Washington — Cranes that are in poor condition or being serviced are a potential source of dropped objects and should be part of pre-work hazard assessments, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement says.
BSEE, which oversees safety for the offshore oil and gas industry, issued a safety alert after a recent near-miss incident.
A corroded cable runner on a crane boom fell about 50 feet to the deck below during maintenance and inspection of a platform crane. The cable runner, which weighed around 15 pounds, landed about 20 feet from nearby crew members.
During a subsequent inspection, BSEE found “significant corrosion” on the runner that had “compromised its integrity.” The agency also learned that the crane had been out of service for more than three years before the incident.
Although a 2022 crane inspection detailed the corrosion, the operator didn’t complete recommended repairs, BSEE found. The work crew didn’t identify the crane boom or its components as a hazard during job planning. It further neglected to barricade the area under the crane before beginning work, even though the “threat of serious injury or fatality occurring was present.”
Among BSEE’s other recommendations to help prevent similar incidents:
- If a dropped object hazard is identified, establish barriers and other controls to minimize the risk to workers and equipment below the work area.
- Ensure supervisors proactively discuss with workers any concerns before and during work.
- Develop and discuss a job safety analysis. Make sure the JSA identifies proper mitigation techniques for all hazards identified.
- Follow maintenance recommendations from certified maintenance technicians and promptly complete repairs.
- Reinforce awareness of aging and neglected equipment during maintenance, inspections or decommissioning activities.
