Back to Safety Alerts

U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region

Temporary Crane Support Failure — Fatality

Recently, a 20-ton capacity temporary rental crane was installed on a production platform to remove a large flare stack. After the stack was cut free and the load was being boomed into position to load aboard a boat, a welded crane support (strong-back) failed, and the crane and load fell into the sea, resulting in the death of a rigger.

An examination of the causes of this accident is ongoing and detailed findings await the outcome of the metallurgic testing and further investigations. However, the frequency of serious injury in crane operations is of great concern to the Minerals Management Service (MMS). The MMS recommends that operators subject every phase of crane operations to the most rigorous engineering and operational review.