The second of three investigations into an
incident aboard the ferry Walla Walla on Nov. 4 is complete.
The
first, by Washington State Ferries itself, found that human
error caused an electric drive motor to heat up and melt, knocking
the vessel from service for five months and costing $3 million to
repair. The boat just recently returned to service.
The second, a safety and health inspection by the state Department
of Labor and Industries, was released today. It assessed no
penalties, which doesn’t make much sense anyway for one state
agency to fine another. It found one violation that WSF must
correct.
WSF didn’t ensure there was a written procedure for the
lockout/tags-plus system while servicing machinery, equipment or
systems with hazardous energy as required by the shipyard code.
Lockout/tagout systems allow workers to physically lock out
machinery and equipment before servicing it, and attach an
identification tag.
The violation must be corrected by May 21.
When the ferry’s crew and Eagle Harbor electricians were stoning
(machining) one of the Walla Walla’s four drive motors, there was
an “uncontrolled release of hazardous energy.”
The Coast Guard is still working on its investigation.
The Commute An informative and entertaining discussion on our ferries and highways with Kitsap Sun reporters.
