Floodlight dropped to deck – corrosion
- Safety Flash
- Published on 20 May 2021
- Generated on 19 September 2025
- IMCA SF 14/21
- 2 minute read
A floodlight weighing about 6 kg was found on the deck, near to the scaffolding storage area, underneath the main crane boom rest.
What happened?
The floodlight affixed to the main crane boom rest dislodged from its frame and dropped to deck, a distance of 4.5 m.
The electrical supply to the floodlight fitting was immediately isolated.
At the time of the incident there were no personnel in the area.
Dropped floodlight
Floodlight mounting frame
What went wrong?
- Hidden corrosion: The floodlight mounting frame which remained affixed to the main crane boom rest, showed excessive wear and tear, and had completely corroded, leading to the floodlight detaching from its mounting frame.
- There was no secondary retention.
- The floodlight had not been identified as a potential dropped object.
- The advanced deterioration of the mounting frame was obscured by the paint work.
- Environmental conditions including vibration, humidity, wind loading, and sea salt corrosion may have impacted the mounting frame materials.
Actions
- Think carefully about what could become a dropped object – perform dropped object surveys.
- Consider cross-departmental “hazard hunts” for drop hazards – get some “fresh eyes” in to spot what you may have missed.
- Ensure that everyone knows who is responsible for doing dropped object inspections.
- Make use of secondary retention where appropriate.
Related Safety Flashes
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IMCA SF 16/20
22 May 2020
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IMCA SF 02/19
13 February 2019
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IMCA SF 04/18
20 February 2018
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