Person fell after safety lanyard failed

  • Safety Flash
  • Published on 14 July 2011
  • Generated on 7 November 2026
  • IMCA SF 06/11
  • 1 minute read

Information has been passed to IMCA regarding the possible failure of a certain kind of safety lanyard owing to manufacturing defects.

The working at height equipment manufacturer, Petzl, reported that a climber fell to the ground while recreational climbing in France.

According to the latest information available, the accident appears to have been the result of a manufacturing defect of the Petzl SCORPIO lanyard. The defect consisted of a missing safety stitch (bar tack) on the attachment loop.

Equipment of this sort is used by some IMCA member’s. All Members are encouraged to pass this information to the appropriate personnel and instigate appropriate checks of any similar equipment.

Further information is available from the manufacturer on request.

An inspection procedure has been developed by the manufacturer and is also available on request.

Latest Safety Flashes:

Cyber-attack on vessel

An oil tanker suffered a cybersecurity incident.

Read more
MAIB: Normalising of unsafe practice – fatal man overboard incident

MAIB have published Accident Investigation Report 16/2026 into a fatal man overboard incident on board a bulk carrier offshore Sweden.

Read more
Dust explosion in Bow thruster motor

Upon activation of the bow thruster, there was a loud explosion within the forward section of the workboat.

Read more
Dropped bulk bag during loading operations

A dropped object incident occurred during quayside lifting when a bulk bag failed due to incorrect loading.

Read more
Failure of sea-fastening on the leg of a jack-up barge

During a sea passage, prevailing sea conditions caused a jack-up barge to experience rolling and pitching motions.

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.