The continued dangers of working in enclosed spaces

Simon Hodgkinson, Global Head of Loss Prevention at West of England P&I Club

This year’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work (28 April 2025) focuses on digitalisation and new technologies. While the maritime industry rightly explores the role of AI and digitalisation, it’s worth remembering that many of the greatest risks to life at sea still come from the most basic activities, and that we are all responsible for safety.

Enclosed space entry remains one of the most persistent - and preventable - causes of death in our industry. These incidents often happen during routine tasks in poorly ventilated, oxygen-depleted spaces that pose invisible and immediate dangers. Despite decades of guidance, training, and awareness campaigns, lives are still being lost in spaces that many didn’t realise were dangerous until it was too late.

At West, we believe this is a conversation worth having again and again - not just on annual safety days, and not just in response to the latest statistics.

But the stats do matter. According to the data submitted by InterManager to the IMO, 224 seafarers and 86 shore workers have died in enclosed space incidents since 1996. In 2023 alone, 31 people lost their lives, and the overall trend is rising. These aren’t just numbers. They’re colleagues, friends, family members. Often senior crew too: masters, chief engineers, chief officers. People with extensive training and experience who found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time, usually with the right intentions. Nearly half of these deaths occurred in cargo holds and oil tanks, with bulk carriers and tankers accounting for the majority of incidents.

So, what needs to change?

First, we need to acknowledge that procedural fatigue is real. Crews may know the risks, but repeated exposure can lead to complacency. Toolbox Meetings, also known as safety briefs, are short, task-focused discussions held before starting a job, designed to raise awareness of specific risks, reinforce correct procedures, and ensure everyone understands the task at hand. When done well, they’re one of the most effective tools for preventing incidents and fostering a strong onboard safety culture.

Second, we need to reinforce safety in a way that connects. Written procedures matter, but engagement is what saves lives. Third, we must empower seafarers to stop and speak up when something doesn’t feel right.

It’s tempting to think we’ve done enough - the posters are up, the checklists are in the SMS, the training is logged. But culture, time pressure, and misplaced confidence can undermine even the best procedures. It’s not just about knowing the rules - it’s about applying them, every single time, without exception.

At West, we believe safety starts with understanding, awareness, and action. That’s why our Loss Prevention team is going back to basics, supporting Members with clear, practical tools that reinforce good practices. This year, we’ve produced a new animation to raise awareness of the persistent dangers of enclosed space entry. Based on real-life scenarios and informed by crew feedback, it’s part of a wider effort to make safety messaging more accessible and memorable.

The aim is simple: to make crews stop, look, and think before stepping into danger.

We know visual tools resonate - especially when shared peer-to-peer, from the mess room, engine room and the bridge. The animations are light in tone but serious in message. They’re designed to remind rather than reprimand, and to help foster conversations onboard about why procedures matter and what can go wrong when they’re skipped.

Yes, technology is transforming safety. But we can’t let innovation distract us from the fundamentals when we still haven’t mastered the basics. Until we do, we must keep pushing for progress on the most persistent hazards.

West is proud to stand with our Members in helping reduce these risks. As ever, our Loss Prevention team is available to offer guidance and support. By going back to basics - and keeping safety at the centre of daily operations - we can help prevent tragedies before they happen.

Watch our new enclosed space animation here.

Access the Loss Prevention bulletin on working in enclosed spaces here.

For any questions or to find out more, please contact the Loss Prevention team.