NEIL ROBERTSON STRETCHER

Dear Captain, Following a recent enclosed space entry accident on board a full managed ship the investigation identified that one element in the accident reaching the point where an injury was sustained was the fact that problems arose with the deployment and use of the ships Neil Robertson stretcher. The Neil Robertson stretcher is designed for removing an injured person from engine-room spaces, holds, and other compartments where access hatches are too small to permit the use of regular stretchers. The Neil Robertson stretcher is made of semirigid canvas. When firmly wrapped around the victim mummy-fashion, it gives sufficient support so the victim may be lifted vertically. To keep the injured person from swaying against bulkheads and hatchways while being lifted, tie a guideline to the victims ankles. Weight 8Kg

We recently suffered an accident in which a casualty being lifted out of a tank using the ships Neil Robertson stretcher fell back into the tank from a height of some 3m. The fall resulted in breaks to both legs but no other injury. The rescue operation for this crew member took place after an unauthorised tank entry for which no preparation had been made. No permit had been prepared, no tank atmosphere tests and no emergency equipment assembled ready for use. When the alarm was raised a number of crew were initially involved collecting the equipment necessary to mount an effective rescue. The stretcher was brought to the tank and lowered in using a line that was conveniently on deck but was not intended for use lifting a crew member out of the tank.

The rope had been secured using a bowline before lowering the stretcher into the tank. The intention was to secure a different, larger line to the stretcher to lift the casualty. The crew member who entered the tank and put the casualty into the stretcher had not been informed of this decision so when the casualty was secured gave the signal to hoist away. While climbing the ladder out of the tank he heard a strange noise and turned to see the casualty inside the stretcher falling back to the tank bottom. Investigation has determined that while technically strong enough to sustain the load imposed by the casualty weighing some 100Kg the low friction coefficient of this rope combined with stop/start jerking motion used to manually heave the casualty off the tank bottom imposed sufficient load to pull the knot undone causing the stretcher to fall. Neil Robertson stretchers are fitted with a permanently mounted lifting ring at the top.

This ring offers the option to use a more secure connection between lifting rope and stretcher than simply tying a rope on. With effect from receipt of this circular every ship is to prepare a dedicated line only to be used for lifting the ships stretcher out of an enclosed or otherwise confined space. This rope is to be sufficiently strong for the purpose, as per company procedure a line of not less than 16mm diameter Manila will be sufficient and provide a suitable diameter of rope when heaving manually. This line is to be of sufficient length to reach the bottom of the most remote enclosed space on board with sufficient remaining on deck to provide adequate handholds and secured the end against loss into the tank. When prepared the line should be clearly marked that it is only for use with the stretcher and stored close to the usual storage for the stretcher so that both can be fetched at the same time when needed. The storage position selected must offer protection to both stretcher and line from atmospheric effects and also exposure to cargo vapours/residues that may reduce its strength. The means to secure this line to the stretcher shall be either a stainless steel shackle or

a stainless steel carabiner with locking screw. The line shall not be left secured to the stretcher as an effective means of quickly securing the 2 together is available.

A carabiners of the required sort is shown above. This will be supplied to your ship. The stretcher and associated line is part of the ships safety equipment inventory therefore is required to be inspected at monthly intervals as per task M026. A record of this inspection must be maintained.
Kindly confirm safe receipt of the circular to cy-sdc-circulars@bs-shipmanagement.com Nicholas Rich LPSQ Manager
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