Near-miss during lifting operations
- Safety Flash
- Published on 30 November 2005
- Generated on 14 February 2026
- IMCA SF 11/05
- 1 minute read
IMCA has received reports of a near-miss wherein a worker was nearly caught between a load and a fixed structure.
What were the causes?
The immediate cause of the near-miss was crane creep, which was compensated for automatically with an upward movement of the load, almost trapping the worker on the deck.
Underlying causes noted were:
- insufficient management engagement
- responsibility for operation and maintenance of crane not being properly understood
- inadequate knowledge of crane operational ‘routine’s and condition
- maintenance ‘routine’s not being specific enough.
Actions
The recommended actions included:
- ensuring that responsibility and reporting ‘routine’s in connection with crane operation and maintenance are clearly understood by all involved
- ensuring appropriate competence and training for all personnel with crane functions
- checking and updating of maintenance ‘routine’s, with daily follow-up for all cranes
- replacement of the existing ‘creep compensator'
- review of the company’s crane manuals and training material to ensure that they are appropriate and up-to-date.
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