During deck cargo operations at an offshore installation, a container was received on the installation landing platform. The crane operator reported that a potential dropped object (PDO) had been discovered on top of the container. The object was from the supply vessel, Marine Safety Forum informs.
The incident
A vessel was conducting deck cargo operations at an offshore installation. As a container was received on the installation landing platform the crane operator reported that a potential droppedobject had been discovered on top of the container.
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The Senior Officer then informed the vessel deck crew and called them to be more careful in checking for loose items before hooking on the containers for transfer.
Further investigation shared photographs with the vessel where it was determined that the PDO had come from the vessel. Ship staff had performed a fire training drill the previous day, which included rigging hoses on the main deck amongst the deck cargo.
Probable cause
Lack of attention by the person using the tool and a failure in the post work inspection meant that the tool was left on the container after the completion of the fire exercise the previous day.
The object was both evident, as it had a red handle against blue coloured container and had been left in an obvious position on the container. The control measures should have easily seen the PDO before the container was discharged to the platform.
Recommendations
- The risk assessment for the discharge of deck cargo operation provisions the possible danger of ‘Personal Injury or Fatality due to dropped objects from above’ and one of the control measures is the following: ‘Prior to connecting a container for discharge, the deck crew should inspect the lift for any loose items that may fall during transfer.’;
- The company IMS requires that such risk assessments are the basis for pre- work briefings;
- The need for a pre- lift check is highlighted and must be adopted into the safety culture and re-iterated during documented tool box talks.