Fatalities – pipe fell from skids
- Safety Flash
- Published on 6 December 2016
- Generated on 18 May 2026
- IMCA SF 33/16
- 1 minute read
The International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP) has published the following safety alert regarding an incident in which two persons were killed when they were crushed under a pipe that fell approximately 60cm from wooden support skids.
Position of pipe before falling from the two supports pictured (of eight total)
A section of 36-inch gas export line they were working under or near fell off the approximately 60cm high temporary wooden supports (skid stacks) and crushed them. The two employees, a grinder and a welder, were completing a construction weld repair at the north-eastern-most weld joint of an approximately 120m curved section of the export pipeline.
The IOGP report notes the following:
- The work permit system in place was rigorously applied to the known risks, but there was a lack of awareness of:
- The hazard presented by temporarily suspended pipes, which constituted a dynamic load/dropped object hazard
- The hazard of thermal expansion, differential heating, and residual pre-stress forces contributing to the lateral movement of curved pipe segments.
The full report can be found at safetyzone.iogp.org/SafetyAlerts/alerts/Detail.asp?alert_id=277.
Related Safety Flashes
-
IMCA SF 08/06
22 June 2006
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.