Two near misses: Loads fell from height to deck
- Safety Flash
- Published on 21 September 2017
- Generated on 17 August 2025
- IMCA SF 23/17
- 2 minute read
During two recent lifting operations, loads fell from height to the deck.
What happened?
In one case the rigging crew was close to where the load landed – the incident could easily have had fatal results. No one was hurt in either incident.
What lessons were learnt?
- Investigation into both incidents showed that unapproved changes had been made to the rigging. This was highlighted as a major contributing factor to the loads being dropped.
- It was found that the Management of Change (MOC) process had not been followed and that the crews had a lack of awareness regarding the application of the MOC process and when it should be applied.
- The company’s MOC process was not followed; the changes were made without engineering reviews and subsequent risk assessments.
- If the MOC process had been applied, then the subsequent checks could have prevented both incidents.
What actions were taken?
- Conduct a review to ensure that there are no unauthorised modifications to rigging or equipment (welding on ROV hooks for example).
- Equipment found to have been modified without engineering review or where the MOC process has not been followed, should be quarantined and not used until the MOC process and a risk assessment can be completed and approved.
- Particular care should be taken to ensure that modifications do not introduce further new hazards to the operations.
- Ensure that the MOC process is fully understood and applied across all worksites.
Related safety flashes
-
IMCA SF 08/10
15 December 2010
-
IMCA SF 10/03
2 August 2003
-
IMCA SF 07/01
1 July 2001
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