Manhole opened and not correctly closed
- Safety Flash
- Published on 6 July 2020
- Generated on 10 February 2026
- IMCA SF 20/20
- 1 minute read
What happened?
During a safety round on deck prior to cargo operations it was noticed that a manhole had been opened in order to pump out ballast water to replace a faulty valve.
What went wrong?
The manhole cover or hatch nuts had been completely removed and the cover was only placed back on top and was left completely unsecured.
There was no barrier tape nor any warnings placed to indicate that the cover was open and unsecured.
Bypassing safety controls:
- Crew did not follow company procedures.
- No warnings were posted.
- It did not occur to the crew doing this work to consider the potential risks of persons falling inside or slipping from standing on the manhole cover while so placed and not secure.
Related Safety Flashes
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IMCA SF 12/20
31 March 2020
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IMCA SF 02/20
10 January 2020
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IMCA SF 27/16
12 October 2016
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