The shipping industry continues to record fatalities from enclosed space incidents, despite long-established safety procedures. According to a commentary by Pradeep Chawla from MarinePALS, the problem is not a lack of rules or training but an over-reliance on compliance alone.
Persistent Fatalities Despite Existing Procedures
Enclosed space entry procedures have existed for decades, Chawla wrote, yet lives continue to be lost. The IMO's revised MSC circular on enclosed space entry is important and welcome, he said, but he cautioned that this cannot become another round of paperwork followed by another round of reminders. Every seafarer is told that enclosed spaces can kill, and every operator knows the requirements including permits, drills, checklists and training modules. Still, people die in spaces they should not have entered or entered without proper safeguards.
The Limits of Procedures
Chawla argued that stricter procedures alone are not enough because they depend on people doing the right thing every time, even when tired, under pressure, or working by routine. "That is not a seafarer problem. It is a system problem," he wrote. Safety systems must reflect the reality that humans can miss a step, take a shortcut, or misunderstand a risk. Adding more instructions will not prevent a missed step somewhere in the world.
Engineering Solutions Needed
The next step, according to Chawla, is to make unsafe entry harder to begin with. He called for looking more seriously at engineering solutions such as fixed gas detection systems, interlocked barriers that prevent entry into unsafe spaces, warning systems, and design improvements that eliminate or reduce the need to enter enclosed spaces. The aim should be to make it much harder for the wrong action to happen.
MarinePALS Updated Training
MarinePALS has updated its enclosed space training program, including a six-part video learning series and CBT module, to reflect the revised IMO guidance, Chawla noted. He stressed that training will always matter but must be supported by measures that do not rely entirely on memory, judgement, and perfect behaviour at the point of danger.
Implications for Ship Operators and the Industry
For ship operators, the commentary implies a need to invest in physical safeguards rather than simply updating paperwork. The revised circular gives the industry a useful moment to refresh its approach, but Chawla urged honesty about what has not worked: the response has too often focused on what people should do rather than how the system can prevent them from being put in a dangerous position. If fatalities are to stop, the industry must start asking whether safeguards were strong enough to prevent a fatal mistake, not just whether the procedure was followed.
| Current Approach | Proposed Engineering Approach |
|---|---|
| Permits, drills, checklists, training | Fixed gas detection systems |
| Reliance on human compliance | Interlocked barriers preventing unsafe entry |
| Post-incident reminders | Design improvements eliminating need for entry |
Watch List
- Industry adoption of engineering safeguards in response to the revised IMO circular.
- Further IMO actions or guidelines on enclosed space safety.
- Potential cost-benefit analysis for retrofitting existing vessels with fixed detection and interlock systems.
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