As the US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) informed, in January 2018, during a swing rope transfer in the Gulf of Mexico, a contract operator fell into the water. He was quickly recovered, but he had already injured his elbow, which needed to undergo surgery. Under this, BSSE provided recommendations to prevent similar cases in the future.
During a swing rope transfer in the Gulf of Mexico, a contract operator did not land to the platform from a boat and fell into the water. The contract operator was quickly recovered by the vessel crew and was transported back to the manned facility. The injured contract operator was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his elbow that required surgery.
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However, this is the last in a series of transfer incidents. As a result, BSEE provided some other similar incidents that happened during 2017:
- Personnel were transferring to a boat, as the personnel basket landed on the boat and personnel began to get off, a wave shifted the boat causing slack in the rigging, which caused the top section of the basket strike a contractor.
- During transfer, a personnel basket made contact with the vessel’s deck partially collapsing the basket. An individual fell on his right side onto the deck injuring him.
- Three personnel were being transferred from a motor vessel to a derrick barge. When the basket was lifted off the deck to the supply boat, the crane block was off center of the basket causing it to swing and contact the bullwark. One employee fell off the basket from about 2 feet and landed on his back.
- A contract operator fell into the water during swing rope transfer between boat landing deck and vessel. The injured was diagnosed with abrasions to the left leg and a strain to his lower back.
- While lifting the personnel basket from the deck, it swung into the side of the boat, and three people got injured.
- While transferring from a platform to a boat via a swing rope, an employee hit his knee on the top of the stern bulwarks.
After reviewing these incidents, BSEE tried to identify common factors between them. These included, fitness for duty for individuals performing swing rope transfers; inadequate training and poor judgement; techniques; and weather factors.
In order to prevent such incidents from happening in the future, BSEE made recommendations which are the following:
- Review the BSEE safety alert with all personnel who transfer to facilities via swing rope or personnel baskets;
- Before personnel transfer, inspect and test all hardware associated with the operation and report any deficiencies found;
- Stress the significance of patience, weather and sea conditions, and the use of the ‘stop work authority’;
- Consider developing fitness for duty requirements for personnel involved in transfers.
