MAIB: Very serious leg injury during crane operations

On 16 August 2022, the second officer of the UK registered survey and supply vessel Kommandor Orca sustained crush injuries to his lower left leg while operating one of the rail-mounted deck cranes.

While operating the crane, the second officer stood with his left foot on the inboard bulwark and his right foot on the crane drive motor casing; this enabled him to see both the fitter and the load positioned 4m below on the main deck. Operating the crane from the local controls in the pedestal was unsafe. The 2/O’s lower left leg became caught in the crane’s rack and pinion traversing mechanism when he moved the crane aft for a lifting operation, and was crushed. A helicopter transferred the second officer to hospital, where his leg required amputation below the knee.

A thorough review of the report is recommended. 

• The crane was not being operated in line with the manufacturer’s instructions;
• The method of operation of the crane was unsafe;
• The permit to work did not include the hazards of working at height or working near unguarded machinery;
• There were no onboard procedures for operating the crane and the training given for its operation was consequently flawed;
• The SMS made no reference to ship-specific operating instructions – reference section 7 of the ISM Code.

• Guidelines for lifting operations
• Short video – lifting operations
• Short video – lifting equipment
• Promoting Safety – In the line of fire