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Enclosed Space Problems

in the Marine Industry
Dr Barrie Jones CBE What all these areas have in common,
irrespective of the degree of risk they pose
Chief Executive Officer, Mines Rescue Service and subsequent difficulty of rescue, is their
Adam Allan MBA potential to cause serious injury to an
Head of Mines Rescue Marine Division entrant if the correct procedures are not
implemented to control the risks.

The Mines Rescue Service is a rescue and training Preparation

In the UK, legislation was enacted to protect
organisation specialising in enclosed spaces in all all persons when entering, working in and
industries not just mining. Recently we have examined exiting a confined space (enclosed space) in
the potential for our expertise to be related to enclosed the event of an emergency. The common
thread is that adequate training should
spaces in the maritime industry. A series of shipboard always be undertaken prior to entry into
visits have been undertaken where potential problem enclosed spaces. It also highlights the need
areas were identified, solutions proposed and rescue for personal protection, in that entrants
should be aware of the environment before
drills carried out. This article examines some of the they enter the confined space, monitor the
findings from these visits, in particular the techniques air quality, communicate frequently and
and equipment which may be utilised for casualty carry escape breathing apparatus, if the
situation does not merit wearing an opera-
extrication on board ship. tional breathing apparatus. Additionally,
rescue equipment and manpower should be
immediately available to deploy in the

T
he Mines Rescue Service was room and of course double hulls, wing event of an emergency. This could include
formed as a result of the tanks and double bottoms. Other breathing apparatus, rescue stretcher,
substantial loss of life in coal mines problematic areas which are perhaps not so mechanical winch (and anchorage point pre
during the latter part of the 19th obvious are the paint locker, refrigerator set), oxygen resuscitator, first aid equip-
century. It was noted that the predominance units and those spaces that can quickly ment and any other specialist equipment
of fatalities was not due to the initiating fire change from safe to dangerous. deemed necessary for that particular entry.
or explosion but to the devastating effects of
various gases permeating the mine
ventilation system. Since then The Mines
Rescue Service has developed into the
foremost enclosed space rescue and training
company in the UK. It has expanded to cover
all industries where our specialist knowledge
in enclosed spaces may be utilised.
Operating from six regional training centres,
we are involved with fire brigade training and
other emergency rescue services, while
supporting many companies in the utility,
chemical and power sectors.

Areas of risk
The whole of a ship inside the
superstructure is an enclosed space. In
many cases, we are dealing with enclosed
spaces which are themselves within an
enclosed space. The areas which are
particularly problematic for rescue are the
chain locker, engine room, fore peak, pump L Figure 1: Entry hatch

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Rescue from a double Given our unfamiliarity with the
environment, a second exercise was
bottom undertaken which improved both our
The single most challenging situation efficiency and casualty extrication
aboard ship is perceived to be rescuing a techniques, thereby reducing the time
colleague from a double bottom. This taken significantly.
requires both a horizontal and vertical
extrication. Problems include height and
width restrictions, and lightening holes
Rescue from a tank
No 4 tank is accessed via a raised
between tank bays that substantially
L Figure 2: Casualty manhandled onto stretcher rectangular bolted hatch located on the
increase the difficulty of a rescue by
lower deck. A restrictive oval entrance
impeding free lateral movement.
measuring approximately 600mm by
The scenario consisted of a man who 400mm is incorporated into the hatch. This
was injured while carrying out an allows entrants to penetrate the tank by
inspection in the double bottom area of the descending a fixed ladder to the steel floor
ship. During our drill session we simulated of the upper compartment. Access to the
a live casualty with lower leg injuries lower compartment is gained through a
located several bulkheads inward of the similar sized oval aperture, slightly offset
access point. The exercise involved the from the deck hatch, and a second vertical
location, treatment and transportation of fixed ladder. The upper compartment is
L Figure 3: Casualty on rescue stretcher
this casualty from the double bottom to the 1 metre broad by 5.5 metres deep, and
ships upper deck. approximately 7 metres wide. The lower
The three man rescue crew began by compartment is 0.92 metres broad by
setting up a tripod and winch system on 5 metres deep, and approximately
the upper deck above the access point into 7 metres wide. Movement in the lower
the hull. The entry hatch was oval in shape compartment is further restricted by a
and measured approximately 420mm x 300mm pipe located 1.3 metres from the
600mm. floor and a 100mm pipe located 4 metres
From here the crew travelled through from the floor. Both pipes run across the
the hull to the entrance to the double compartment and are attached to
L Figure 4: Access to No 4 tank from deck level bulkheads on opposite sides (Figures 4
bottom, which was of similar dimensions to
the deck entry point. Descending a short and 5).
ladder, they entered the double bottom, The rescue scenario consisted of a man
testing the atmosphere as they progressed. who sustained lower leg injuries while
On locating the casualty, one rescuer working beneath the 300mm pipe situated
checked the casualtys condition while the in the lower compartment. He subsequently
remaining two prepared the stretcher. collapsed between the steel strengthening
When appropriate, the casualty was webs under the pipe, causing further access
secured into a rescue stretcher (Figures 2 difficulties. When located he was sitting
with his back to the bulkhead opposite the
and 3).
L Figure 5: Access to lower compartment fixed access ladder. He remained conscious
The exercise concluded by transporting
throughout the exercise.
the casualty through the hull of the ship to
Two rescuers entered No 4 tank
a position below the deck access hatch
monitoring the atmosphere and running
where the stretcher was attached to a
out a fixed wire communications system as
mechanical winch system and raised
they progressed. Meanwhile, a third
vertically onto the deck.
rescuer erected a tripod on deck and
This exercise proved to be particularly
attached a 37 metre winch system. As
challenging, predominantly due to the
there were no height restrictions, the
lightening hole dimensions which limited tripod was erected to full extension.
the movement of the stretcher. It was Having descended both ladders and
L Figure 6: Casualty located under 300mm pipe found that: located the casualty, one rescuer climbed
G fitting a rescue harness to the casualty down to assist the casualty from beneath
assisted with the manual handling process; the pipe while the second rescuer pulled
G transporting the casualty head first was the casualty upward and over the pipe.
advantageous; Meanwhile, the third rescuer lowered
G the positioning of the rescuers in the prepared rescue stretcher from the
relation to the casualty was of paramount deck into the lower compartment. The
importance; rescue stretcher was then positioned
G forward planning was an essential behind the casualty and both rescuers
element of this rescue; secured the casualty to the stretcher in an
L Figure 7: Rescuers attaching the casualty to G team work and effective communication upright position (Figures 6 and 7).
stretcher was an essential component of success. The stretcher was then attached to the
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winch system and the casualty, supported The rescue team formed up, discussed a
by both rescuers, was lifted from behind plan of action and gathered all relevant
the pipe and manoeuvred toward the lower rescue equipment from the upper deck. A
compartment access hatch. One of the 37 metre winch was attached to a suitable
rescue party climbed into the upper temporary anchorage point, and a rescue
compartment prior to raising the casualty stretcher opened and laid out on the lower
in order to assist in guiding the stretcher deck plates ready to receive the casualty.
top and bottom (Figures 8 and 9). At the same time, one of the rescue
The access hatch, although snug, personnel entered the bilge carrying a
allowed the stretcher and casualty to be rescue harness and gas monitor. The
removed comfortably into the upper atmosphere was checked and rescue
compartment. Positioning the casualtys harness fitted securely to the casualty.
arms above his head assisted in that A second member of the rescue crew
process. climbed into the bilge and assisted with the
Once into the upper compartment, the horizontal removal of the casualty from the
casualty was stabilised while both enclosed space (Figures 11 and 12).
rescuers again changed position to ensure Manually handling the casualty out of the
ease of movement to deck level. The enclosed space was made easier by having
casualty was finally winched through the L Figure 8 and 9: Casualty being raised into upper
one rescuer inside and one rescuer outside
upper compartment access and onto the compartment
the enclosed space to receive the casualty.
ships lower deck (Figure 10).
Once the casualty had been eased out of the
This rescue proved to be more
enclosed space, his harness was attached to
restrictive than the previous exercise, in
the winch and slowly and carefully raised to
that the positioning of pipes and general
the lower deck, guided by both rescuers,
tank width limited movement. Here, we
(Figure 13). At lower deck level, the
found that:
casualty was laid onto and secured into the
G Two rescuers were the optimum
rescue stretcher in preparation for phase 2
number in this instance;
of the exercise.
G communication between deck and
The second phase of the exercise was
rescuers played an important part as the
opened stretcher had to be lowered into difficult and arduous as it consisted of
locating (or manufacturing) anchorage
place when required; L Figure 10: Casualty being recovered onto main deck
G modifying the casualtys position on the
points at each subsequent deck level,
stretcher assisted in the extrication securing the winch and lifting the stretcher
process; up each stairwell while being guided by
G again, correct positioning of the two rescuers. On each occasion, the winch
rescuers, one above one below, during the cable was attached to the head end of the
recovery operation was essential; rescue stretcher and the stretcher pulled
G a bottom lift was required to give the up the inclined stairwell. We endeavoured
additional height clearance to get the to have three points of contact with the
casualty out of the tank. casualty at all times in order to prevent
any lateral movement of the stretcher. L Figure 11: Harness fitted and casualty removed
As the stretcher and casualty reached
Rescue from a pump room through lightening hole
each level in turn, it was found easier to
The ships pump room is accessed from the
manoeuvre the stretcher manually toward
upper deck via a hinged rectangular door
and has four internal decks extending from the next lifting position where it was
the upper deck to the ships hull. Each re-attached to the winch and the lifting
internal deck is constructed of open metal procedure repeated. The exercise
grating with an inclined ships stairwell culminated with a final lift onto the top
leading to the next level. All walkways on deck. This was the most difficult part of
all levels have hand rails fitted. The lowest phase two as the stairwell terminated near
deck is fitted with 6mm steel anti-slip floor the entrance door and there was no
plates. Beneath the deck plates in the bilge suitable anchorage point. The final lift was L Figure 12: Casualty assisted out of bilge
area are several large bore pipes and achieved by means of attaching two strops
valves with bulkheads containing and karabiners to the head end of the
lightening holes to aid access into the more stretcher and heaving from the top while
enclosed space of the bilge. the third rescuer lifted and pushed the
In this exercise, a casualty was injured stretcher from below. The stretcher was at
while painting inside the bilge. He was all times stabilised by the rescuer situated
semi-conscious and in need of immediate below the stretcher, preventing lateral
evacuation. The drill was initiated while movement. The exercise concluded when
the team were viewing the bilge area and the casualty was transported onto the
had no rescue equipment to hand. upper deck through the access door. L Figure 13: Casualty hoisted to lower deck

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This proved to be the most physically G Communication in any rescue situation G The dimensions of lightening holes
arduous rescue, in that the casualty had to is invaluable. Two systems were employed make access difficult, let alone rescue.
be removed from the bilge and lifted (one radio and one hard wire) allowing Consideration should be given to crew
vertically onto the bottom deck prior to rescuers and those on deck to maintain access and safety when designing tanks
being lifted a further three decks to the contact during the various exercises. and enclosed spaces.
main deck. In this instance we found that: G Access points to the enclosed spaces G There are not enough suitable and
G fitting a rescue harness to the casualty such as manholes, are very restrictive, specific anchorage points. More
was advantageous; with some measuring only 420mm x consideration should be given to casualty
G lack of suitable anchorage points 600mm, therefore, rescue personnel had to evacuation at the design or modification
limited progress; be pre-selected for the exercise. stages.
G inclination of ladders and narrow G All exercises were undertaken in a G Although only limited numbers of
walkways limited progress; fresh air environment. Should the use of rescuers could work in some extremely
G The use of only three rescuers made the enclosed spaces, additional help should be
full breathing apparatus be required this
exercise physically demanding. would undoubtedly extend the extraction made available at the point of exit to assist
process owing to the difficulty of entering with any rescue operation when in a safe
Common problems the various compartments and lightening environment.
Following each exercise we held a holes given the physical size of BA sets in For the sake of brevity we have
de-briefing session with all involved. While general use on board ships. documented only three exercises here.
each of the exercises presented their own However, we viewed many other enclosed
unique problems, many points were space areas in the ships and discussed
common to all three rescues.
Equipment appraisal potential problems. Several of these spaces
There is no doubt that the equipment used
G Rescuers must be aware of the risks posed the same general problems of space
for these exercises was fit for purpose and
posed by preconceptions. The areas which and height restrictions outlined above.
that any rescue from an enclosed space
are obviously enclosed are not always the These were overcome by a combination of
onboard would benefit from the availability
most dangerous. For example, the pump our experience in implementing rescue
room poses considerable risk despite being of the following equipment:
techniques from enclosed spaces and just
G Winch/hoist system the design of the
open, light and large in volume. Always be as importantly by employing equipment
mindful that the area behind sealed doors equipment lent itself well to the tasks which is fit for purpose. With the
may contain invisible risks such as gases asked of it and made lifting a heavy weight shipboard experience gained by our rescue
and fumes from a variety of sources. much easier. teams we have no doubt that effecting a
Continuous checking of the atmosphere G Tripod although of limited use, this
rescue from these environments will test
and an awareness of the working made a good anchorage point in the first the ability of even the most experienced
environment is essential when working in and second exercises and would be seafarer.
such spaces. It is vital that this awareness essential for open deck situations. Before any entry into an enclosed space,
is imbued through training. G Communications an essential it is essential that the crew members
G Tripods are frequently used as portable component of enclosed space equipment, entering are adequately:
anchorage points by rescue teams ashore. the combination of hard wire and radio G trained;
On the ships in general, suitable worked well, each with their own merits. In G equipped;
anchorage points for attaching lifting the case of the radio system, the head set G protected in the event of an emergency.
equipment were limited. The tripod system had the added advantage of being hands If any of these three conditions have not
used provided stability, height versatility free. been met, then those spaces should not be
and matched the requirements of the G Rescue stretcher the paraguard entered.
mechanical winch system. stretcher was used for each exercise. It In conclusion we wish to acknowledge
G The rescue harness used in each of the was versatile and ideally suited to both the help and assistance given during our
exercises proved invaluable to the vertical and horizontal rescue scenarios. ship visits by both the dockyard and
rescuers as a means of manually handling G Portable lighting the enclosed spaces shipboard staff involved.
and lifting the casualty. The harness was found on board were either totally dark or
taken in with the rescuers and fitted to the poorly lit. Head lamps were essential.
casualty, as existing shipboard practice
generally precludes the wearing of
G Rescue harness the rescue harness
gave another dimension to the rescue by
Enclosed space
harnesses by seafarers when entering
these spaces at sea.
allowing both horizontal and vertical entry drills
extrication, as shown in the third exercise.
G Portable lighting was worn on the The heart of the problem is a lack of a properly
helmet. Unlike a hand torch, which would functioning safety culture on board some ships.
seem to be more generally used, this Recommendations Working groups at IMO have discussed how best
G Hands free communication equipment to address this problem. Two alternative solutions
allowed the rescuers to locate the casualty
and personal portable lighting were have been proposed; either mandating enclosed
and view the surroundings while leaving
space entry drills through SOLAS, or incorporating
both hands free. undoubtedly advantageous and should be
procedures through the ISM Code.
G The flexibility of the stretchers used adopted as standard when entering
The Nautical Institute has already garnered
during the exercises allowed the rescuers enclosed spaces.
the views of some members and intends to submit
more scope when dealing with the different G Adjustments should be made to the
a paper on this issue to the IMO. Members are
situations. Both types of stretcher were stretcher lifting point for the final lift in invited to contribute their ideas on enclosed space
versatile and allowed for a horizontal as order to gain the additional height problems by e-mail to [email protected]
well as a vertical rescue. necessary to clear tank entry points.
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