The Liberia Maritime Authority has issued an accident report regarding an incident where an Ordinary Seaman was fatally electrocuted after coming into contact with energized electrical equipment inside a crane pedestal.
The incident
A vessel was berthed at the Port of Arzew, Algeria, preparing its cargo holds for loading granular urea. During these preparations, a portable light projector was connected inside the pedestal of one of the cranes to illuminate a cargo hold for survey and inspection activities.
Later that evening, an Ordinary Seaman (OS) was assigned to tidy the deck area as part of the cargo preparation routine. While carrying out this task, the OS entered the crane pedestal space, where the light projector remained energized.
Shortly after midnight, the OS was found unresponsive inside the pedestal, with the light projector still connected to a 220-volt socket. The crew immediately initiated emergency procedures and de-energized the area to enable recovery efforts. Despite the prompt response, the OS was pronounced deceased by attending medical authorities.
Damage/outcomes/pollution/injuries
- The Ordinary Seaman (OS) sustained fatal injuries due to accidental electrocution inside a crane pedestal, where a portable light projector remained energized and connected to a 220-volt socket.
- No pollution resulted from the incident.
- There was no damage to the vessel’s equipment, machinery, or structure.
Conclusions
The incident likely occurred when the Ordinary Seaman (OS) entered a crane pedestal and came into contact with energized and shorted 220-volt electrical equipment, most likely while attempting to disconnect a portable light projector used to illuminate a cargo hold. The projector remained powered, and its cable had been temporarily repaired with tape.
The task took place at night in conditions of high humidity, with the OS wearing wet gloves and having limited experience. No task-specific risk assessment or toolbox talk had been conducted before entering the restricted space. Combined with inadequate supervision and poor communication, these factors exposed the OS to live electrical hazards, resulting in fatal electrocution.
Contributory factors:
- The portable light projector remained energized when the OS entered the crane pedestal.
- A taped repair was present on the projector cable, and there was no procedure requiring inspection or testing of portable electrical equipment.
- The OS worked alone without supervision or check-in procedures, despite limited experience.
- High humidity and wet gloves increased the risk of electric shock.
- No toolbox meeting, risk assessment, or safety briefing addressed electrical hazards, pedestal entry, or nighttime operations.
- The crane pedestal, although a restricted space, was accessed without a permit, authorization, or oversight from a qualified electrician.
- Communication gaps meant the OS was unaccounted for until approximately 0010 LT, delaying detection of the incident.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of the incident was the OS coming into contact with energized and shorted 220-volt electrical equipment inside a crane pedestal while attempting to disconnect a portable light projector, under conditions of high humidity, poor equipment condition, lack of electrical isolation, and absence of proper supervision.
Recommendations:
- Electrical safety and isolation procedures
Clearly designate crane pedestals as restricted electrical spaces requiring authorization and permit-to-work procedures.
- Portable electrical equipment control
- Introduce a formal inspection, testing, and maintenance program for portable lights, cables, and connectors.
- Prohibit taped repairs; any damaged equipment must be removed from service and replaced.
- Provide extra-low voltage (ELV) or residual current device (RCD)-protected lighting for cargo hold illumination where feasible.
- Supervision and work practices
- Prohibit inexperienced crew members from working in restricted or electrical spaces without supervision.
- Establish mandatory periodic check-ins and direct supervision requirements for night work.
- Strengthen communication protocols to ensure timely monitoring of isolated workers.
- Risk assessment and planning
- Conduct task-specific risk assessments for any work involving electrical equipment, restricted space entry, or nighttime deck operations.
- Include humidity and moisture risks, appropriate PPE requirements, and electrical shock hazards in toolbox talks.
- Training and safety management compliance
- Provide training on electrical hazard awareness, isolation procedures, and the safe use of portable lighting equipment.
- Emphasize recognition of restricted electrical spaces and proper authorization requirements.
- Issue a fleet-wide safety alert summarizing lessons learned from the incident.
Full advisory at the following link.