Asphyxiation in cargo hold case study

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AN UNEXPECTED INCIDENT OCCURRED ON BOARD A BULK CARRIER NEARING THE COMPLETION OF LOADING CORN CARGO, CAUSING TWO FUMIGATION CONTRACTORS TO ASPHYXIATE AND RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF ONE CONTRACTOR. BEFORE THE INCIDENT, THE CARGO HOLDS HAD BEEN CLOSED FOR SIX DAYS, LEADING TO DEPLETED OXYGEN LEVELS INSIDE. THIS INCIDENT HIGHLIGHTS THE DANGERS OF CLOSED CARGO HOLDS, THE LACK OF AWARENESS ABOUT HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS, AND THE HUMAN TENDENCY TO HELP OTHERS IN DISTRESS WITHOUT CONSIDERING PERSONAL SAFETY.

WHAT HAPPENED

On 3 December 2021, a 33,000 GT bulk carrier arrived in Chennai, India, to load 53,000 tonnes of yellow corn. Fumigation contractors boarded to install ducting for fumigating the cargo. Loading began that day but was intermittently halted due to rain. By 15 December 2021, cargo hold four was loaded and its hatches and accessways were sealed. Loading continued in other holds as weather allowed.

On 21 December 2021, as loading neared completion, 21 fumigation contractors boarded at 0948. While their equipment was being loaded using the ship’s crane, a team of four contractors prepared to fumigate cargo hold four. At 1212, two workers entered the booby hatch of hold four with gas masks and a phosphine gas detector. Shortly afterwards, worker A emerged onto deck feeling breathless and noticed that worker B had fallen over within the cargo hold. He re-entered to assist.

Other team members, realising the danger, attempted to help but quickly retreated due to breathlessness. One team member then informed the ship’s crew at the gangway. At 1217, the officer of the watch alerted the master, who then called for an enclosed space rescue via the public address system. The chief officer, upon hearing the call, rushed to the booby hatch. Upon seeing the two collapsed workers inside the hold, he donned an emergency escape breathing device (EEBD) and entered the hold, retrieving worker A at 1222. He re-entered (still wearing the EEBD) and, using a rope, retrieved worker B onto the deck.

Both workers were given first aid and oxygen until 1240 when they were transported to a local hospital by car. Worker A was declared dead at 1425, while worker B recovered. Toxicology reports indicated no gaseous poison in the blood or lungs of either worker.