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Near miss: Worker in dockyard almost struck by a ‘cherry picker’ crane

What happened

A member reports a near miss incident in which a worker was almost hit by a ‘cherry picker’ mobile crane. Whilst walking to a dry dock, a shipyard visitor was almost struck by the vehicle when it suddenly reversed driving direction.

What went wrong/causes
Several safeguards were not implemented causing a chain of errors that resulted in a hazardous occurrence.

  • The cherry picker operator did not look first before reversing;
  • There was inadequate traffic management or separation zones: the pedestrian walkways were not clearly visible as the paint markings had faded away;
  • The traffic separation scheme for equipment and pedestrians had been blocked off with the storage of materials.

Our member notes that in some locations, influencing the workplace safety culture of the shipyard can be a significant challenge. Members may wish to refer to IMCA SEL 032 – Guidance on safety in shipyards.

Actions taken

  • Further toolbox talks for all equipment operators to address safe work practices;
  • All materials blocking the pedestrian walkway were removed;
  • Traffic separation scheme marking were refreshed with a new coat of paint.

Members may wish to review the following incidents:

Safety Event

Published: 7 November 2017
Download: IMCA SF 28/17

Relevant life-saving rules:
IMCA Safety Flashes
Submit a Report

IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of all. The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on Members sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Please consider adding safetyreports@imca-int.com to your internal distribution list for safety alerts or manually submitting information on incidents you consider may be relevant. All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate.

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