According to Professional Mariner, new regulations require that ships sailing internationally must provide crewmembers with enclosed space drills every two months.
The news outlet reported that vessels operating under Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) must now participate in training programs about the dangers of enclosed spaces to prevent injury and death incidents. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) recently amended SOLAS to include the training guidelines.
Enclosed space incidents can result in dangerous gas exposure and low oxygen levels for crewmembers. These spaces can include fuel tanks, cargo holds and anchor lockers. The training will include information about the proper use of gas-detection meters and “ventilation, testing the atmosphere, temperature control, locking out internal systems, lighting, protective equipment, communications and emergency response,” in the event of an emergency.
One expert told Professional Mariner that there have been too many deaths involving enclosed space entries on ships recently. Each year, about two mariners are killed per month in confined-space-entry incidents, the news outlet reported.
An Attorney Can Help Your Family After a Fatal Maritime Accident
It is good that ships will be providing additional training to crewmembers. No family should have to suffer through the wrongful death of a loved one. If your loved one has been killed in a vessel accident, you should speak to an attorney who understands maritime law.
While no amount of money will ever bring a loved one back, you can hold a negligent party responsible and ensure a stable future for your family. Our attorneys can assist a family with preserving evidence of negligence or a vessel’s unseaworthiness. Aside from pursuing damages, we can help a family deal with insurance companies and help them obtain Social Security death benefits.
In the video above, David Anderson explains the importance of having skilled maritime counsel after a vessel incident. For further information about maritime law, visit our Facebook or Twitter pages.
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