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Electrocution on the Lakes emphasizes importance of safety management system

No one knows if a quality vessel safety management system (SMS) would have prevented the electrocution of one mariner on a Great Lakes ship. Or prevented the near death of the man attending to his fallen shipmate. But the value of a well managed SMS cannot be understated in helping to protect lives from senseless tragedies like this.

The tragedy on the Lakes prompted the Coast Guard to issue a safety alert titled “Lessons Learned: Personal Cost of Poor Maintenance and Repairs.” In the March 3 report, the circumstances surrounding the incidents were recounted. Neither the names of the victims, vessel nor the date of the event were disclosed. However, enough information is given to reveal that shoddy electrical repairs were responsible for the death of one crewmember and the severe injury of a second.

The circumstances were as follows: While working in a dark and narrow tunnel below the cargo holds of a bulk carrier, a young mariner was shocked to death when his head brushed against a broken light fixture which was missing a bulb, globe and guard. Even worse, a repair had previously been made by using electrical tape to cover open wires and the connection box was not grounded because tie wraps were used instead of metal fasteners.

When a second crewmember came to the victim’s aid, his head also touched the same fixture, resulting in serious injuries, though he managed to survive.

Every mariner receives basic first aid instruction imploring them to “stop, look and listen” before entering an accident scene. After all, there could be toxic fumes, the possibility of a CO2 release or the threat of electrocution such as in the Great Lakes’ case. Many a rescuer has become a victim trying to save a life by falling prey to the same conditions that caused the initial accident.

The safety alert recommends that companies implement programs encouraging reporting of unsafe conditions without the threat of retaliation against employees for reporting such conditions. Every company has a designated person, or DP, who is the point of contact for a crewmember to report—anonymously—any safety concerns without having to worry about retaliation. The name and contact information of the DP should be found prominently displayed on the bulkheads of just about any commercial vessel around.

The alert also advises marine inspection personnel, which by its nature includes any crewmember who notices any hazardous conditions, to immediately report what they see. It strongly recommends documentation and correction of any hazardous condition.

Even the most vigilant SMS program may not have been able to prevent the death and near death by electrocution on the Great Lakes vessel. All it takes is one missing link in the system, one crewmember to not do his or her part. Or in this case, the carelessness of one individual doing incredibly shoddy work in a dark and cramped compartment, to handcuff the system.

Learn your rights as a seaman by ordering free copy of The Insider's Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case written by Jones Act and maritime accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom.

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