Safety warning about working in enclosed spaces after the loss of 1 life on a fishing vessel
Urgent bulletin issued after working in a refrigerated salt water tank resulted in a fatal accident on board fv Sunbeam (FR487) at Fraserburgh, Scotland.
Safety Bulletin 4/2018
A full report will be published when the investigation is complete.
Safety issues
- working in enclosed spaces is potentially hazardous, procedures for entering and working in them should be robust, understood and utilised
- enclosed space rescue plans need to be in place on all vessels, risks must be understood and rescue plans practised
- all crew members have a responsibility for their own safety, this is particularly important in respect of lone working
Recommendation
Sunbeam’s owners are recommended (S2018/129) to conduct risk assessments specifically for entering and working in RSW tanks and provide safe operating procedures for its crew to follow and appropriate levels of safety equipment to use.
![Photograph of the aft refrigerated salt water tank on board fv Sunbeam](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5bc98b88e5274a092d1c534b/SunbeamSB_Web_AftCentreRSWTank.jpg)
Related publications
An investigation report and safety flyer into the fatal enclosed space entry accident were published on 10 December 2020.