Pinoy seafarer Adriano Gicos survives four days at sea with fractured spine; Warning to Port and Container Terminal Operators as Fatal Accident Fines Near 1.5 Million Pounds after fall

Seafarer survives four days at sea with fractured spine after fall
04/12/2018 https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/seafarer-survives-four-days-at-sea-...

Seafarer Adriano Gicos is recovering in hospital with support from Sailors’ Society port chaplain Ailton De Souza
A Filipino seafarer is recovering in hospital after fracturing his spine falling from a ladder on 14 November.

Adriano Gicos, 55, was descending into the ship’s hold when he slipped and fell four metres, while travelling from Singapore to Brazil.

Colleagues who witnessed the accident had to use a crane to get him back to his cabin, where they administered basic first aid.

As a result of the fall, Adriano, a chief officer, suffered serious spinal injuries, which have required surgery to enable him to walk again.

He is recovering in Meridional Hospital in the Brazilian city of Vitória, where he is being cared for by Ailton De Souza, a port chaplain from international maritime charity Sailors’ Society.

Ailton said, “A few days ago Adriano could only move his fingers and he needed help eating.”

Seafarer Adriano Gicos is recovering in hospital with support from Sailors’ Society port chaplain Ailton De Souza

Although currently unable to walk, he is receiving daily physiotherapy and his movement is slowly returning.

“Considering he was in intensive care, Adriano’s recovery is a miracle,” Ailton added.

Adriano has been at sea for more than 20 years and this is the first accident he’s had in his long career.

Ailton said, “He said he was focused on what he was doing and couldn’t understand how it happened.”

Ailton is helping Adriano access the internet so he can contact his wife and two sons back in the Philippines.

Sailors’ Society’s CEO Stuart Rivers, said, “Seafaring is one of the most dangerous jobs going. Seafarers like Adriano risk their lives to deliver 90 per cent of the goods we rely upon daily.

“When crises like this strike, our team is on hand to support seafarers and their families in need.”
Source: Sailors’ Society

Warning to Port and Container Terminal Operators as Fatal Accident Fines Near 1.5 Million Pounds
December 4, 2018 http://www.handyshippingguide.com/shipping-news/warning-to-port-and-cont...

Single Avoidable Death in Immingham Docks Cost Facility, Shipping and Security Companies Dear

Shipping News Feature UK – Associated British Ports (ABP), DFDS Seaways, and ICTS (UK) have been fined after a security guard was fatally injured when he was struck by an articulated vehicle. Hull Crown Court heard how, on 9 September 2015, a security guard employed at the container terminal at Immingham Docks, approached an HGV which was entering a gate and walked in front of the vehicle. The guard was not visible to the driver, either on approach to the vehicle or as he walked in front of it when he was dragged underneath as it turned towards a warehouse. He sustained multiple injuries and died at the scene.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found Associated British Ports and DFDS Seaways had failed to carry out a suitable and sufficient workplace transport risk assessment, and had not considered the risks that vehicles entering, leaving and manoeuvring in the gate area posed to others.

ABP required the security guard at the gate to stop traffic and check pedestrians and vehicles entering the terminal but failed to provide means to do so safely as there was no signage indicating drivers should stop and report to security, and no safe facilities. ICTS, which provided security on the site, failed to provide adequate training, and the risks of stopping traffic without any physical protective measures in place had not been considered.

ABP pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and has been fined £750,750 with £9,781.52 costs. DFDS Seaways pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £166,670 with £9,766.02 costs. ICTS pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £500,000 with £9,338.82 costs. After the hearing, HSE inspector Carol Downes said:

“There are more than 5,000 incidents involving transport in the workplace every year, and, like in this case, sadly, some of which are fatal. HSE found inadequate consultation between parties and no assessment of the risks to the segregation of vehicles and pedestrians. A properly implemented transport risk assessment should have identified sufficient measures to separate people and vehicles, and provide safe facilities.”

On the other side of the world the Sailors’ Society tells us an accident left a Filipino seafarer, Adriano Gicos, 55, recovering in hospital after fracturing his spine falling four metres from a ladder in a ships hold whilst on a voyage between Singapore and Brazil. Colleagues who witnessed the accident had to use a crane to get him back to his cabin and his serious spinal injuries needed surgery to enable him to ever walk again.

Adriano’s recovery was described as a miracle after initially he only had the use of his fingers. Incidents such as these evidence the risks that exist for both seafarers and those who work on the periphery of the shipping industry no matter where or how they are employed.