CAKE Q2 LIFTING INCIDENT

1. CAKE Q2LIFTING INCIDENT BEDRE GJENNOM KUNNSKAPSDELINGSHARING TO BE BETTER

2. SHARING TO BE BETTER • Norwegian Oil and Gas association issue a series of cases on well incidents in order to ensure experience transfer and learning from incidents that have occurred. • We have had a series of incidents related to crane and lifting, and in order to ensure that we are learning from previous incidents in order to prevent similar incidents, we want to review earlier crane and lifting incidents. • Spend some time reviewing previous incidents with the crews, and discuss the questions that may arise. What can we learn from these incidents? How can we prevent that similar incidents occur on board our rig?

3. Crane incident: Lifting operation – lifting of stair sectionEldfisk 2/7 Ester, 12.02.2013 Involved personnel: • Crane operator • Signaler 1 • Signaler 2/ slinger • Roustabout

4. Crane incident: Lifting operation – lifting of stair sectionEldfisk 2/7 Ester, 12.02.2013 Task: Remove stair section. The stair is to be cut in 2 sections and stored offshore, before transport to shore for upgrade. 11.02.13 Work permit for dismantling of stair is established. The stair is divided into 2 sections: Upper section = stair section 1, Lower section = stair section 2. Both sections is strapped with 4 straps, SWL 1,5t per strap. Both sections are evaluated to be ready for lifting. The strapping was performed by qualified personnel. The lift was evaluated to be a standard lifting operation - and because of this a risk assessment of the lifting operation against the internal/external requirements was not performed.

5. Crane incident: Lifting operation – lifting of stair sectionEldfisk 2/7 Ester, 12.02.2013 12.02.2013 In the afternoon, the stair section is to be lifted out and stored before transport to shore. Slinger accepts the strapping solution. Because of this strapping solution, they have to walk up the stair in order to hook the load. During a lift from rig to boat, the deck crew have to climb the stairs to hook the load on/off. This will lead to increased risk due to movement of vessel. This risk is not considered. Prior to the lifting of stair section 1, the crane operator is talking to the roustabout on the radio. They define this as a pre job conversation. The stair section 1 is placed on the top deck. The lift is performed without any trouble. When starting on the lift for the stair section 2, the crane operator is told that this is to be placed on landing deck Main deck West side.

10. Crane incident: Lifting operation – lifting of stair sectionEldfisk 2/7 Ester, 12.02.2013 Signaler1 remain on the top deck, where he proceeds to remove barriers. Signaler 2 moves over to new landing area on main deck, and signals to the crane operator that he will assume responsibility for the lift. Stair section 2 is lifted along the west wall. One can see that it is a tight spot, but still choose to try to land the lift. The stair section is entering the landing area at an angle. When it hits the ”bumper wall”, a loud thumping sound can be heard. Area responsible is then aware of the lifting operation due to the noise, and is observing the lift from this point.

12. Crane incident: Lifting operation – lifting of stair sectionEldfisk 2/7 Ester, 12.02.2013 Signaler 2 now assumes the position as a slinger in addition to signaler. He walks up the stairs to release the load from the 4 straps hanging from the hook. At this point there was visual contact between the crane operator and the slinger. When signaler 2 arrives at the upper step, he needs to use both hands in order to open the hook. He loosens 3 of the straps; the inner fourth strap is still hooked. While working to release the fourth strap the hook is lifted without any notice. This causes the entire load (still hooked) to start moving and it is lifted upwards.

14. Crane incident: Lifting operation – lifting of stair sectionEldfisk 2/7 Ester, 12.02.2013 Slinger is holding both hands on the hook when the stair are set in motion, and tries to communicate to the crane operator, shouting STOP – STOP – STOP. While the stair is in movement, the slinger jumps off the stair section and lands on deck before he falls over. He estimates the height from where he jumps down to the deck to be about 1,5 – 2 meters. Crane operator stops the movement and lowers the stair section. Slinger is now lying on deck and sees the stairs moving towards him. The stair section hits the slinger in his shoulder and arm. The deck operator standing on the mezzanine deck observes everything and starts to shout in order to get the crane operator to move the load upwards. Crane operator then proceeds to lift the load upwards. The stair section hanging in one strap at the end facing the wall, now has a strong pull upwards, and the section is tipping over while the injured slinger is lying on deck. The stair section hits the deck and the railing on the way up. Grating and other parts from the stair section is knocked off: some lands on deck and some fall to sea.

17. DISCUSSION: • What went wrong? • Could something similar happen on board our rig? • How can we prevent that the crane operator starts lifting without the go ahead from signaler? • How can we prevent that the signaler also takes the role as a slinger? • How can we ensure a good understanding of the risks involved with the situations we are in? Should the slinger have seen the risk of walking up the stairs in order to free the load from the hook? • Are our procedures sufficient to cover blind lifting? And how do we define what qualifies as a blind lift?