LTI: Feet trapped in motion compensated telescopic gangway
- Safety Flash
- Published on 23 January 2018
- Generated on 3 December 2025
- IMCA SF 02/18
- 3 minute read
A crewman got his feet trapped under the sliding step of an Ampelmann motion compensated telescopic gangway.
What happened?
The incident occurred during the hours of darkness when the crew member was using the gangway to walk from a W2W (‘walk to work’) vessel to a normally unmanned installation.
The crew member suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries, resulting in a lost time injury (LTI). The emergency response was activated and he was evacuated to hospital.
What went wrong?
This incident is still in the final stages of investigation.
The following observation has been made:
- The gap between the sliding step and the fixed part of the gangway on this particular system was sufficiently large to trap the steel toecap of a regularly sized safety shoe/boot.
What were the causes of the incident?
- There was no specific design criteria for the gap between the sliding step and the fixed part of the gangway, nor was there an absolute norm for the monitoring of the gap.
- There was insufficient lighting on the gangway which resulted in a lack of awareness of the location and movement of the sliding step.
- The gangway induction video did not generate sufficient awareness regarding the potential hazard of the movement of the sliding step and its associated pinch points.
Lessons learned
Ampelmann has learnt that despite its systems being designed and tested to be safe, more rigorous standards, controls and checks are required particularly for dealing with the risks associated with the sliding step.
The sliding step is well marked, but the markings are not clearly visible at night. Better lighting would increase awareness of the location of the moving sliding step and its associated pinch points.
Actions taken
- Immediate check of the gap has been conducted on all Ampelmann gangways of this sort and, where required, corrective action taken.
- Reassessment of engineering specification of the gap in production, and implement maintenance procedure for regular monitoring of gap.
- Improve the existing safety video by increasing the emphasis on the sliding step and the associated pinch points.
- Increase the night-time visibility of the sliding step on both existing and future systems:
- retrofit gangway lighting to the existing fleet
- include gangway lighting on future gangway designs.
Members may wish to refer to the following incidents:
- Lost time injury (LTI): Crewman injured foot during offshore renewables mooring operation
- Hydraulic umbilical winch operation – trapped thumb
Related Safety Flashes
-
IMCA SF 18/14
25 November 2014
-
IMCA SF 16/13
17 October 2013
IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.
The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.
All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.
IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.
The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual's or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.
Share your safety incidents with IMCA online. Sign-up to receive Safety Flashes straight to your email.