- Enter the IMCA Awards 2024: We\'re looking for outstanding Safety, Sustainability, and GHG projects.
- IP Code: Mandatory Code enters into force on 1 July. Make sure your company is up to speed with the changes.
- Early Bird tickets available for the IMCA Global Summit 2024. 3-4 December, Utrecht, Netherlands. Members can save £400.
- Discover how we are helping Members reduce emissions: Explore the ProjectGHG hub now.
- Now booking. Join the Lifting and Rigging community at our Technical Seminar in Amsterdam. Thursday 12 September 2024
- Now booking. Underwater Ship Husbandry Seminar. 10 October 2024, Singapore.
BSEE: Lack of training with hydraulic torque wrench contributes to fatality
What happened
The United States Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has published Safety Alert 459 relating to a fatality which occurred on a drillship in the Gulf of Mexico. While unlatching the lower Marine Riser Package from the Blowout Preventor in preparation for ship relocation, a crew member was lifted into the air after being struck by a hydraulic torque wrench (HTW), hitting a riser clamp approximately six feet above the elevated work deck before falling to the rig floor. The crewmember was given first aid and transported to the drillship’s hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
The incident investigation found that the rig crew was using a hydraulic torque wrench to extract the bolts from a telescopic riser joint (TJ) flange. During the operation, the HTW T socket became stuck between the bolt head and the tapered edge of the TJ. After failing to manually dislodge the HTW using physical exertion, the rig crew utilized a hydraulic utility wrench (HUW) to supply upward force and applied tension to free the tool. After applying the upward force, the torque wrench became unstuck under tension and shot upwards leading to the crewmember being struck.
What went wrong
- The risk that the hydraulic torque wrench would get stuck on the TJ bevelled edge, was not recognised;
- There was no comprehensive understanding of the Task Risk Assessments associated with the riser pull.
- There was a failure to effectively communicate all learnings from the previous riser pulls;
- There was a lack of formalized training for the use of these hydraulic tools;
- The design of both tools was not optimal and may have contributed to the incident;
- Contributing Causes:
- Failure to initiate Stop Work Authority;
- Discrepancies in roles and responsibilities for the Drill Floor Observer (a supervisor).
Actions proposed
- Ensure Job Safety Analysis captures the limitations of the tools in use;
- Verify that all employees understand the Job Safety Analysis and have been formally trained on operating hydraulic or other power-driven tools;
- Emphasize the initiation of Stop Work Authority if an imminent danger is observed;
- Ensure supervisors and managers understand their responsibilities to monitor all aspects of jobs occurring in the areas over which they have control;
- Use tools that are compatible with, and specifically designed for use in, the particular work environment;
- Could a load indicator, or a similar design mechanism, be of use on such hydraulic wrench tools?
Members may wish to refer to:
- Near Miss: Personnel nearly struck by rotating chain attached to flexible pipe [Key people involved were inexperienced in this specific activity and were not familiar with the task in hand]
- BSEE – “Green hats” – training and supervision of short service employees
- Potential for diver injury operating a hand-held torque wrench
Safety Event
Published: 1 July 2023
Download: IMCA SF 16/23
IMCA Safety Flashes
Submit a Report
IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of all. The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on Members sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Please consider adding [email protected] to your internal distribution list for safety alerts or manually submitting information on incidents you consider may be relevant. All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate.
IMCA’s store terms and conditions (https://www.imca-int.com/legal-notices/terms/) apply to all downloads from IMCA’s website, including this document.
IMCA makes every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained in the documents it publishes, but IMCA shall 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.