Keeping an eye on helicopter landings and take-offs

　One of the iron laws for safety on board the CHIKYU is that anyone can stop a job if they feel danger. Work is then restarted once countermeasures have been agreed upon. For instance, when an unusual sound is heard during a job, an employee can stop the job based on their own judgement, and restart once the cause has been identified.

　Safety measures on the CHIKYU continue to be put in place on the advice of the HSE officer. If necessary ramps are fitted where there are level differences, or a gondola is fixed for jobs in high places. For the JFAST2 expedition, an iron barrier was put in place to protect people and materials just in case, however unlikely, that the underwater camera wire snapped.

　Minamoto is also responsible for HLO work. HLO stands for Helicopter Landing Officer. The HLO is on standby from 30 minutes before the helicopter arrives. There is a total of six staff members. They await the helicopter’s arrival under an immediate response system in the unlikely event that there is an accident. As the HLO, Minamoto stands in a position from where he can see the complete situation involving the five staff members and the helicopter pilot. Says Minamoto, “While in close contact with the helicopter, I am thinking of every possible situation at all times.”

　Minamoto dealing with helicopter take-off and landing on board ship.