Safety, Environment & Legislation (SEL)

Publication Details

Guidelines for Lifting Operations

Lifting is a key part of almost all offshore and subsea operations. It can range from lifting of stores and spares handling through to complicated and heavy lifts and there could be as in excess of 200 different lifting operations on a vessel. Each lift brings with it the possibility of injury to people and damage to equipment, but with proper planning hazards can be identified and risks reduced or eliminated. Regardless of whether a complex and perceived high-risk project or a comparatively straightforward, every day task, proper risk assessment, comprehensive lift planning and safety awareness throughout a lift team can help to avoid incidents.

These guidelines set out procedures and basic criteria based on the existing practices of members operating safely around the world. It is intended to show essential components that should be in included in company procedures for lifting operations and to offer advice on the steps within a lifting operation process that will promote safety. While primarily aimed at subsea lifting operations, the principles described are relevant to all offshore lifting operations and generally to lifting operations anywhere.

Contents

• Definitions
• Introduction
• Summary of guidance
• Personnel
• Categorisation of a lift - routine or non-routine?
• Operational planning
• Inspection, examination and marking of lifting equipment
• Maintenance
• Record keeping
• Relevant IMCA publications
• Appendices
• Job risk assessment
• Example risk assessment matrix
• Example lift plan
• Example lift plan - engineered lift
• Example rigging specification summary drawings
• Example lift plan summary drawings
• Process for assessing equipment strength
• Lifting procedures records
• Maintenance assessment table
• IMCA safety pocket cards

These guidelines are also available with the reference IMCA M 187