Near-miss during lifting operations

  • Safety Flash
  • Published on 30 November 2005
  • Generated on 14 June 2025
  • 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.

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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