Near-miss with cherry picker wire

  • Safety Flash
  • Published on 1 September 2000
  • Generated on 24 June 2025
  • IMCA SF 05/00
  • 1 minute read

While lowering a ladder using a cherry picker crane to a diver, the wire came off the drum and dropped uncontrolled to the seabed.

What happened?

The diver was well clear of the load at the time of the incident. The investigation revealed there was insufficient wire on the drum for the depth of water.

The company involved has initiated the following actions:

  • wires to be painted to show when they are approaching the last layer on the drum.
  • crane and winches to have maximum allowable working depth clearly displayed. This information is to be updated if cutbacks occur.
  • drums of cranes to be adequately illuminated.

Latest Safety Flashes:

NTSB: Vessel crane contact with shore-side crane

The National Transportation Safety Board of the United States (NTSB) has published a report and an investigation.

Read more
Dropped pallet during forklift operation

A pallet containing a load weighing 500kg dropped off a flatbed truck in close proximity to a delivery driver.

Read more
Dropped object hazard: access hatch to the communication dome

During a routine scheduled safety inspection of the main mast, it was discovered that the access hatch to one of the communication domes had fallen off.

Read more
Lock out/Tag out and unauthorised electrical connections/disconnections
Read more
MAIB: Is your Lead-Acid battery safe?

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch has published Safety Digest 1/2025, consisting of lessons from recent Marine Accident Reports.

Read more

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.