Lifting bridle snagged – Failure to “stop the job”

The MSF has published the following safety alert regarding lifting during cargo operations. A Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) was working alongside an offshore installation carrying out cargo operations, which included the discharge of a small cargo basket. After unhooking the previous back loaded cargo carrying unit (CCU), crewmen ‘walked the crane’ approximately 15 metres and hooked on a cargo basket – they then left the area and the crane began to take the strain. As the slack was being taken up, the lifting bridle caught under the lid of the basket. Fortunately, the crane driver noticed the lifting bridle snagging and lowered the load. Both the crewmen had walked away from the basket in different directions neither observing the basket being lifted, and so neither were aware that the lifting bridle had snagged, nor could they see each other to highlight the problem.

After a short time both crewmen made their way back to the basket and cleared the lifting bridles. They then stood clear in a safe haven nearby while the crane took up the slack but once again the lifting bridle caught on the lid, this time buckling the lid exposing the cargo inside.

The MSF made the following points:

• All involved (both on the vessel & on the installation) were reported as experienced in PSV operations;
• The crewmen on board the vessel routinely carried radios to maintain contact with the bridge and crane. All were reported as fully operational although they did not routinely talk to the crane driver during every lift;
• As the incident progressed there was minimal communication between the crane operator and the crewmen regarding what problems were being encountered and how they would proceed;
• The full operation and difficulties encountered were witnessed by at least three persons, none of whom ‘stopped the job’.

Please see Safety Alert MSF 16-15 at marinesafetyforum.org/images/msf-safety-alert-16.15.pdf