Fatal fall from a low - rise stepping platform on main deck

TIN news:    Crew members of a Hong Kong registered bulk carrier were engaged in the main deck cleansing work while the vessel was sailing in the Yellow Sea.
 
At the time of the accident, the bosun was standing on a stepping platform which was about 0.85 metre in height above the deck to cleanse the hatch coaming of a cargo hold using a water hose.
 
Suddenly, he fell from the platform and sustained serious injuries to his head.
 
Investigation into the accident revealed the probable main contributory factor as follows:
 
    while concentrating on his work and with his back to the side of the platform, the bosun might not have been aware that he was already standing near the edge of the stepping platform and was prone to losing his footing and eventually fell;
    the bosun's alertness of getting hurt from a fall off a low-rise platform might have been low; and
    probably owing to losing his footing, the bosun fell backwards from the platform with the back of his head hitting against the deck and sustained serious injury to the back of his head.