry may be found in IMO
Resolution A.1050(27) “Revised Recommendations for Entering Enclosed Spaces Aboard Ships” and West of England – Loss Prevention Bulletin – Enclosed Space Entry .