Boom Hoist Wire Rope Failure Results in Fatality
of an Oil Worker
Personnel were using the platform crane to load a rental generator
onto a vessel. Positioned close to the lift
were two tanks and a 14-ft high lubricator. Two riggers were using tag lines to
stabilize the load.
When the load was lifted, the crane’s boom hoist wire rope
parted. The boom fell, struck the generator, and broke into three sections with
the nose section falling overboard. The falling nose section dragged the attached
bridle behind it until its fall was arrested by the main hoist line and bridle pendant
lines.
The 850-lb bridle/sheaves struck the fallen boom and ricocheted
off the end coming to rest against the platform toe-board. The rigger handling the
left tag line was struck by the bridle and fatally injured.
A BSEE accident investigation Panel concluded that the causes of
the fatality were as follows:
1)
The Crane’s boom hoist wire rope parted due to being
weakened by advanced corrosion.
2)
The vicinity of the lift was constrained by other
equipment which caused the riggers to use tag lines to control the load, and to
be positioned in the path of the falling boom. The positioning of riggers in the
case of a boom hoist wire rope failure was not considered during the JSA.
3)
The crane’s corroded boom hoist wire rope lacked
internal lubrication; probably because of improper lubrication method, frequency,
and an improper lubricant type.
4)
The annual inspection of the crane conducted six
months previous probably did not include a comprehensive examination of the boom
hoist wire rope.
5)
The Operator had no company manual for crane operations. It is possible that an internal company policy
for crane operations may have led to actions that prevented the incident.
6)
The detachment of the main block hook from the load
may have allowed the bridle to be pulled all the way to the railing, striking the
rigger, rather than remaining atop the fallen boom.
7)
The crane’s operator and those supervising the lift
possibly did not give “special attention” to all of the crane’s wire rope lines
during the pre-use inspection per recommendations of API RP-2D.
BSEE recommends the following to Operators:
·
Operators should review their methods of inspection
of crane wire ropes to insure full and comprehensive examination as per API RP-2D.
·
Third party crane inspections should be checked
and verified by Operator personnel.
·
Coats of heavy grease on the crane lines should be
removed during inspections so that the external and internal integrity of the lines
can be examined.
·
Special attention should be given to indications
of changing wire rope diameters (both increasing and decreasing).
·
Wire ropes should be regularly lubricated with the
proper lubricants, using recommended methodology to ensure full penetration by the
lubricant.
·
Operators should review equipment location prior
to making a lift. Removing or relocating
obstructing equipment in the interest of safety should be strongly considered.
·
Operators should review the positioning of riggers
using tag lines for all possible emergency contingencies.
·
Operators should consider implementing a method
of recording wire rope lubrication data for cranes, including date, personnel, type
and brand of lubricant, method of application, etc.
