Fatality: Falling object
- Safety Flash
- Published on 31 March 2006
- Generated on 8 November 2025
- IMCA SF 04/06
- 1 minute read
A Member has advised of a fatality, the initial details of which follow.
What happened?
During wireline toolstring recovery, accidental contact with the wireline sheave was made, causing the assembly to fall to deck, fatally injuring a crew member. This occurred when the port pod line was raised to allow visual inspection of the bottom of toolstring and to break tool down without wireline being paid out first.
The company has noted the following lessons to be learnt:
- The common industry practice of working in close vicinity to suspended wireline tools presents a dropped object hazard that should be recognised and eliminated; . Communications between all team members involved with lifting operations needs to be improved; . In lifting operations, all necessary steps should be taken to ensure that tools/devices are not drawn into any sheave; . Risk assessments of wireline lifting operations must identify such hazards; . Written work procedures must clearly state how risks will be managed; . Common work practices and contingency activities must be subject to risk assessment and documented as a written procedure.
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.