Failed lifting equipment: fatality during pipe erection activities
- Safety Flash
- Published on 13 September 2021
- Generated on 15 February 2026
- IMCA SF 25/21
- 1 minute read
A Member passes us information relating to a non-IMCA fatality at an oil refinery. Lifting equipment failed and a wire rope hit a crew member, causing injuries which proved fatal.
What happened?
A crew was lifting a 30cm (12”) pipe using manual lifting tools (wire/rope pulling hoists and pulleys) to lift the pipe. Both pulleys were attached to the upper beams of the pipe rack and the pipe was slung at its both ends. The pipe was being lifted simultaneously with both wire rope pulling hoists and pulleys. Before the incident, the person who was hit was on a scaffolding while the pipe was being lifted.
Suddenly the pulley above the person broke and the wire rope around the pulley and the pipe went down. The wire rope hit the person on its way down. Medical treatment was given onsite; he was then transferred to hospital where after several hours he passed away.
This incident is not in the public domain.
images of failed pulley
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