IOGP: Squeezed hand due to unintentional activation of winch
- Safety Flash
- Published on 14 July 2022
- Generated on 17 September 2025
- IMCA SF 17/22
- 2 minute read
What happened?
A crane operator stood by a control panel to operate the mooring winch. On the level below was an auxiliary winch connected to a rope that was hanging over the railing. By mistake, the crane operator activated the lever for the auxiliary winch, and a crewman on the level below saw the rope connected to the auxiliary winch move. He thought the rope was slipping over the railing and grabbed it. At the same time, the crane operator pulled further on the aux winch lever, which resulted in the crewman’s hand being pulled in and squeezed between the railing and the structure.
Crane operator operating the winch
Injured person standing by railing on level below control panel with auxiliary winch in foreground
What went wrong?
- Poor design: the design of the workplace made it challenging for the crane operator to keep an eye on the control panel while operating the winch.
- The risk of unintentional operation of the winch was not identified, and the injured person’s role in the work operation was not sufficiently described in the procedure.
- The injured person lacked part of the required training and did not know that the auxiliary winch could be operated from the control panel.
Lessons learned
- Improve design of workplace to design out risks.
- Disconnect redundant levers.
- Ensure crew are properly trained and competent for the task at hand.
- Ensure the risk of unintentional driving of the winch is captured in risk assessment, toolbox talk etc.
Related Safety Flashes
-
IMCA SF 11/21
16 April 2021
-
-
IMCA SF 18/16
4 July 2016
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.