An engine room is a necessary but dangerous part of the ship. Even if your work doesn't require you to be in the engine room on a regular basis, you need to be aware of the risks, because the damage and injuries could extend well behind the confines of that location.
Typical engine room accidents that could put you in danger include:
- Crankcase explosions. Piston and bearing temperatures might rise to high levels, creating "hot spots." If oil hits a hot spot, it vaporizes, creating a mist when it comes in contact with cooler areas of the crankcase. But the mist can ignite if it lands on a hot spot, sparking a fire or explosion.
- Boiler explosions. Boilers are high-pressure pieces of equipment, so leaking fuel, overheating, or operational errors create a dangerous situation.
- Compressor explosions. It's a common practice to close the air valve on an air compressor that's undergoing maintenance. This minimizes air leakage. However, if the discharge air valve isn't reopened before the compressor is turned on, then an explosion can occur upon startup.
- Turbocharger explosions. The failure to clean turbochargers prevents the system from cooling down sufficiently.
- Generator problems. When the generator starts, it could go too fast and over-speed. There should be a safety trip in place to prevent this from happening. However, if the over-speed trip fails, then the generator’s parts may come loose, detach, and cause serious harm.
- High-pressure fuel line problems. If the lines aren't properly secured or maintained, temperature and pressure might build.
- High-pressure steam line problems. High-pressure steam lines also need to be properly secured and maintained. If not, then steam may escape the line and cause extremely dangerous burns or death.
- Electrical shocks. If the electricity remains on during maintenance, then a dangerous and potentially fatal electrical shock can occur.
Engine Room Accident Injuries
Engine room accidents often require immediate medical attention and intensive treatment. They include:
- Burns
- Chemical respiratory issues
- Head injuries or broken bones
The confined area and heavy equipment in an engine room make it difficult to escape quickly in the event of an incident. Fatalities sometimes occur as a result.
If you suffered an injury in an engine room accident, please use the numbers on this page to contact Steven M. Lee, P.C. today for a free consultation about your legal rights and potential financial recovery.
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