Dropped object incident

A member has reported an incident in which an object of 100kg fell 2m onto a scaffold platform. The incident occurred in port during the removal of a 55t tensioning mechanism from a horizontal lay system (HLS) on board a vessel. The tensioner was pre-rigged with primary rigging to the main crane and auxiliary rigging to the upper side of the horizontal lay system. The strain was taken on the rigging to allow the unbolting of the tensioner from the HLS. Once the bolt removal was complete the deck foreman instructed the crane driver to take more load on the crane. When the crane took more load on the primary rigging the rigging came into contact with the product guide bars and pushed a guide bar off the horizontal lay system. The guide bar weighed 100kg and fell 2m onto a scaffold platform on the HLS. There were no injuries.

Our member was made a number of modifications to the design of the horizontal lay system, in order to prevent recurrence:

• Limit the requirement for auxiliary rigging to install or remove a tensioner;
• Fit end stops onto the guide bar slide guides to stop them being pushed off the HLS.

Our member noted that all future lift plans or procedures with respect to the HLS should ensure that the guide bars are removed before installation/removal of a tensioner, or securely lashed together to ensure they do not come into contact with any rigging.

Members may wish to refer to the following similar incidents (key words: dropped object):

• Recent near-miss incidents involving potential dropped objects
• Near-miss: Dropped objects during lifting operations