The Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) has received a report of an accident involving personal injury during the use of a palletising machine on a factory trawler, where the removal of safety barriers was the cause of the incident.

Background

An individual became trapped inside an automated palletising machine. These machines are equipped with safety barriers designed to ensure they stop if personnel enter the restricted area around the machine. One of the safety barriers is a safety fence surrounding the machine, with doors that must remain closed during operation. When one of the doors is opened, the machine’s operating voltage should automatically be disconnected.

In this incident, two doors with door sensor functioning as safety devices for the packing machine were removed. As a result, the operator was able to access and climb onto a live machine. The operator’s movements on the machine activated sensors, which in turn started the palletising machine while the operator was inside.

The risk assessment for operating the equipment stated that the area was secured with safety barriers and that entering the area would disconnect the packing machine’s operating voltage. The risk assessment therefore assumed that safety barriers were in place, that the doors were installed and that the door sensors were intact.

Corrective measures

Any changes to or removal of safety barriers must always be subject to a risk assessment and communicated to all affected personnel and equipment users.  

This includes, among other things:

• A comprehensive review and risk identification for both normal operation and operational deviations.
• Approval from the manufacturer/supplier for any changes to barrier and safety functions.
• Ensuring that a procedure is in place for isolating machinery and equipment before work is permitted to start.
• Technical safety devices must not be removed or disabled.
• Removal of safety barriers requires compensating measures to maintain an equivalent level of safety.
• Ensuring that crew can receive proper and sufficient training and familiarisation, both for normal operation and in case of operational disturbances This must for part of the vessel’s safety management system.

It is recommended that at least two persons are present when working inside a packing machine; this should also be considered when using other automated equipment that may pose a risk to personnel.

Relevant legislation

• Act of 16 February 2007 No. 9 relating to ship safety and security (Ship Safety and Security Act).
• Section 7. The  company’s duty to establish, implement and develop a safety management system
• Section 21. Safety devices and equipment
• Regulations on a safety management system for Norwegian ships and mobile offshore units
• The International Safety Management Code (ISM) sections 6–11.
• Regulations on the working environment, health and safety of persons working on board ship, section 2-2 Risk assessment, section 4-2 Definitions, section 4-3 General obligations

Reference is also made to: Safety notice 02/2024 – Changed use of on board work equipment