Question 1

You've fished these exact inshore waters for years without incident. A colleague suggests waiting until your buddy vessel is closer before starting work today. What does MAIB's finding on normalisation suggest about how to weigh that advice?

Accepted Answer

Repeated success in familiar conditions doesn't reduce the actual risk — it reduces your perception of it. The advice deserves the same weight it would on unfamiliar water MAIB found Sandy had likely become desensitised to the hazards of close-inshore work through years of successful trips, and started before his buddy vessel Chance was close enough to help. Familiarity changes your perception of risk, not the risk itself — the underwater rock was there regardless of how many previous trips had gone fine.

Question 2

You're asked to test a deck crane grab after electrical repairs nearby. As the grab is hoisted, what should have happened first?

Accepted Answer

The area within the grab's swing radius should be cleared of personnel before the lift On the bulk carrier Fairfield Eagle, a crew member working nearby was struck and fatally injured when a grab being test-lifted after repairs swung unexpectedly. The investigation found the area should have been cleared and barriered before the test lift began.

Question 3

A toolbox talk held before a lifting operation should explicitly cover which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Who must remain clear of the exclusion zone while the lift takes place A toolbox talk exists to make sure everyone present understands the danger zones, the abort signal, and — critically — who must not be in the area while the lift happens. The RMIMA investigation into the Fairfield Eagle fatality found the toolbox talk had not made this clear.