Alert 15-03 Lifeboat Unintentionally Released Results in Two Fatalities
WHAT HAPPENED:
An Assistant Electrician and Assistant Mechanic were inside a lifeboat performing weekly preventive maintenance while a Motorman was positioned on standby outside. When the work was thought to be completed, the hang off pendants were removed with the Assistant Electrician still onboard the lifeboat. The Assistant Mechanic re-entered the lifeboat to address an unfinished maintenance task. He proceeded to the engine compartment and asked the Assistant Electrician to function the lifeboat’s engine throttle. The Assistant Electrician instead pulled the lifeboat’s release lever, which resulted in the release of the lifeboat hooks and the lifeboat fell 125 feet to the water. Both the Assistant Mechanic and Assistant Electrician perished from the lifeboat’s fall.