from official report from the Dutch Safety Board, May 2015
CLICK HERE (pdf) for full report in English
Two days before arriving in port, the Master received cargo documents from the shipper, which included an 11-page material safety data sheet (MSDS) on zinc concentrate. On receipt of the documents a safety meeting was held with the crew to discuss the cargo risks. During the meeting, particular attention was paid to the use of personal protective equipment (full-vision goggles and respiratory particle filters) to protect against exposure to dust during loading. Although oxidation of the zinc concentrate, and thus its ability to reduce the oxygen content of a confined space, was indicated as a risk on the MSDS documentation, this risk was apparently not discussed during the safety meeting. Loading commenced on arrival. The dust created during loading covered the ship’s deck and also found its way into the accommodation. A number of crew members experienced irritated airways and burning eyes as a result. The loading took less than a day and once completed the accommodation was cleaned of dust and the vessel left port.
