Crane incident
- Safety Flash
- Published on 1 March 2001
- Generated on 17 February 2026
- IMCA SF 03/01
- 1 minute read
We have received information concerning part of the manufacturer’s name plate, weighing 250 g, falling off of an offshore crane on an offshore installation, landing 21 m below on an over-side scaffold at deck level.
There was no-one on the scaffold at the time and no work was ongoing in the immediate vicinity.
The following initial findings were identified:
- The sign had been installed onto handrails on the crane’s ‘A’ frame since the unit’s construction.
- Failure of the sign had occurred through the fixing bolt hole, due to metal fatigue which, in turn, was caused by the operational vibration of the handrail.
- The sign was in poor condition and had a number of cracks throughout its length. A similar sign on the opposite side of the crane appeared to be in good condition.
The company involved has removed similarly installed signs from other cranes.
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