In 1912, before its maiden voyage, the RMS Titanic’s design fascinated the world as the largest and most luxurious ship ever built. While it set sail with great fanfare, it was doomed from the start and serves a haunting reminder of the catastrophic consequences that can result from a combination of engineering design flaws, outdated standards, lack of training, inadequate tools, poor communication, and empty safety mottos.

Quality Control/Engineering Design Problems

The use of sub-standard wrought iron rivets put the ship’s hull at risk, exacerbating the buckling that occurred upon impact. Additionally, the decision to limit double-wall construction solely on the bottom, neglecting the upper hull, which created a weak frame. This, along with an inadequately small rudder, limited effective maneuvering which left the crew and passengers exposed to an impending disaster.

Outdated Standards and Specifications

While the ship met the lifeboat standards at the time, the regulations and safety codes were woefully out of date for increasingly larger ships being built. The 20 lifeboats could only save, at best, 1,000 of the 2,200 people on the ship.

Lack of Training

The required lifeboat drills the day before the accident were canceled by the captain for unknown reasons. The passengers, therefore, were not trained to find and use the lifeboats, leaving lifeboats at half-full capacity. Additionally, portholes were left open and contributed to a faster sinking.

Lack of Adequate Tools and Equipment

The ship lacked enough binoculars and searchlights for the crew, which contributed to a reduced response time in the event of danger, leaving only 37 seconds to react and avoid the iceberg.

Lack of Communication

The ship Californian was near the Titanic and could have saved many people, however, the Titanic’s sole radio operator turned off the radio and went to bed. This led the U.S. Government to enact 24-hour emergency radio communication.

Empty Safety Mottos/Statements

“God Himself Could Not Sink This Ship,” “Practically Unsinkable,” and “Safety Above All Else”

are empty statements and mottos without substance. Not having enough lifeboats, canceling drills, and inadequate safety equipment clearly demonstrates that safety was not their primary motivation.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, the Titanic was not the last to experience these safety failures. Many of these causes still plague projects today. Take the time for Safety Reviews, Process Safety Reviews, Checklists, Passgates, Lessons Learned, and Peer Reviews to minimize these safety risks to your project. By learning from the mistakes of the past, we can strive to minimize safety risks and ensure the well-being of those involved in future endeavors.