BSEE: Stored Energy in Slings Causes Multiple Injuries
- Safety Flash
- Published on 24 October 2022
- Generated on 4 July 2025
- IMCA SF 23/22
- 2 minute read
The United States Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has published Safety Alert #445 relating to multiple injuries caused by stored energy in slings.
What happened?
The BSEE writes: there have been multiple instances across the Gulf of Mexico in which offshore personnel have sustained injuries to the face while working with slings. These incidents resulted from stored energy in the slings. Recent incidents include the following:
- In December 2021, a contract roustabout slid a sling off a joint of drill pipe, which left a double loop in the sling. While unhooking the shackle from the sling, the stored energy in the double loop released, causing the sling to strike the roustabout in the mouth. The injured party (IP) lost multiple teeth as a result.
- In May 2022, a trapped shackle dislodged from the edge of a beam during lifting operations in which a roustabout was holding a tagline attached to the end of a web sling. As the shackle was freed, it struck the roustabout in the cheek/nose area, causing injury.
- In both 2022 incidents, the persons hurt were Short Service Employees (SSE). BSEE has also seen a recent increase in the number of incidents involving SSEs.
Therefore, BSEE recommends that operators and contractors consider:
- Raising stored energy awareness with crews during safety meetings, toolbox talks, etc.
- Reviewing Job Safety Analyses (JSA) for both high-risk and routine operations and verifying they include job-specific instructions and associated mitigations for potential hazards, including the hazards of stored energy in rigging and improper positioning of rigging in relation to the rigger’s body.
- Updating lifting and rigging procedures to include good body positioning and checking rigging for stored energy.
- Incorporating an additional verification measure within operating procedures and/or hazards analyses for situational awareness regarding line of fire exposure.
- Ensuring appropriate personnel have access to the necessary operating procedures and understand them before performing work.
- Reducing risks related to double handling through deck management initiatives.
- Reinforcing the right and obligation to stop the job without fear of reprisal.
- Increasing training and supervision of new and inexperienced crew – “short service employees”.
Related Safety Flashes
-
IMCA SF 31/20
10 November 2020
-
-
IMCA SF 24/18
30 October 2018
-
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.