- Missed Pre-Lift Inspection Leads to Potential Dropped Object Hazard.
- Routine Lifting Operation Exposes Critical Corrosion Issue.
- Safety Oversight in North Sea Lift Highlights Need for Stricter Inspections.
On standard lifting activities carried out in the North Sea, a container was lifted from the main deck of the vessel up to the cargo deck of an installation. The bosun experienced considerable corrosion when landing on one of the tie-back handle mounts, which made the tie-back loosen. This was a probable dropped object threat that could have resulted in extreme safety hazards, reports Marine Safety Forum.
Cause of the Incident
The danger was not noted during pre-lift inspections at the quayside. The inspection might have been conducted superficially, or the corrosion was not deemed excessive at the time. Moreover, the deck crew of the vessel also did not view the corroded tie-back as an urgent safety risk, which resulted in a lack of action on the part of the crew to correct the problem before the lift.
Corrective Actions and Recommendations
- Improved Pre-Lift Inspections: Adopt a more stringent and methodical approach to safety inspections to guarantee hazards are detected prior to lifting activities.
- Better Hazard Communication: Ensure that all the risks identified are well communicated to all the individuals involved in the lifting process.
- Greater Alertness in Monitoring Corrosion: Although corrosion is anticipated in harsh marine environments, frequent and meticulous inspections should be conducted to evaluate its severity.
- Enforce ‘Clear Deck and Hands-Free’ Policy: Highlight best practices to safeguard vessel crew and lifting teams from potential dropped object risks.
Through the practice of ongoing hazard identification and enforcing safety guidelines, we can minimize the risk of accidents and improve operational safety.
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Source: Marine Safety Forum
