The U.K. Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published a report on its investigation of an April 21, 2010 incident in which the chief engineer on board the U.K. registered containership Ever Excel was killed when he became trapped between the top of the ship’s passenger elevator and the edge of the elevator shaft.
The Ever Elite was one of the three Evergreen ships on which the workers were killed in industrial accidents.
The investigation found that all the safety barriers that could have prevented the accident had been ignored, reset, or circumvented. The risks associated with elevator maintenance and inspection had not been considered.
This was the third fatal accident in an 8-month period on board ships operated by Evergreen Marine UK Limited (EMU). One crewman was killed on Ever Elite and another on board Ever Smile in occupational accidents. EMU sent specific instructions and procedures to the ships immediately following the accidents; however, the underlying safety issues were not addressed.
The investigation found that, although EMU’s safety management system was compliant with the international standard, there were serious failings in its implementation. Few risk assessments were completed, safe systems of work had not been established and work permits were not used appropriately. Communication between crew and shore management was ineffective, and underlying problems were not identified.
A recommendation has been made to the highest levels of EMU’s management to recommit to establishing a “just safety culture” within a robust safety management system.