Near miss: load lifted without notice putting crew in the line of fire
What happened
During cargo operation at an offshore installation, the deck foreman on the installation noticed that a sling was twisted while starting to heave up a cargo. An AB on deck was asked to remove the twist, when the crane operator started lifting the load without proper notice, which placed the AB between the cargo and a 20’ container. This could have resulted in a fatality or severe injury. The operation was stopped immediately; there were no injuries.
What went wrong
- The crane operator had poor visibility on deck;
- Poor communication:
- The deck foreman on the offshore installation rejected the officer of the watch’s request to disconnect the crane before sending the AB;
- Nothing was done to secure the safety of the AB in charge of untwisting the sling;
- The crane operator started to lift with no instructions nor signal.
Lessons learned
- When the situation deteriorates, STOP. Become extra vigilant, remain aware of what is going on around you, ensure good communication between all stakeholders;
- Ensure clear deck policies and stop work policies are followed;
- Don’t take short cuts, don’t hurry, don’t assume that everything is OK.
Members may wish to refer to
Safety Event
Published: 21 December 2022
Download: IMCA SF 29/22
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