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Emergency signage

Dangers

closing in

D
eaths onboard ships when Would be rescuers are also putting concern for them this year and launched
crew members enter enclosed themselves in severe danger, which a regime of inspections of vessels this

spaces are becoming ancould be counted as sheer human year on training, risk assessment, entry
increasing concern for the industry nature, by entering the space when they requirements, etc.

– and with no dedicated safety sign see a colleague in trouble.“We as a company also have training
to address the issue the death toll is The IMO has made changes to posters especially for enclosed space

expected to keep rising.SOLAS with regard to full rescue drills to entry and a multi-message sign for display
Signage manufacturer Maritime be held not more than two months apart at entrances. However, there is yet to be

Progress is currently working with other and the use of portable gas detectors an agreed upon hazard symbol to denote
agencies to come up with a design to prior to every entry. The detectors are the dangers an enclosed space represents.

warn crew members of the dangers of also required to be used, not just to UK P&I Club also identiied the need for a

entering an enclosed space.measure the entrance, but at various speciic symbol for enclosed spaces.
They have become an increasing levels as readings could be reduced the “Maritime Progress is involved

safety concern for the industry after a further into the space it is measured.within the design and discussions to get
number of deaths were reported of crew Symbols already available are foran agreed upon symbol for the relevant

members entering enclosed spaces and the mandatory use of gas detectors and ISO boards as enclosed spaces are not
their colleagues going in to help them.for the mandatory use of self-contained just conined to the marine industry.”

Technical Projects Manager at breathing apparatus. Others will become Chairman Terry Egan also raised
Maritime Progress Yvonne Aldridge available when consensus is reached at the importance of ships having signs

said: “Enclosed spaces are each different international committee level.that crew members are able to see in an
to the vessel design, cargo, age, etc, and Maritime Progress is now working emergency situation in the dark.

can change over time so a generic risk with other authorities in creating a sign He raised the question ‘what’s the

assessment is of no use. Many deaths dedicated to discouraging people from point in having an emergency sign if you
occur through lack of training and entering enclosed spaces.can’t see it in an emergency?’

knowing the dangers of the inherent in Mrs Aldridge added: “The Paris The company, which has been
the particular vessel, maybe through MOU and Tokyo MOU identiied manufacturing and supplying marine

frequent changes in crew, for example.enclosed spaces as a particular area ofsigns for the last 20 years, rates itself

The SHIP Supplier Issue 67 2015 23