Falling object – struck by crane stop/striker plate
- Safety Flash
- Published on 11 August 2009
- Generated on 27 August 2025
- IMCA SF 11/09
- 2 minute read
A Member has reported an incident in which workers were struck by a falling crane stop/striker plate, causing injuries.
What happened?
Two third-party contractors were carrying out non-destructive testing (NDT), lubrication and cutting back vessel crane wires.
Whilst one of the contractors was working on a whip line and removing the split pin, the stop/striker plate, weighing 5 kg, fell from a stuck position against the chandelier and slid approximately 40 m down the wire.
One contractor sustained a fractured thumb, the other a minor first aid injury.
What were the causes?
Following investigation, the following lessons were drawn from the incident:
- The introduction of stop/striker plates had not been formally risk assessed, including the need for permanently fixing the plates into position.
- Little documented history existed for the design and installation or stop/striker plates.
- Associated task-based risk assessment and toolbox talk did not include information relating the existence of striker plates.
- Third parties were not advised about ongoing problems with stop/striker plates sticking at the chandelier.
- Safety observations previously raised regarding the possibility of stop/striker plates sticking to the chandelier had not been fully addressed.
- There was an additional person involved in the task, beyond that identified within the permit to work.
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