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

Crane Accident on the Norwegian OCS

Recently, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) issued the following Safety Notice:

“Fatal accident during   lifting operation.
Recently, a person was killed in an accident during a lifting operation on the Norwegian continental shelf. The accident is still under investigation, but we think it is necessary to relate some of the incidents that lead to the accident as this may help in preventing similar accidents in the future.

Brief account of the accident.
Two chemical pods had been stacked on top of each other. Preparations were being made to move the upper pod onto the deck by means of the crane. During the lifting operation, the pendant which was not connected to the pod slings, got stuck between the pods frame work and the pod. By lifting the pendant, it snagged the frame causing the pod to slide, and fell down and hit a person.
Preliminary findings.

Pods of the type shown (see picture at the website, below) have proven to be unstable when stacked on top of each other. The retaining mechanism (see circle at the website) appears to be insufficient to prevent sliding when a force is applied to the pod.

Recommendation.
Special attention should be paid to stacking of equipment. Only equipment specially designed for safe stacking offshore should be stacked. Chains or wire slings should be long enough to be hooked on at deck level.”

To view the Safety Notice, including the above-referenced “picture” and “circle”, your attention is directed to the following NPD Site Map website:
http://www.npd.no/English/veiviser/s%F8king/soekeresultat.htm

MMS recommends to all operators and contractors that all aspects of the Safety Notice that are relevant and applicable to your lifting operations be considered