Step Change in Safety incidents headlines

Snagged Cargo Carrying Unit During Offshore Discharg

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:03:41 GMT

Alert ID: 00342 - During a routine cargo discharge operation the corner stacking point on a skip snagged on the top of one of the vessels safe haven openings. This resulted in a 21t overload on the platforms crane and damage to the skips lifting bridle and stacking point.

Box Lid Fell to Deck

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:11:12 GMT

Alert ID: 00341 - Whilst helicopter was lifting off an unsecured fibre glass lid was blown off the top of accommodation block. The lid fell approximately 50 feet to the main deck below. Tool pusher was on main deck approx 15 feet away. No other personnel were near.

Ruptured Piston on Mud Pump Leads to Pump House Fire

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:48:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00340 - The rig crew noticed smoke coming out of pump house #1. The crew was unsuccessful at extinguishing the fire; therefore, the Driller and Rig Manager shut-in the well. The fire spread to pump house #2, then over to the mixing area of the mud tanks causing fire damage to the mud tank platform behind the buildings and to the contents on the platform.

Disregard for Energy Isolation Procedures Results in Amputation

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:40:53 GMT

Alert ID: 00339 - The derrick man was replacing a small hatch cover, which had been removed to clean out the auger on the horizontal conveyor in the sack room. With the system still running he began to reinstall the cover, which resulted in his left index finger coming in contact with the rotating auger and resulting in his losing the tip of his index finger.

Malfunctioning Pump Results in 3rd Degree Burn Injury

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:31:05 GMT

Alert ID: 00338 - While disconnecting the suction line from a drilling fluid transfer pump, an employee sustained 3rd degree burns when his lower abdomen and right arm were splashed with hot drilling fluid.

Gas Bottle Rack Door Swings Open During Back-Loading Operation

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:02:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00337 - Whilst back-loading of cargo from an installation, it was noticed that an airborne gas rack on its way down to the Supply Vessel had the door swinging open. It was also noticed from the bridge that one of the bottles inside the rack was at an angle. The Master alerted the Crane Operator who landed the unit without damage or further incident.

Electric Line Failure from Corrosion Results in Injury

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:41:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00336 - During well temporary abandonment operations, electric line (eline) was used to set a 1,000 pound cast iron bridge plug assembly (the assembly). When the assembly was approximately 6 inches from the deck, the eline parted near the rope socket. As the assembly fell, the Injured Person (IP), who was guiding the assembly to the well bore, was struck on the foot as a result of the IP being within the assembly's potential fall radius.

Pipe Used as Anchorage Point on Rig Floor Becomes a Projectile

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:28:08 GMT

Alert ID: 00335 - The drill crew was in the process of placing the Tubing Hanger Running Tool (THRT) back into its transporting/handling skid. Due to the tool weight and motion, the hold-back pipe broke off, flying approximately 30 feet (9.1 meters) and striking the Chiksan® rack on the starboard wind wall. This action caused the THRT to swing and strike the transporting/handling skid, knocking it over. No one was injured.

Accidental Triggering of Power Washer Results in Foot Injury

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:19:40 GMT

Alert ID: 00334 - The injured person sustained a severe injury to his foot with the power washer while cleaning out the mud pit.

Pressure Relief Valve Sprays Dilute Acid Across Location on a Frac Job

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:08:33 GMT

Alert ID: 00333 - During a frac job, a hydraulically-activated pressure relief valve, which was protecting the iron between the pumps and the wellhead, opened unexpectedly and sprayed about 6 bbls of a diluted mixture of 15% HCL and gel across the wellhead, crane and open top tanks. There were no injuries and the spill was cleaned up.

Live & Listen / Develop & Follow Smart Safety Procedures

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:56:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00332 - A recent marine casualty resulted in a death onboard a Great Lakes ore carrier. Two crewmembers had been working on clearing the vessel’s sump pump bilge piping within a cargo conveyor belt tunnel. A crew member became entangled in the conveyor system and killed after misinterpreting an alarm sounding the need to clear the belt and not listening to a co-workers warning.

Expro ESD System Failure

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:09:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00331 - Following an incident in our ECIS region it has been highlighted that there is a potential weakness in the type of ESD system used industry wide.

Dropped Object - Casing Joint Falls from Elevators

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:23:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00330 - While picking up casing through the V-door using single door elevator with crane hooked at one end (Pin end), at approximately 20 feet (6 meters) above the rotary table, the casing coupling disconnected from the joint allowing the casing joint to slide down the V-door to the catwalk where it subsequently fell onto the ground.

Lack of Proper Tool Results in Finger Injury

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00329 - Recently, on-board an installation, a member of the maintenance crew suffered a finger injury while manually removing a section of steel grating in the Engine Room.

Inattention Resulted in Damaged Monkey Board

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:46:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00328 - While pulling a stand of drill pipe from the mouse-hole the top drive hit the monkey board causing damage to the board and the top drive.

Lifeboat Damaged by Ruptured Air Cylinders

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:27:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00327 - An oil tanker’s totally enclosed fibreglass lifeboats were equipped with high-pressure air cylinders stowed beside the keel. One day at sea – shortly after the lifeboats had undergone a 5-yearly inspection by an accredited contractor – one of the compressed air cylinders suddenly and spontaneously burst, resulting in extensive damage to the lifeboat’s keel and hull. Fortunately, no-one was injured.

Safety Alert for the Macondo Well Blowout

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:17:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00326 - This Safety Alert summarises the investigative findings from the Deepwater Horizon incident investigation related to areas of BSEE responsibility (Volume 2), which include systems associated with exploration, drilling, completion, workover, production, pipeline and decommissioning operations.

Eight Safety Alerts from IMCA

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:43:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00325 - 1. Failure of Pressure Washer 2. Equipment Damage – Dropped ROV/Tether Management System (TMS) 3. Grinding Disc with Defect 4. Gas Detector Safety Alert 5. Collision Between OSV and Barge 6. Oil Spill in Port whilst Discharging Waste Oil 7. Fire Extinguisher Recall – Faulty Equipment 8. Pilot Ladder Failure

Failure of Boat Rescue Release Mechanism

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:24:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00324 - During a routine launch of the rescue boat whilst at sea, the painter released early causing the towing forces normally absorbed by the painter to shift onto the fall wire once the boat was waterborne. This resulted in the rescue boat capsizing. It is possible that the early release of the painter was due to a failure in the painter release mechanism.

Defective Clutch Results in Dropped Top Drive

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:38:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00323 - While tripping out of the hole, a stand had been backed out by the Driller. The Tourpusher then relieved him. The Tourpusher discovered that the pipe threads had snagged. He slacked back off the stand to rotate the pipe out again. When he released the drum clutch the clutch did not release thus causing the brake to loosely set. When the clutch did release, the added weight of the top drive on the brakes caused the assembly to descend.

Three Dropped Object Incident Whilst Tripping Out of the Hole

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 12:13:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00322 - Three incidents resulted in separate dropped-object incidents. 1. While the driller was picking up the pipe in the slips, the hydraulic hose on the elevators came loose and the elevators opened. 2. During a trip out of the hole the driller was setting back a stand of pipe and he opened the hydraulic elevators before the stand was fully set back. The stand dropped onto the rig floor. 3. Following jarring operations, when pulling out of the hole, the cover on the elevator hydraulic fittings came loose and fell toward the floor.

Bent Hinge Pin Results in Near Miss

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:50:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00321 - The operation at the time of the incident was pulling out of the hole to change out the drill bit. While the rig crew was breaking out the 28” reamer and the shock sub, the hinge pin in the manual tong had become bent. This resulted in the release of the tongs, which shot across the rig floor.

3M Fall Protection Product Recall/Stop Use Notice

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:19:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00320 - 3M have identified a limited number of GW-7 and GW-11 Series Self-Retracting Lanyards which do not properly achieve lock up during the user pre-inspection pull test on the webbing lifeline. Therefore 3M request you immediately remove from service and quarantine all models of G-series Self-Retracting Lanyards.

Training Centre TEMPSC Launch Near Miss

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:27:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00319 - During launch of the TEMPSC during routine lifeboat training, Supervisor in attendance heard cracky intermittent noises. After lifeboat was launched, Supervisor stepped on the foredeck to investigate further. Upon closer inspection of the forward Fall Block, it was noticed that the split pin on the bolt was missing, and the bolt had nearly came out of the retaining washer.

Dehydration When Using Breathing Air

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 08:56:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00318 - Although this is not details of an incident , it is created to remind personnel of the hidden and sometimes forgotten hazards of wearing RPE, specifically air fed units. With the demand of performing 'more realistic' training ERT's hsould be aware of the potential associated with extended RPE wear. Dehydration occurs when fluid intake into the body does not keep up with the fluid lost in hot conditions or when exerting energy.

H2S Exposure – Failure to Follow Proper Procedure

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:37:46 GMT

Alert ID: 00317 - A fatality associated with hydrogen sulphide (H2S) exposure occurred at a lease site in Central Alberta. During the task of suspending an 8” pipeline that contained sour hydrates, the supervisor opened up the thief hatch on the 400 barrel fluid tank resulting in H2S gasses being released to atmosphere and causing the fatality. The estimated concentration of H2S was approximately 15% (150,000 PPM).

Lack of inspection results in dropped iron roughneck

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 09:37:50 GMT

Alert ID: 00316 - While the Iron Roughneck was extended, the cylinder shaft pulled from the clevis on the extender end of the cylinder. This allowed the extender unit to fall outward onto the rig floor landing against the drill pipe stump. When the extender unit fell, it narrowly missed two employees. Fortunately, no employees were directly between the unit and the drill pipe stump and no injuries resulted from the incident

Failure of BOP Ram Yolk

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 09:29:23 GMT

Alert ID: 00315 - A rigless snubbing unit was preparing to stage a production tubing string into a well. psi). At pressure it is required to snub the tubing using the ram to ram staging method. Immediately after the upper QRC rams were opened there was a natural gas release from the closed annular blowout preventer (BOP) on top of the snubbing stack. The operator closed the upper QRC rams and investigated the cause of the release.

Contact with 5KV Power Cable

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 09:17:14 GMT

Alert ID: 00314 - Although this alert is land base, the principles of competence, management of change and control of work remain the same. During the mechanical excavation of two 6” pipelines and power cable, a 5 KV power cable tightened when contact was made with the track hoe bucket.

Dropped Objects

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 09:47:56 GMT

Alert ID: 00313 - These are facts from a well known oil and gas website. Thankfully this is not an incident alert in the usual fashion, but it includes facts that is worthy of discussion at TBT and other open meetings.

HP Riser Disconnect Process Flow

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:46:49 GMT

Alert ID: 00312 - Due to raised pressure in lock chamber of a HP Riser connector, ROV was fitted with a hot stab and deployed. The intention was to open the connector lock (CL) chamber isolation valve and equalize/reduce the pressure in the connector lock chamber to 3,000psi. Once the hot stab was installed into the ROV panel the ROV operator turned the CL valve to bypass mode, it was at this point the pressure showing in the CL chamber immediately dropped from 3,500psi to zero. The ROV then operated the Connector Unlock Valve (CUL) in line with the supplier’s procedure to verifiy there...

Dropped Object - Chemical Tank PRV

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 10:18:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00311 - When landing a chemical tank onto the supply vessel a Pressure Relief valve located adjacent to the tank's main lid fell from the tank onto the deck of the vessel. This dropped object would have caused considerable injury or fatality had it fallen while lifting to / from vessel / location.

Drill Line Pulls Through Wire

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:13:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00310 - While in the process of stringing the travelling blocks with brand new drill line, the 1-3/8 inch drill line came free from the Wire Rope Wire Mesh Snake Grip and dropped to the rig floor from approximately 20 meters. The line and snake grip had been reeved through all three sheaves on the off driller’s side and had passed through the first two sheaves on the driller’s side of the travelling block. There was one last sheave on the travelling block to spool.

Thermowell Safety Alert

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 09:34:47 GMT

Alert ID: 00309 - During a routine inspection of the online Janice gas compression packages hydrocarbons was found to be seeping from a thermowell (picture 1) on the 2nd stage discharge dampener on train B. The compressor was shut down and the thermowell removed for investigation.

Drilling Line Slips Out Of Retainer

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 09:20:54 GMT

Alert ID: 00308 - When the drilling line was inspected, it was discovered that the drilling line had pulled out of the drilling line clamp in the drawworks. The loose end of the drilling line striking the drawworks guards was determined to have been the cause of the “slapping” noise heard at the time of the incident.

Single Bolt Rod Clamp Failure

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 08:59:18 GMT

Alert ID: 00307 - A flushby operator was attempting to remove the back spin tool when he suffered a serious injury to his right hand.

HSE Issues Gas Detector Safety Alert

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 08:49:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00306 - This alert is to warn workers using a Status Mentor PGD2 gas detector that some of them may be giving false readings due to software configuration. None of these gas detector should be used until its software and configuration has been verified.

The Dangers of Not Sending a Fall Arrest Block to an Authorised Service Centre

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:47:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00305 - Fall Arrest Blocks can be extremely hazardous if opened and tampered with by anyone without appropriate training.

Trapped Pressure in Valve

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:46:14 GMT

Alert ID: 00304 - A Near Miss (Process Safety Incident) occurred when a worker was sprayed with an emulsion when pressure in a check valve/control valve piping system was released unintentionally while trying to locate an obstruction.

Chain Block Failed its Statutory Inspection

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 12:30:51 GMT

Alert ID: 00303 - Following the recent failure of BL9337 during its statutory inspection, the block was taken apart to establish the mode of failure. Photo 1 shows the pawl disengaged from the ratchet which will account for the block free running when a load was applied during the examination. The load which was applied was simply the Inspector pulling on the load chain.

Catastrophic failure of ropes rigged over an edge

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 09:33:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00302 - It is essential that, wherever possible, contact with anchor lines with edges is totally avoided. It is critical that, where assessment identifies the risk of contact of anchor lines with an edge there is a heirarchy of control in place.

Specialised PPE carries limitations

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:14:57 GMT

Alert ID: 00301 - A recently supplied auto-darkening welding helmet which was operating correctly until the welder got to a point where the weld bead was starting to pass under a cable tray which resulted in the sensor on the helmet becoming obscured by the cable tray, causing the screen to become instantaneously clear while the arc was still lit.

Tube Compression Fitting Failure

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:06:43 GMT

Alert ID: 00300 - A recent near miss incident has identified that compression fittings associated with high pressure tubing lines have the potential to fail by working loose under certain conditions. Potential failure will not be evident without adequate post-assembly inspection and may not become apparent for a number of years due to a range of factors including operating conditions and the material of the tube and fittings. Even during regular pressure testing, it is not uncommon for these 'compromised' fittings to pass the initial and subsequent tests prior to the main failure event.

Welding operation results in fire

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:50:21 GMT

Alert ID: 00299 - Welders were trimming a guidepost located on the roof of the rig’s storeroom. The insulation installed on the underside of the storeroom roof that was located below the area of hot work ignited and began to smolder, emitting a large volume of toxic smoke

HIPO - Potential dropped object

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:45:03 GMT

Alert ID: 00298 - The motion caused a 12 lb. (5.4kg) speaker mounted at the back of the monkey board to break loose at the junction box. The derrickman was standing next to the speaker at the time the stand struck the fingers and was able to catch the speaker as it fell and it was brought down to the rig floor

Yoke failure on Snubbing Unit

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:39:20 GMT

Alert ID: 00297 - Failure of the yoke rams during snubbing operations

Dropped Object - Pin fell from TD

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:24:36 GMT

Alert ID: 00296 - While laying down 5” Drill Pipe, the upper pin of the top drive link support assembly came loose and fell approximately 15-18 feet to the rig floor near the driller’s side. No injury was reported.

Finger injury whilst running casing

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:17:55 GMT

Alert ID: 00295 - The rig crews were working along with the casing contractor crews to run 9 5/8'' casing into the well. After stabbing in the 20th stand of casing, the injured person (IP) was guiding the tong to the stabbed casing by holding onto the right side handle of the power tong. Unfortunately, the IP's left middle finger was trapped between the power tong handle and the casing surface injuring his finger tip resulting in open wound.

Hoisting line disconnected from drawworks drum

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:12:04 GMT

Alert ID: 00294 - During well service operations the hoisting line (tubing line) disconnected from the drawworks on a well service rig. There were no injuries or equipment damage but severity potential was high. Loss of the hoisting line clamp could have resulted in dropping the traveling block. Fortunately the traveling blocks were in an elevated position in the mast with twenty plus wraps of hoisting line on the drum.

BOP Deadman Activation

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:05:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00293 - Requirement is established to test the automatic mode or the deadman of the BOP , if applicable, during the initial test of the BOP on the sea floor.

Petzl America Recalls SCORPIO and ABSORBICA safety lanyards

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:35:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00292 - Some lanyards are missing a safety stitch on the attachment loop, which can cause the lanyard to disconnect from the climbing harness, posing a fall hazard to consumers

Motorcycle Safety

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:26:20 GMT

Alert ID: 00291 - The oil and gas industry in Canada are running a campaign on motorcycle safety, although not directly work related it is worthy of sharing in the UKCS

Finger injury whilst unhitching trailer

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:15:52 GMT

Alert ID: 00290 - This occurence is not work related but the activity highlights the need for vigilance and attention to the most common and familiar of tasks.

Loss of Heading, Mooring System failure and subsequent loss of position

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 09:58:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00289 - An incident occurred at 07:05 hours on Friday the 4th of February 2011 whilst the Gryphon Alpha FPSO was engaged in production operations. The vessel lost heading & position during stormy conditions (about 60 knots maximum wind speed with a significant wave height of between 10m to 15m). The initiating event was the low tension failure of windward mooring line 7. The PM system then drove the vessel beam on to the prevailing weather. This resulted in three further windward mooring lines (in order, 6, 5 and 4) failing progressively as the vessel heading turned beam on to the environment....

Rope access - damage to ropes from edges

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 09:33:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00288 - This safety alert highlights the issues of damage to ropes during rope access work caused by abrasion and cuts from edges and hot surfaces. The alert identifies those procedures and systems of work that should be carefully followed to protect working and back-up safety ropes from this type of hazard.

Lifeboats - Routine Inspection and Maintenance

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:53:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00287 - Recent inspections conducted by NOPSA and information provided to NOPSA have raised concerns regarding the general condition of some Totally Enclosed Motor Propelled Survival Craft (TEMPSC) currently in use in the offshore regime.

Improper use of sledgehammer results in a lost time accident

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:07:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00286 - Employees were attempting to remove a valve seat from a mud pump module that was to be used as a spare. The valve seat puller being used was damaged while trying to remove the valve seat and the welder heated the seat in an attempt to loosen it. A sledgehammer was used to strike the valve seat in an attempt to loosen and remove it when a piece of both the seat and sledgehammer face broke off. A broken piece of metal penetrated the leg of the employee who was standing 3 meters away performing fire watch duties.

Improperly Mounted Rig Floor Winch Results in Hi-Potential Near Hit

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:32:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00285 - The drill floor crew was in the process of picking up riser thrrought the V-door. As the riser was being picked up, the winch bolts holding the winch to the pedestal failed and it broke free. This resulted in the winch being suspended by its rope wire, which meant it swung sideways and smashed the glass on the the doghouse door.

Unsecured Guard Results in MTO

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:54:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00284 - While investigating a noise coming from the liner mud pump 2, the injured person picked up the pony rod cover for the port side pony rod. The liner cover dropped and fell inside the area where the pony rods are. While the pump was still running, the injured person tried to remove the cover. The pony rod pushed the cover resulting in his fingeer being pinched and requiring stitches.

Harmonic Filter Failure

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:31:50 GMT

Alert ID: 00283 - One of twelve capacitors in a harmonic filter failed accompanied by a large explosion. The explosion resulted in extensive damage to the surrounding electrical panels and caused the vessel to black out.

Corroded Deck Gratings: Unable to Determine Condition from Visual Inspection

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:45:15 GMT

Alert ID: 00282 - An inspection of gratings on a fixed jacket offshore installation identified that there where gratings have suffered significant corrosion, the build up of corrosion product remained in place and masked the true extent of the loss of metal.

BOI Multiple Fatality

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:21:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00281 - A Halliburton coil tubing unit operator entered a tank that contained water mixed with hydrogen. His co-worker trying to rescue him also entered into the tank followed by two others for the same reason. The rigless supeervisor who realized the men were in the tank ordered it to be drained and asked for two more personnel to perform a resecue.

BOP Heater Blanket Electrical Short

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:11:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00280 - The rig crew arrived on location in the morning to discover that overnight the BOP heater blanket had caught fire and extinguished itself when it completely burnt.

Copy of all submitted incident alerts 2006 and 2007

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 11:14:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00279 - This is a summary of all submitted incident alerts during 2000 and 2001. Please feel free to interrogate the content for alerts applicable to your work activities.

Copy of all submitted incident alerts 2004 and 2005

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 10:56:34 GMT

Alert ID: 00278 - This is a summary of all submited incident alerts during 2000 and 2001. Please feel free to interogate the content for alerts applicable to your work activities.

Copy of all submitted incident alerts 2002 and 2003

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 10:49:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00277 - This is a summary of all submitted incident alerts during 2002 and 2003. Please feel free to interrogate the content for alerts applicable to your work activities.

Copy of all submitted incident alerts 2000 and 2001

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 10:40:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00276 - This is a summary of all submitted incident alerts during 2000 and 2001. Please feel free to interrogate the content for alerts applicable to your work activities.

Instrument Tubing Failure

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:53:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00275 - An operator identified a small leak in newly installed small bore tubing. He obtained spanners with which he was about to attempt to tighten the connection. As he commenced the task with the tubing containing full well bore pressure the tubing parted causing signifacant injuries to the operator.

Lay down operations results in workers fall

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:48:31 GMT

Alert ID: 00274 - After running casing a floor plate was removed to access the cellar two rig floor crew members were attempting to push the pipe towards the V door. The pipe was too heavy and it swung back towards the workers causing one of them to be pushed down the hole, a distance of 22' where he was badly injured

Acid disposal

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:45:19 GMT

Alert ID: 00273 - During preparation for an acid job multiple leaks were observed during the transfer process. It was found the concentration and chemical structure of the 'HCL' was incorrect and causing leaks in the systems.

Fatal Incident involving inert entry

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:41:22 GMT

Alert ID: 00272 - During planned operations to remove a catalyst from a reactor vessel a specialist contractor employee entered the work area, his co workers witnessed him sit down soon after entering the area. The alarm was raised, the worker removed from the area whereupon first aid was administered, but the casualty was pronounced dead at the scene.

Worker trapped between equipment results in fatality

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:33:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00271 - Worker caught between seismic track drill and parked vehicle

Pressurised spray bottle hose release

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:29:34 GMT

Alert ID: 00270 - A worker was inadvertantly sprayed with a degreasing compound when the hose detached from the bottle containing the material. The bottle was under pressure at the time and the pressure of and quantity of material managed to get under the face visor the worker was wearing

Electrical Shock from Workover Tower Plug

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:25:37 GMT

Alert ID: 00269 - Operator received electric shock when inserting electrical plug into junction box.

Rig worker suffers injury whilst maintaining spinners

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:21:18 GMT

Alert ID: 00268 - The Motorman suffered serious hand injury whilst carrying out repairs to the link assembly on a pipe spinner. Whilst trying to align the holes to insert the clevis pin he operated the controls which caused the link to kick forward severing the tip of his ring finger.

Dropped object falls to rig floor

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:17:55 GMT

Alert ID: 00267 - The driller observed the unused Safety Push Arm (SPA)fall 15' onto the rig floor immediately in front of the drillers cabin. The arm caused dents in the rig floor cover plate. There were 5 rig floor workers in the vicinity none of who suffered injury.

Cylinder Valve Spindle Sheared

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:14:28 GMT

Alert ID: 00266 - An incident occurred when a cylinder valve spindle sheared. It was fitted to a 200 bar 9 litre water capacity composite cylinder and the subsequent uncontrolled release of high pressure air caused the cylinder to launch itself round the room causing damage to walls, floors and tables.

Chain sling failure

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:11:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00265 - On two separate occasions chain slings were used to perform lifting operations. The slings, from the same supplier, failed whilst a lift was being performed.

Wireline control valve tips over onto worker

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:07:44 GMT

Alert ID: 00264 - A wireline crew were preparing to lift a BOP onto the well head A new team member was assigned the task of hooking the crane onto the lifting sling supporting the BOP. The BOP toppled and knocked the worker to the ground causing serious injury in the process.

Tubing string ejected from well

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:00:44 GMT

Alert ID: 00263 - During snubbing operations of a velocity string into a LIVE well, the string was ejected from the well and landed vertically 4m from the HWO tower. The ejected pipe penetrated the helideck netting, passed through two grating decks, struck a structural member and main deck plating and then ruptured a methanol injection flange outlet on the gas export line, which then resulted in an uncontrolled gas release.

Dropped chain from air hoist

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:57:13 GMT

Alert ID: 00262 - Air hoist chain pin broke after excess chain loop caught in BOPs.

Fake EEBD Sets

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:52:14 GMT

Alert ID: 00261 - Fake Emergency Escape Breathing Device (EEBD) identified during routine servicing of equipment.

Hydrocarbon Gas Release during Maintenance on Chemical Injection Point

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:46:35 GMT

Alert ID: 00260 - A hydrocarbon gas release occurred on a manned offshore production platform from a chemical injection point that serves the main gas line from a separator vessel.

Catastrophic Failure of Sling Set Master Link

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:43:04 GMT

Alert ID: 00259 - Catastrophic failure of a 275mm x 150mm x 38mm dia 27.7t master link supplied as a component of a four leg wire rope sling set for a 35t load. This link was one of two submaster links in the assembly (ie. It had two wire sling thimbles through it) When the link failed, it was lifting a 5t support frame. Although the actual failure has not resulted in any injuries or damage, under prior circumstances it could easily have had much more serious consequences. It has been even more concerning that follow-up action has so far identified three other master...

Air receivers and relief valves

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:37:17 GMT

Alert ID: 00258 - Air receivers regardless of specific use onboard contain extreme potential amounts of potential energy, an uncontrolled

Hot Work leads to fire

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:30:09 GMT

Alert ID: 00257 - Hot work involving the removal of some structural supports caused the scaffold boards the work was located on to catch fire. This occurred on a NUI, consequently no one detected the fire until the crew returned to the installation on the following day.

Synthetic Fibre Slings

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:25:23 GMT

Alert ID: 00256 - There have been three recent incidents in Australian waters regarding the use of fibre, or round slings which should be noted and acted upon.

Uncontrolled descent of airhoist chain

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:20:05 GMT

Alert ID: 00255 - Self stowing chain deflected resulting in the chain descending unseen and dragging previously stowed chain out of the integral storage container.

Laying down casing results in a fall from height

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:15:43 GMT

Alert ID: 00254 - After running casing, a floor plate was removed from the rig floor to ease access to the cellar. Two rig floor personnel were attempting to push a 20' joint of 16" casing out of the 'V' door. The casing was too heavy and began to swing backwards pushing the crew members towards the rotary table and the hole created by the removal of the floor plate. One of the rig crew fell through the hole and fell approx 22' incurring multiple serious injuries in the process.

Lifting Operations Fatality

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:12:20 GMT

Alert ID: 00253 - An individual was fatally injured during lifting operations. After being instructed to remain clear of ongoing operations the IP, whilst out of sight of the Deck Foreman, moved into the lift area. During the lift one of the slings involved became snagged, and when it released it caused the load to swing. The IP was in the area and became trapped in between the swinging load and a stationery load.

Sand Line Flagging Operation fatality

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:07:57 GMT

Alert ID: 00252 - Members of the rig crew were attempting to attach flags to the sand line. Whilst reaching into the sand line drum a member of the team inadvertently came into contact with the drum clutch lever and engaged the drum resulting in the drum turning a number of revolutions. A team member became entangled in the sand line and drum, resulting in his death.

Dropped Object - Marker Buoy

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:03:45 GMT

Alert ID: 00251 - The top marks of a marine marker buoy were sheared off during lifting/assembly operations which were taking place on the deck of a supply vessel.

Hazardous Area Electrical Equipment

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:01:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00250 - An emerging trend identified during NOPSA's (Regulator in Australia) planned inspections of facilities is the range of safety issues relating to electrical equipment in hazardous areas.

Rain cap fell from exhaust pipe.

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:57:27 GMT

Alert ID: 00249 - A metal rain cap (flap) fell from an engine exhaust pipe. The cap fell approximately 15 feet and landed on the deck next to the equipment.

Failures in the system renders CO2 system inoperative

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:52:59 GMT

Alert ID: 00248 - Numerous piping and hose connections leaked extensively and the incorrect instructions were documented within the Firefighting Instruction Manual (FIM)

Deck Grating Failure

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:46:42 GMT

Alert ID: 00247 - While transferring scaffolding boards using a portable barrow, a section of Kennedy grating buckled at its centre to a depth of approx 200mm.

Person struck by clamp while carrying out seal ring replacement

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:43:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00246 - Two workers were carrying out a seal ring replacement on an isolated pipeline. Whilst removing a Techlok clamp, the fitting released under residual pressure within flowline which resulted in the clamp striking one of the workers on the chest. The second worker suffered a minor air burn to his right wrist.

Serious finger crushing injuries by falling tool.

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:40:09 GMT

Alert ID: 00245 - An attempt to hoist a wireline tool known as a Dump Bailer out of the well after becoming jammed in the wireline flange created a situation whereby the landing plate dropped down and crushed one of the wireline crew members fingers.

Horseplay results in injuries

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:36:56 GMT

Alert ID: 00244 - Two crew members were cleaning equipment with a high pressure wash gun and brooms. The crew member with the pressure washer advised his co worker to move out of the way to avoid being sprayed with water, the other worker waved the broom in the direction of the crew member using the washer splashing his face with debris from the broom, the crew member had to have his eyes flushed with water. Two other crew members working in and around the mud pits created a situation where they became aggressive towards one another, one of the workers suffered an injury...

Equipment repair results in fractured finger

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:31:23 GMT

Alert ID: 00243 - Two crew members carrying out repairs to a mud pump, one person was holding a hammer wrench and the other was striking the wrench with a hammer. He missed the wrench and struck the other persons hand causing a fracture to his finger.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:27:15 GMT

Alert ID: 00242 - After attending a conference in the US, an employee flew to UK then onto Dubai, upon arrival in Dubai the employee noticed some severe swelling in his left leg. He went to hospital where they diagnosed a DVT.

Fatality during cementing operations

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:20:41 GMT

Alert ID: 00241 - Locking nuts were released from a cement bonnet after the cement job had been completed. Crew members did not take into consideration a build up in pressure due to thermal expansion of the cement. No one had checked for pressure during the processof removing the bonnet bolts, and when the last bolt was removed the bonnet and cement head was pushed upwards and toppled over trapping the crew member between adjacent equipment, the crew member died as a result of his injuries.

Workers arm caught in mud bucket

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:14:41 GMT

Alert ID: 00240 - Mis communication between crew members caused a member of the team to trap his arm in a mud bucket. The worker was doping the seals in the bucket as he thought the air supply to the mud bucket had been disconnected, when in fact it had been reconnected by another member of the crew. The other crew member operated the air control to the mud bucket as his co workers hand was inside the bucket.

Incident with Perforating Guns

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:10:20 GMT

Alert ID: 00239 - During perforating operations a perforating gun was retrieved to surface on

Subsea Oxyarc Cutting - Risk of Explosion

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:57:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00238 - A problem regarding power flow to a cutting head was identified. The problem was that when the operator thought the process was finished leakage current still flowed through the Oxyarc torch.

Severe Electric Shock

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:51:13 GMT

Alert ID: 00237 - During the installation of transformers a bus bar panel was removed and an individual received a 6.6kV electric shock.

High Potential Near Miss

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:47:29 GMT

Alert ID: 00236 - Crew members were cleaning the suction screen on an unisolated mud pump. The driller activated the pump, no injuries took place as personnel were not working on piston rods and the like.

Scald Injury Using Laundry Washing Machine

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:44:15 GMT

Alert ID: 00235 - Injury: LTI, 2nd degree burns to feet and ankles, using a washing machine. The machine's control panel indicated that the program required to be restarted and allowed the operative to open the door. Hot water was stil in the drum which spilled out causing injury.

Hydraulic Jack Hand Injury

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:39:01 GMT

Alert ID: 00234 - A serious hand injury was caused by the failure of a hydraulic fitting on a double acting lifting cylinder which was incorrectly operated by a hand pump

HSE issue safety notice: Dropped load - incorrect manufacture of Flemish eye crane pennant

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:31:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00233 - This incident occurred on an offshore installation during the lifting of a container weighing 9.5 tonnes. A 5m long 15 tonne working load limit crane pennant was connected between the crane hook and the master link on the container sling set. The crane pennant had been manufactured from 36mm diameter wire rope and the eyes on each end had been formed by using the Flemish eye technique. During the lifting of the load the wire rope strands in the tails of the Flemish eye connected to the pennant hook became free inside the ferrule allowing the Flemish eye to unravel...

Trapped pressure in dry environment cleaning tool

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:27:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00232 - The incident occurred while breaking down bailer sections of a dry environment(Auger/Helix) type cleaner when trapped pressure escaped resulting in personnel being sprayed with moist debris. Although the Cleaner has breather holes on both ends of the bailer section the pressure had become compartmentalised and was being held in pockets by the packed up debris.

Pipe handling fatality

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:23:12 GMT

Alert ID: 00231 - A rig worker was caught between moving equipment during pipe handling operations. There was a lack of communications between the members of the work team, a contributory factor in this incident

Dropped object after leg hatch closure

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:19:15 GMT

Alert ID: 00230 - A securing clamp was dislodged by the uncontrolled closure of a leg hatch cover. It fell almost 25m and came to rest on a small pipe support at the top of the leg.

Possible failure of Valtek Actuators

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 12:00:01 GMT

Alert ID: 00229 - During an external visual examination of the Valtek valve actuators, corrosion of the circlip groove that secures the actuator cylinder to the valve yoke has been detected.

Sour gas leak from casing line failure

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:53:09 GMT

Alert ID: 00228 - Two contractors were in the process of obtaining pressure readings from the production casing tubing annulus, when a ¼ inch line off the casing failed and sour gas began leaking to the atmosphere. Sour Gas is defined as natural gas or any other gas containing significant amounts of hydrogen sulfide

Class Frontal Fixed Rail Ladder (FRL) Fall Protection System

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:49:39 GMT

Alert ID: 00227 - A worker was recently injured after falling twenty metres from a ladder attached to a tower whilst using a Class FRL Fall Protection System

Brent Dropped Object

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:46:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00226 - A barrel of oil was being lifted and transferred using a barrel lift which was suspended from a crane. During the lift the barrel fell from the device causing it to fall approx 50 ft onto the skid beam and rupturing , spilling it's contentsa onto the deck

Damaged Wire Strop

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:41:22 GMT

Alert ID: 00225 - Quick thinking and a sharp eye potentially prevented an incident recently, as a crew member on an OSV identified a damaged sling on a mud skip which was being back loaded from an offshore installation.

Drilling Rig Proportional Brake Fails

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:37:14 GMT

Alert ID: 00224 - After running in a stand of tubulars the top drive stalled out 2 metres above the rig floor, when the driller went to investigate. As he was suspended above the rig floor the driller witnessed the TD creep down about one metre before freefalling the last metre to the rig floor. The drawworks continued to unspool all of the drill line.

Failure to secure sling results in dropped object

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:34:32 GMT

Alert ID: 00223 - A small wire rope sling fell to the rig floor from the monkey board, it appears there were no injuries.

'Struck by' incident results in fatality

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:31:09 GMT

Alert ID: 00222 - Whilst working at the monkey board a crew member was racking back tubulars. The driller, controlling the movement of the travelling block lowered it onto the top of a stand of pipe causing the pipe to spring and cause the winch wire to strike the operator across the abdomen, but died later of the injuries sustained.

Workers hand partially amputated

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:28:12 GMT

Alert ID: 00221 - A worker noticed a small amount of oil underneath a generator fan guard, he used a small rag to attempt to clean up the oil but had not shut down the generator. The rag was dragged into the blades as was the workers hand causing serious injury to the individuals hand.

Crush Injury causes Lost Time Incident

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:24:42 GMT

Alert ID: 00220 - Entrapment (crush) injury to finger while rigging down wireline tool

Failure of pipework on Gross Overload Protection (GOP)

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:21:52 GMT

Alert ID: 00219 - A crane operator sustained burn injuries following an energy release as he was charging the GOP accumulator, the injury was caused by the wrong selection of charging gas.

Deepwater Horizon Explosion

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:18:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00218 - During April 20th 2010, a loss of well control occurred and resulted in an explosion and fire on the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Deepwater Horizon. Eleven lives were lost in the incident and the MODU subsequently sank. As of the date of this safety alert the well has not been secured and the resulting release of oil has been declared a spill of national significance with oil threatening sensitive coastlines and resources in the Gulf of Mexico.

Crewmember slipped and seriously injured his leg in the cuttings auger

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:14:33 GMT

Alert ID: 00217 - Whilst attempting to change out a shaker screen, the crewmember was standing with one foot on the shaker and one foot on the cuttings slide. His foot on the slide slipped and was trapped in the auger underneath the slide resulting in a traumatic amputation of his lower leg.

Fire caused by welding operations

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:06:56 GMT

Alert ID: 00216 - Whilst preparing metal surfaces using a hand held angle grinder the surrounding tarpaulin protective sheeting caught fire due to the sparks which had been created coming into contact with it.

Dropped Object caused by tool failure

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:03:27 GMT

Alert ID: 00215 - The drill crew were racking back a full stand of 3.1/8" drill collars, the stand also included a 4.1/2" scraper. As the crew on the RF were racking back and the derrickman was pulling back the stand the service connection in the scrapermandrel failed and the tubulars fell through the derrick to the ground below.

Manriding Incident - Carabiner Failure

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:59:43 GMT

Alert ID: 00214 - An operator whilst descending from a height of 7 metres fell to the deck level after the carabiner used to secure him to the man riding winch line catastrophically failed

Drifting Tubulars with Rig Air

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:48:58 GMT

Alert ID: 00213 - Crew members were drifting or 'rabbiting' pipe using the rig air supply to blow the 'rabbit' from the box end toward the pin end of the pipe. The rig air was 120psi which was enough to create sufficient pressure to blow the pin end protector from the pipe which in turn struck the individual on the knee.

Tank Welding - HIPO

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:44:25 GMT

Alert ID: 00212 - Welding pipework on tank without emptying or purging tank

Compressor failure and subsequest fire

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:40:10 GMT

Alert ID: 00211 - A high pressure gas compressor experienced a catastrophic failure during start up on an FPSO. The faiure caused a hydrocarbon release that auto ignited, resulting in a local jet fire at the compressor and a second fire within the gas turbine enclosure.

Nitrogen - Breathing air incident

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:35:26 GMT

Alert ID: 00210 - During an ongoing operation to Ibix and Quill blast a hazardous drains tank, the blaster collapsed after donning his Respiratory Protective Equipment (Air Fed Mask).

ESDV Actuator Failure

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:32:13 GMT

Alert ID: 00209 - During a visit to a normally unmanned platform, it was discovered that the bolting mechanism on the end plate of a ‘Domgas’ Emergency Shut Down Valve (ESDV) actuator had failed, releasing the end plate and springs with the force of the stored energy within the spring. The end plate and spring impacted on surrounding process pipework and structure ending up 15 metres away. No personnel onboard at the time of the incident. There was no injury or loss of containment

Gangway Failure

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:28:34 GMT

Alert ID: 00208 - A securing vertical pin failed at one end of a gangway causing the gangway to fall into the water.

Dropped Objects cause LTIs

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:22:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00207 - During drilling operations on two separate occasions the work process created situations where items fell from aloft causing injuries to personnel.

Incident caused by Helicopter downdraft

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:19:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00206 - An unsecured container weighing approx 440lbs was lifted up and over a set of handrails and fell some 33ft. This undesired event was caused by the downdraft created by a helicopter. The container box was stored on a module roof adjacent to the helideck.

Crane Incidents

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:16:03 GMT

Alert ID: 00205 - Two crane incidents from Australia clearly indicate the potential hazards associated when the sea state worsens.

Dropped Object during cargo handling operations

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:12:39 GMT

Alert ID: 00204 - Light fitting from the crane fell to the deck of the supply vessel, there were no injuries to personnel.

Improper Guarding results in injury

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:04:30 GMT

Alert ID: 00203 - A gap in the guard surrounding a radiator fan was just big enough to permit an employee to suffer injuries after getting his hand slip into the gap.

Mud Pump Piston Change out results in injury

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:00:56 GMT

Alert ID: 00202 - Whilst repairing a pump piston, the derrickman swung a hammer but missed the target which in turn caused him to trap his finger causing extensive damage in the process.

Dropped Object - Guide Collar Segment

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 09:56:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00201 - The guide collar for a down hole pump assembly was separated into 2 segments, as it was being lowered into position the 'home made' handle broke causing the segment which weighed 25kgs to fall to a lower deck.

Hand struck by skip lid

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 09:52:36 GMT

Alert ID: 00200 - During drill cuttings transfer operations a cuttings skip lid blew shut onto an operator’s hand.

NEAR MISS – Spool Valve Ejected from Manifold of Iron Roughneck

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 09:48:02 GMT

Alert ID: 00199 - As a result of maintenance activities being undertaken on the iron roughneck whilst it was in operational use, a high pressure hydraulic fluid release caused the ejection of a spool valve from the roughneck manifold, narrowly missing drilling personnel who were operating the equipment

Lifeboat Cable

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 09:37:38 GMT

Alert ID: 00198 - During planned maintenance routine to Lifeboat Davit, it was found that one of the plastic brake release cable sheaves had been cut through by the cable, due to the sheave wheel not turning freely

Piping damage in sub zero temperatures

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 09:32:39 GMT

Alert ID: 00197 - Description of a small number of incidents involving valve and pipe failures

Dropped Object (550KVA Generator)

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 09:28:19 GMT

Alert ID: 00196 - During the lifting operation the 550 KVA Generator skid pulled loose from the lift frame and fell approx 15 ft to the deck, there were no injuries associated with this incident.

Dropped stands of pipe result in a number of incidents

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 09:24:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00195 - This IADC alert describes incidents which have taken place recently involving drilling tubulars which have been 'dropped' and the techniques used to recover the pipe.

Fire created by falling welding slag

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 09:20:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00194 - During pipe cutting operations on the rig floor coverings were located to minimise the potential for hot slag to fall to lower levels, in this event hot slag managed to fall between the protective covering to the moonpool area where it ignited some plastic material.

Starboard king post rear stay base plate separated from wing deck

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 09:09:38 GMT

Alert ID: 00192 - The failure of the king post base plate in turn caused the flare boom to collapse. There were no injuries to personnel.

Ridgegear RGH2 safety harness buckle potential failure

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:38:55 GMT

Alert ID: 00191 - This alert includes 2 associated alerts submitted by a member company. A situation has arisen when the connecting buckle of the harness slipped back through the retaining buckle whilst the unit was in use.

Failure of Wireline Well Control Equipment During Uncontrolled Gas Release

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:34:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00190 - While setting a wireline suspension plug during slickline operations on a southern North Sea well, a gas leak developed at the stuffing box. After attempts to stop the gas leak at the stuffing box failed, the slickline operators attempted to close the slickline BOP. After a period of time, with several failed attempts to close the slickline BOP, the sub-sea lubricator valve was closed, the wire was cut and the well was made safe.

Gas release from 3 part ¾” ball valve

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:29:51 GMT

Alert ID: 00189 - A hydrocarbon leak occurred from a ball valve on a HP flare line from a gas lift flowline when the flowline flow transmitter was being blown down. The lines are piped into the HP Flare Header via ¾” ball valves - one valve failed resulting in a limited gas release, initiating a Class One shutdown. The leak occurred when 2 out of 4 of the nuts holding the 3 components of the valve together fractured, allowing a seal ring to blow out between the components. The centre valve body is sandwiched between two flanges and held together by four studs...

Fatal accident during pressure testing

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:25:04 GMT

Alert ID: 00188 - During a pressure test a pressure relief valve in the treating line vented. This caused the pressure relief assembly to rotate through 90 degrees. As it rotated the assembly struck a member of the crew on the temple causing a fatal injury.

Catastrophic failure of Pulsation Dampners

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:20:17 GMT

Alert ID: 00187 - Equipment damage may occurs due to improper storage in sub zero conditions. Freezing conditions may cause pulsation dampners to crack or explode if liquids are trapped within the dampner bladder.

Being Struck by Tongs results in Injury

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:14:59 GMT

Alert ID: 00186 - During the process of making up tubulars, one of the tongs was incorrectly placed onto the 'hardbanding' and when it was used to apply torque it slipped and struck the floorhand.

Improper Use of Drill Pipe Spinner results in injury

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:10:48 GMT

Alert ID: 00185 - Improper use of 'spinners' in conjunction with hand tools resulted in injury to floor hand.

NEAR MISS - Damaged Man Riding Winch

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:05:22 GMT

Alert ID: 00184 - A member of the crew identified a fault with the man riding winch, which was immediately examined, as a result of which was removed from service.

NOV ASEP Elmar 900 series PTU

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:54:25 GMT

Alert ID: 00182 - The incident occurred on a platform when Elmar PTU L-696905 was being used to inject Mono Ethylene Glycol (MEG) through an 'Oliver' valve in to Wellhead Christmas Tree E7.

Potential Dropped Object – Platform East Crane Boom

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:41:14 GMT

Alert ID: 00181 - Platform Rigger observed a Potential Dropped Object on the Platform East Crane which resulted in a Rope Access Team Inspection and subsequent removal of object. Potential for Injury identified.

Heat Exchanger Failure (Lean Amine Cooler)

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:36:01 GMT

Alert ID: 00180 - Gas was released into sea water cooling system through a failed heat exchanger and subsequently to atmosphere through sea water discharge/dump line situated under deck.

TEMPSC Winch Gear Switchboards - Injury Identifies Potential Failure Mode

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:30:56 GMT

Alert ID: 00179 - An offshore technician sustained severe brusing to both upper arms whilst conducting routine maintenance on a TEMPSC on a normally un-manned installation. As part of the maintenance, the TEMPSC had been lowered and was in the process of being hand cranked back into the davit stops by the technician. The winch motor inadvertently operated driving the hand crank out of the technician's hands causing heavy impact to both upper arms.

Fatality - Pipe racks fall from truck bed.

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:25:30 GMT

Alert ID: 00178 - It should be noted that this fatal incident is still under investigation, and as such the attached information should be treated as 'for information only' at this time. An HGV was loaded with 5 piperacks but only fitted on one side with a set of 'bolster' posts. The piperacks were of varying dimensions and appeared not to have been stable when on the rear of the HGV. As the securing chains were released 2 of the piperacks fell from the side of the trailer fatally injuring the worker.

Laying out tubulars results in broken finger.

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:18:49 GMT

Alert ID: 00177 - The individual fractured his thumb as he was removing a lift cap from a tubular as it was located on the catwalk.

HIPO NEAR MISS - Dropped light fitting

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:04:39 GMT

Alert ID: 00175 - A 23lb light fitting fell 90ft from the crane boom to deck level, there were no injuries in this occasion.

Arc Flash Incident

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:53:58 GMT

Alert ID: 00174 - An arc flash occurred when a technician touched two exposed lugs of a 480v main breaker on a motor control centre (MCC) while performing maintenance checks.

NEAR MISS - Dropped Scaffold Tube

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:48:25 GMT

Alert ID: 00173 - Scaffold tube fell through a small gap next to a stair stringer and the decking grid mesh. The scaffold fell some distance to a work area below.

Ball Valve in Relief Line Over Pressured

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:43:26 GMT

Alert ID: 00172 - A brass ball valve in a pressure relief system failed after it was over pressured.

NEAR MISS - Dropped Hand Tool

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:39:05 GMT

Alert ID: 00171 - A hand tool fell through a small gap in the work area and dropped and deflected from other equipment causing the hand tool to fall outwith the exclusion zone identified for the process.

NEAR MISS- Dislodged wooden crate lid

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:33:11 GMT

Alert ID: 00170 - The incident occurred whereby a wooden crate lid was dislodged from the main body of the crate by high winds. The crate lid weighed 37 kgs and fell approximately 6.5 metres to the deck below, narrowly missing two employees working in the area.

NEAR MISS - Wooden crates stored in exposed locations

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:29:12 GMT

Alert ID: 00169 - A wooden crate lid weighing was dislodged by the downdraught of a helicopter and travelled some distance before coming to rest.

Dropped Object (First Stage Seprarator )

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:25:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00168 - The IP suffered a deep laceration to his leg and attended the Platform Medic. Following advice from the Topside Doctor the Medic cleaned and examined the wound (11.5cm), inserted 26 stitches and applied a dressing.

Fall Protection Equipment Failure

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:18:39 GMT

Alert ID: 00167 - New fall protection equipment failed visual examination due to NOT being properly sewn

Air Winch Mounting Bolts Failure

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:13:19 GMT

Alert ID: 00166 - Whist running the BOP stack the air winch was pulled from its mountings.

Slip and trip results in Medical Treatment

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:07:55 GMT

Alert ID: 00165 - An individual was stepping from a raised access across on to an 'I' beam, his foot slipped on the beam causing him to fall landing on both flanges at the same time. He suffered injuries to his arm/wrist/hand and his leg. The injury to his wrist later revealed to be a fracture.

Malaria - Fatality

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:01:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00164 - An employee working in Angola contracted Falciparum Malaria, this is the most dangerous type of malaria, a condition which infects the red blood cells and eventually the brain and other organs. The employee had left Angola during his normal rotation when he returned to his family he became increasingly unwell. Even after hospital treatment the individual did not recover.

Life Jacket Secondary Activation Method

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:57:35 GMT

Alert ID: 00163 - Possible FAILURE to inflate lifejackets by the secondary (manual) activation method.

NEAR MISS - Diving Incident

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:52:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00162 - Bail out bottles being used were identified as have a 14% mixed gas content (14% HeO2), this should have been checked a number of times prior to the dive taking place.

Dropped Object (Section of 4 core electrical cable)

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:45:19 GMT

Alert ID: 00161 - A section of 4 core cable dropped from an unknown location, suspected to be a cable tray, to an area where people were working.

Liebherr BOS rubber backstop dropped object

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:25:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00160 - Offshore pedestal crane Liebherr BOS 40 rubber backstop fell off after being sprayed with WD40 to loosen the four securing bolts. It appears rubber bonding to the back plate had deteriorated significantly over the years prior to preparation for replacement. Applies to BOS 45 model also.

AD22 Lifeboat Sea Trial Fatal Accident

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:19:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00158 - After sea trials took place an AD22 lifeboat along with its 7 passengers was reconnected to the davit pendants for re-stowage. After completing a short load test whilst out of the water the boat was further winched and when appoximately 2' from the stowing position the aft pendant hook released causing the boat to swing and exert its full load onto the forward pendant which in turn also released causing the boat along with the personnel inside to fall 65' to the sea.

Workers injured using damaged lifting equipment

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:00:53 GMT

Alert ID: 00156 - Two workers were injured when a lift sling dislodged from a winch hook that did not have properly operating safety latch.

Uncontrolled respooling of drill line onto drum caused fatal injury after striking crew member

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:54:33 GMT

Alert ID: 00155 - Whilst tripping in the hole, the pipe hit an obstruction causing the pipe to come to an abrupt halt. The sudden stop caused the drill line to spool off of the drum until the brakes were applied. The crew were in the process of respooling the drill line back onto the drum when the drill line fell through the 'bridge', and as it whipped up it struck the crew member who sustained fatal injuries.

Offloading equipment Near Miss

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:49:52 GMT

Alert ID: 00154 - Individual working on top of container which in turn was on the back of a truck attempting to hook on a crane. The truck moved and the individual stumbled whilst on top of the container

Incorrect length of tong snub line results in fatality

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:42:53 GMT

Alert ID: 00153 - After changing out a make up tong snub line for a longer length no one noticed after some time that they had not reverted back to the regular, shorter length snub line. During another operation the floorman was using the make up tong but had not realised the incorrect snub line. The longer snub line did not provide the restraint to prevent the tong swinging round and trapping the floorman and causing fatal injuries.

NEAR MISS New Fall Protection Equipment Failure

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:38:09 GMT

Alert ID: 00152 - Newly installed Pass Through Tie Off Adaptor failed whilst in use causing the derrickman to fall, but restrain himself on a pipe stand

Hand Injury caused by tool activation

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:28:54 GMT

Alert ID: 00150 - Accidental activation of a portable magnetic base drilling machine whilst it was being moved

Back Loading High Potential Near Miss

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:09:10 GMT

Alert ID: 00147 - A high potential near miss occurred on a PSV during the back loading of a crane boom section from an offshore installation. Although no injuries were sustained as a result of this incident, two ABs working on the main deck at this time could potentially have been crushed resulting in 2 fatalities.

Extension Cord Safety

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:26:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00142 - Extension cords are rated for the current flowing through them in free air. If they are used in full capacity mode when coiled up, the heat is trapped in the centre of the coil and can cause the insulation material to break down and melt.. During a routine inspection of a 110v coiled extension cord, the electrician found that one of the leads casing was damaged.

Near Miss - Dropped Casing when elevators NOT latched correctly

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:22:40 GMT

Alert ID: 00141 - A joint of casing fell out and down the V door as a result of the elevators not being correctly latched and secured. The securing pin was in situ, but located behind the latching mechanism, hence not in a position to secure the latch.

Helicopter Operations - Ground Resonance Phenomena

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:17:58 GMT

Alert ID: 00140 - Helicopter and landed on an installation, but one of the wheels of the aircraft had landed on a helideck lash down point, this in turn caused the helicopter to oscillate. The aircraft had to take off with little to no warning exposing the helideck crew to unforseen risk.

Dropped Draw-works Platform

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:14:06 GMT

Alert ID: 00139 - Land Operations, whilst lowering the draw-works platform and support structure to the ground, one of the 35t sheaves failed causing one side of the draw-works structure to fall to the ground, the drop caused 5 employees to suffer multiple injuries.

Tripping in Hole

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:09:32 GMT

Alert ID: 00138 - During 'tripping' operations and whilst running in the hole (RIH), as the string was being lowered the pipe hit a downhole obstruction causing the pipe to come to an abrupt stop, but with the blocks lowering some drill line ws spooled off before the drawworks brakes could be applied.

Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs)

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:05:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00137 - CFLs may have the potential to cause interference in certain communications equipment.

Dropped object - latch pin

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:01:47 GMT

Alert ID: 00136 - Latch pin on the Varco Top Drive fell to the rig floor

Floodlight glass falls 12 metres to deck level.

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:57:26 GMT

Alert ID: 00135 - Due to vibration whilst drilling top hole section, the glass weighing 1.5 kgs fell 12 metres from the windwall floodlight to the deck

Derrickman injured hand whilst checking torque

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:53:30 GMT

Alert ID: 00134 - Whilst assisting one other person to check the torque on rig floor equipment he trapped his hand between the torque wrench handle and the riser spider dog handles.

Link Arm retaining pin falls from height to drill floor

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:49:34 GMT

Alert ID: 00133 - During drill floor operations and whilst trying to position equipment over the drill floor the link arm retaining pin fell to the drill floor level.

Failure of crane whip line during operations

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:44:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00132 - Using the crane to move drilling associated equipment and whilst holding a suspended load the whip line failed, dropping the load approx 18 inches, along with the 'headache ball' and approximately 40' whip line

Weatherford Spear Magnet falls from height to rig floor

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:40:14 GMT

Alert ID: 00131 - Whilst racked back a segment from the Weatherford Casing Grapple fell 12 metrres to the drill floor

2 wire breaks within 24 hours on same installation

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:28:16 GMT

Alert ID: 00130 - Two wire breaks (one down hole and one at surface)

Fatal injury whilst moving a suspended load on a vehicle

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:24:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00129 - A worker was walking behind a 'pole' truck in the danger zone and tripped over as the truck was reversing with a load. The worker was fatally injured when the truck rolled over him.

Damaged electric cord results in welder electrocution

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:19:48 GMT

Alert ID: 00128 - Two welders were working side by side in a hole of the bilge pump room in the column of a MODU. Welder 1 (casualty) had completed his side of the job, and Welder 2 asked for the welding lead to be passed to him to allow him to do his side of the job. Welder 2 got no response from Welder 1, and thought that his colleague may have recieved an electric shock. He climber from the hole and disconnected the power supply to the floodlight and the welding cable. Welder 2 summoned assistance, but was unable to revive Welder...

Explosion protected electrical heaters

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:41:12 GMT

Alert ID: 00127 - In a recent incident on an offshore installation, there was an explosion in an open drains tank containing oily water. The tank contained an electrical heater which was Ex certified. However the sheath on the electric heater had corroded, exposing the conductor. Although the incident is still being investigated it is thought that the fault led to ignition of flammable materials in the tank.

Diving Fatality - Uncontrolled ascent of lifting bag

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:36:47 GMT

Alert ID: 00126 - A lifting operation was being conducted on the seabed by a saturation diver using a parachute lift bag. An uncontrolled ascent of the load and lifting bag occurred. The diver's umbilical became entangled in the load and associated rigging, which pulled him from the seabed from his working depth of 200 feet up to 70 feet from the surface. The diver was rescued back into the diving bell but later died of his injuries.

Elevator Latch opens allowing casing to drop

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:32:21 GMT

Alert ID: 00125 - The elevator latch was missing a pin which in turn allowed the elevators to open and the pipe being lifted to drop, injuring a nearby crewmember.

Broken Deck Winch Footings

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:27:37 GMT

Alert ID: 00124 - Failure of fixing arrangements identified soon after testing.

Electric Shock Whilst Carrying Out Routine Maintenance on Lighting Systems

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:22:42 GMT

Alert ID: 00123 - During routine maintenance operations on a building lighting system a contract electrician suffered an electric shock and burns to the hand when he unplugged a switched live "Klik" unit. The individual was working from a step ladder, which was being footed by a colleague who prevented the IP from falling to the ground and sustaining further injury. Initial indications are that a fault on the inverter could have caused a back feed from the emergency (permanent live) feed.

Rebreather Units Out of Certificate

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:07:30 GMT

Alert ID: 00122 - Re-breathers were found to be out of certificate on an offshore flight

Deficiencies in hydrostatic release units for liferafts

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:01:57 GMT

Alert ID: 00121 - The Swedish Transport Agency issued an alert describing a failure to meet quality requirements of a hydrostatic release unit.

Actuator Bonnet Failure

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 15:26:23 GMT

Alert ID: 00120 - Diaphragm within Actuator applied excessive force to the bonnet resulting in bonnet casing failure.

Wellhead Oil Release

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 15:20:18 GMT

Alert ID: 00119 - Release of dead crude from well

Dropped Object - Inertia Pin

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 15:16:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00118 - Pin weighing 0.5kg and 6 inches in length fell 15m from the main block latch bar. The pin fell onto a container roof and then rolled to the deck level, the container was being lifted using the whip line at the time of incident. No personnel injuries occured.

Counterfeit Hydrostatic Release Units

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:57:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00117 - An unknown source is producing counterfeit Hydrostatic Release Units for Life Rafts or Epirb.

Kelly disconnects from hook

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:53:12 GMT

Alert ID: 00116 - The kelly swivel was incompatible with the the main hook causing the swivel to jump out of the hook when the driller was working the drill string up and down in an effort to clear any downhole obstacles. The kelly caused damage to the rig floor handrails, mast ladder, drillers panel and the kelly.

Dropped Casing

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:48:39 GMT

Alert ID: 00115 - A joint of 13 3/8" casing was being latched into a set of single joint elevators (SJE), the safety pin was located at the back of the latch as opposed to the front, so that the latching mechanism was not fully secure. This resulted in the joint of casing falling out of the SJE's and falling out of the V door and along the catwalk in an uncontrolled manner. The cat walk was not fitted with a 'pipe stop', so the joint travelled further than the end of the catwalk. There were no injuries reported during this occurence.

High Potential Dropped Object - 13 3/8" Casing

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:30:25 GMT

Alert ID: 00113 - Both sling links on the elevators parted. The joint slid down the V door and came to rest at the end of the catwalk. No one was injured.

Fatality - Worker caught between crane outrigger, land operations

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:25:19 GMT

Alert ID: 00112 - During down rigging operations and when the crane was retracting its outriggers, a member of the crew leant across the outrigger to retrieve some other equipment, getting trapped and seriously injured in the process. During the casualty's transfer to the local hospital he unfortunately died.

Multiple fatality during pipe lay operations

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:15:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00111 - The accident occurred on Saipem 7000 during pipe lay operations. A system failure in the hydraulic pipe handling system of the J-Lay tower caused two quadriple joints being handled contemporarily in two different areas of the tower, to suddenly drop. Each quad joint of pipe was 24" x 50 metres long, weighing approximately 20 tons. Several crewmen were present on the walkway, Eight people were affected by the accident, Four were fatally injured, two seriously and two slightly injured.

HIPO - Dropped Tool String Incident

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:01:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00110 - During wireline operations as the tool string was being broken down, a 'weight bar' slipped and fell through a hole in the kelly bushing. The weight bar fell 17.5m into a well bay making contact with a scaffold tower and possibly some other equipment during its descent, no one was hurt during the occurrence.

Retaining bolts to Methanol filter not fitted to pressurised vessel

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:57:28 GMT

Alert ID: 00109 - Retaining bolts to Methanol Fillter not fitted to pressurised vessel.

Travelling Block hits Crown Block causing Fatality

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:40:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00106 - During routine rig operations the derrickman latched the pipe at the monkey board level. The blocks were raised and struck the crown block causing items to fall which in turn struck the derrickman fatally injuring him.

Crane Failure results in Dropped Load

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 10:23:33 GMT

Alert ID: 00105 - During a tandem lift, one of the cranes suffered a catastrophic failure resulting in the load dropping to the ground. The bolts maintaining the upper structure of the crane sheared.

Ignition from use of Oxygen instead of N2

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 09:58:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00104 - A flash over explosion occurred with a release of gas from a burst/severed hose, two Operations Technicians were injured.

Inadvertent activation of control lever

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 09:50:30 GMT

Alert ID: 00103 - The operation in progress was making up a drill collar lifting sub to the drill collar whilst in the rotary table secured by the rotary table slips. A member of the crew was using a chain tong to tighten the lift sub to the collar. The Rig Manager was in the Driller's cabin and as he reached over to the joystick the back of his right hand brushed against the rotary table speed knob resulting in the knob turning. This caused the rotary table to spin in the reverse direction the crewman was going with the chain tong. The force...

Dropped Object results in fatality

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:50:05 GMT

Alert ID: 00102 - The operation involved the use of the rig crane to move a Subsea Tree from the storage bay to the transport trolley. When the tree was approximately 20 inches above the trolley, a crane failure resulted in a non powered descent of the tree to the trolley. As a result, the unsecured thermal cap was dislodged from its pedestal and fell, fatally striking an employee involved in the task. The thermal cap weighed approximately 980 pounds.

Helideck Fire Monitors

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:39:58 GMT

Alert ID: 00101 - Testing of helideck fire monitors during a number of recent helideck inspections has identified a shortfall in the 'throw' of the fire monitors. Investigations in each case found a contributing factor to be blockages behind the nozzles. Once the blockages were cleared the 'throw' was greatly improved in almost all cases. In cases where the 'throw' was not improved HCA has (and will) insisted on manned portable equipment to be made available during helicopter operations and has also limited operations to specific wind speeds initially 30kts then to 40kts. Operations have generally been prohibited above 40kts until the fire monitor...

Boom Free Fall

Thu, 26 May 2011 13:59:03 GMT

Alert ID: 00100 - The incident occurred due to contamination with grease off the friction drive components within the boom hoist clutch mechanism, this resulted in the boom dropping while the operator continued to operate the boom hoist control

Serious Thumb Injury whilst tool handling

Thu, 26 May 2011 13:54:08 GMT

Alert ID: 00099 - A pressure assisted drill pipe running tool was being retrieved and laid down with the assistance of the tugger. During manipulation the crossover is believed to have touched the deck causing the main body to move unexpectedly and catch the employees thumb in between the release nut and the release thread sleeve. This injury resulted in a partial amputation of the left thumb.

Fractured arm during tubular running operations

Thu, 26 May 2011 13:50:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00098 - A derrick-man was involved in pulling back tubulars when he wrapped a pull-back rope around his arm. He lost control of the tubular and was unable to release the rope causing multiple fractures to his arm. This alert can be used to identify the hazards associated with the handling of equipment using rope, ie tag lines or similar.

Galley Fire

Thu, 26 May 2011 13:47:13 GMT

Alert ID: 00097 - Whilst conducting a scheduled drill onboard an installation and as personnel attended their designated muster point a fire broke out in the galley, a deep fat fryer was identified as the source of the fire.

Fall from Height

Thu, 26 May 2011 13:42:20 GMT

Alert ID: 00096 - Whist 2 floormen were working approximately 4 metres above the ground their actions created a situation which caused them to fall. They had failed to ensure that their harnesses were secured to a fixed location.

Emergency Shut Down Valve (ESDV) Fails Performance Standard

Thu, 26 May 2011 13:27:51 GMT

Alert ID: 00095 - On 15th December 2007 the ESDV on the Chiswick platform failed its performance standard when asked to close following a minor gas release from the inlet flange to the desander. On investigation it was ascertained that the “O” rings in the ESDV and accompanying manual valve were not fit for purpose and that back-up “O” rings were missing from these valves altogether, pointing to serious failures in the manufacturing process.

Flare system impaired by cooling water loss

Thu, 26 May 2011 13:23:46 GMT

Alert ID: 00094 - This alert advises duty holders of an incident involving failure of a bursting disc on the shell side of a shell and tube heat exchanger, which led to an inability to flare gas safely on an offshore installation.

Engine Room Fire on MODU in Australian waters

Thu, 26 May 2011 13:14:01 GMT

Alert ID: 00093 - An engine room fire occurred recently onboard a MODU in Australian waters. The fire alarm activated when an engine room heat detector was triggered.

Dropped Object: Hydrostatic bottle falls 80 feet from TDS

Thu, 26 May 2011 12:02:43 GMT

Alert ID: 00092 - A hydrostatic bottle weighing 2.8kg fell 80 feet from the top drive to the drill deck. The bottle, belonging to a 3rd party, had be placed in position 4-5 months prior to the incident by a drill crew. Fortunately no one was struck by the object.

Accommodation confined spaces

Thu, 26 May 2011 11:57:03 GMT

Alert ID: 00091 - LTI Severe burn from hot water while inspecting repairing a waste pipe within accommodation

Seal Failures during Well Testing Operations

Thu, 26 May 2011 11:53:29 GMT

Alert ID: 00090 - During well testing operations leaks were experienced at connections in the landing string between the subsea test tree and the surface tree resulting in gas releases

Fatality - High Pressure Air Release

Thu, 26 May 2011 11:37:02 GMT

Alert ID: 00089 - Two employees disconnecting a 'U' tube from an isolation valve in order to carry out repairs. During the removal of the isolation valve flange, internal parts of the unit blew out whilst still under pressure and struck one of the employees in the head and face.

Failure of Control Valve Actuator

Thu, 26 May 2011 11:33:44 GMT

Alert ID: 00088 - Instrument technicians were re-calibrating the valve positioner for HIC 14181. The feedback arm between the valve and the positioner was disconnected, a mA source was connected, and the valve was stroked using the flapper & nozzle arrangement inside the positioner. The actuator moved, stopped and then rapidly moved upwards. A loud bang was heard. The top of the diaphragm casing had sheared off (43 KG) and fell to the deck (12.5 ft) below.

Change in process condition resulted in pump failure

Thu, 26 May 2011 11:22:25 GMT

Alert ID: 00087 - Incorrectly configured protection mechanisms have recently caused a pump associated with a Jiskoot sampling system to suffer a fault condition resulting in a loss of containment.

Dropped Object 2

Thu, 26 May 2011 11:18:01 GMT

Alert ID: 00086 - Fingerboard

Pressure Venting Injury

Thu, 26 May 2011 11:11:38 GMT

Alert ID: 00085 - Procedures were being implemented, in preparation for the shutdown at an onshore gas processing terminal, to depressurise / isolate gas metering outlets. During the venting down, temporary vent pipework struck the technician resulting in a broken leg.

C-Annulus Over-Pressurisation

Thu, 26 May 2011 11:07:37 GMT

Alert ID: 00084 - When a well was brought online after being closed in the C annuli local 0-25bar pressure gauge was checked and the gauge needle was found to be hard round against the reverse of the zero stop. The actual pressure was checked and found to be 110bar. Annuli was blown down and stabilised.

Electrical Burn to Hand

Thu, 26 May 2011 10:46:38 GMT

Alert ID: 00083 - Injured Party (IP) was carrying out routine UPS battery discharge testing with a colleague when a cable accidentally came into contact with the wrong terminal and a high energy arc flash occurred, causing severe second degree burning.

Temporary Loss of Control of Radioactive Source

Thu, 26 May 2011 10:41:27 GMT

Alert ID: 00082 - Temporary loss of control of radioactive wireline logging source resulting in unnecessary exposure to rig floor personnel.

Using Tugger Winches in Derrick Structure

Thu, 26 May 2011 09:48:12 GMT

Alert ID: 00081 - A section of scaffold complete with clamp dislodged and fell to the rig floor, approximately 90ft below. The spotters in the derrick observed the object dropping and alerted personnel on the rig floor. The object struck the drill floor 3m clear of contact with either person.

Pedestrian Knocked Over by Fork Lift Truck

Thu, 26 May 2011 09:42:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00080 - A pedestrian was knocked over by a fork lift truck.

Turbine Enclosure Incident

Thu, 26 May 2011 09:37:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00079 - A fire occurred within a turbine enclosure and was contained.

RETROJETTING FAILURE

Thu, 26 May 2011 09:32:27 GMT

Alert ID: 00078 - During high pressure water jetting of reboiler tubes, there was a failure of the retrojetting head assembly, which parted from the flexible lance. This resulted in the operative being struck by the lance and receiving facial injuries which required hospitalisation.

High potential confined space incident

Thu, 26 May 2011 09:28:50 GMT

Alert ID: 00077 - While assisting with pre entry checks prior to entering a tank to carry out quarterly maintenance checks. IP lost consciousness and collapsed on deck

IP gets trapped between mini container and 20'half height

Thu, 26 May 2011 09:24:30 GMT

Alert ID: 00076 - An instance recently occurred, whereby an employee was trapped in an area between a half height, located on a supply vessel and a mini container being loaded on to the vessel by a dockside crane.

High Potential Near Miss - Dropped Object

Thu, 26 May 2011 09:19:48 GMT

Alert ID: 00075 - While unloading a food shipment an operator was removing a large box of Gymnasium equipment from the container. As he manhandled the cardboard box to the open doorway, a metal bar which was part of the gym equipment fell through the bottom of the box and passed through the deck gratings falling some 50 ft to the next deck below.

Seaman Injured in Crane Pennant Wire Incident

Thu, 26 May 2011 09:12:47 GMT

Alert ID: 00074 - Two ABs were in the process of disconnecting a 20-foot half height basket, AB1 holding the crane pennant and AB2 disconnecting the hook. As the vessel dropped into the trough of a wave, AB1 found himself hoisted into the air.

Failure of drawworks disc brakes results in dropped blocks

Tue, 24 May 2011 13:31:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00073 - A failure in the drawworks disc braking system allowed the traveling blocks, complete with riser and suspended BOP, to descend approximately 50 metres in an uncontrolled manner, until the Top Drive impacted against the riser gimbal at the rig floor level.

Belt Tong - Near Miss

Tue, 24 May 2011 13:27:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00072 - A Near Miss incident has occurred on a job while making up 36” conductor pipe using a Belt Tong.

Pull lift weighing 18.5 kg fell from height

Tue, 24 May 2011 13:23:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00071 - A pull lift weighing 18.5 kg fell from a height of 6 metres onto the deck below

Thumb Partially Severed in Rotating HVAC Equipment

Thu, 12 May 2011 16:15:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00070 - During planned maintenance on HVAC units, injured person sustained partially severed thumb.

Personal Injury by Crane Pennant Wire

Thu, 12 May 2011 16:12:17 GMT

Alert ID: 00069 - The I.P. suffered a sprained right ankle, however the outcome could have been more severe. His injury has resulted in an LTI as he has been sent home to recuperate being classified as unfit to carry out his normal duties. All vessel crews have now been informed not to walk the crane pennant wire to the next lift, but to let the crane operator reposition the crane boom. The Company SMS will be ammended to reflect this change in working practice.

Security of Possible Dropped Objects from Height

Thu, 12 May 2011 16:07:40 GMT

Alert ID: 00068 - During crane operations a floodlight and securing bracket fell 30 metres to the deck. Approximate weight 17kg.

Serious Accident to Second Engineer

Thu, 12 May 2011 16:05:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00067 - From MSF Safety Flash 08-21. A second engineer was taking water samples from the radiator of an air compressor when the cooling fan automatically started. He lost three fingers from his hand

Engine Room Fire Causes severe damage

Thu, 12 May 2011 16:03:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00066 - An engine room fire onboard a MODU recently caused significant damage. The fire took one hour to bring under control, and a further 3 hours for boundary cooling etc. There were no injuries.

Mudskips fall from lorry during unloading

Thu, 12 May 2011 16:00:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00065 - Mudskips (DCB type) were being unloaded from a lorry when 1 on the forks of the forklift truck and 1 on the lorry trailer fell onto the yard surface.

Faulty Wire Rope Crane Pennants with Flemish Eye

Thu, 12 May 2011 15:56:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00064 - Two wire rope crane pennants which had been manufactured using a procedure known as Flemish eye splice have been identified by the manufacturer as faulty, after a failure in service. The pennants were of 12.5Tonne SWL and were made of 32mm diameter IWRC wire rope.

Confined space working

Thu, 12 May 2011 15:52:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00063 - By use of previous incidents, it is felt timely to remind all of the dangers of working in and around confined spaces. The incident described in the following alert happened some years ago but the lessons to be learned are very valid.

SAFETY WARNING, HACA fixed rail vertical fall arrest.system type 0529.7102..

Thu, 12 May 2011 15:48:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00062 - Warning The fixed rail vertical fall arrest system type 0529.7102 manufactured by the German company HACA Leitern has failed tests under BS EN 353-1:2002, the appropriate standard for such equipment, and a further important test advised by HSE in 2004. HSE advises users to cease use of this particular device as a matter of urgency and consult with your safety adviser and supplier about a safe alternative

Glycol Soaked Insulation Self Ignited

Thu, 12 May 2011 15:45:49 GMT

Alert ID: 00061 - Lagging was removed from the Glycol exchanger and contaminated insulation bagged and placed into sealed drums. Approximately 5 hours later one of the drums was opened to receive further bags of insulation and it was noticed that there was smoke emitting from the bag already there

Wrong Connection of Mud Hose

Thu, 12 May 2011 15:42:35 GMT

Alert ID: 00060 - A mud hose was inadvertently connected to the fuel line on a vessel.

Anchor Handling Injured Party Struck by Tugger Wire

Thu, 12 May 2011 15:38:57 GMT

Alert ID: 00059 - A deck hand was badly bruised when a tugger wire recoiled and struck him on the ankle. However, this incident had the potential for causing a much more serious injury.

Failure to Identify Compressed Gas

Thu, 12 May 2011 15:34:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00058 - During routine checks an Oxygen quad was found connected to a compressor seal system instead of Nitrogen.

Fluid Injection Injuries

Thu, 12 May 2011 15:31:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00057 - Two separate incidents have occured recently, where a person has been injected with hydraulic fluid. In both instances a number of circumstances conspired to create the environment that caused the incident, but a common factor in both incidents was the P-Quip pinlet and adaptor.

Serious injury while using mechanical workshop lathe.

Thu, 12 May 2011 15:22:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00056 - Arm entanglement and fracture whilst using hand held emery tape abrasive for polishing task in workshop lathe.

Hydrocarbon Gas Release Incident Highlights Inspection

Thu, 12 May 2011 15:11:37 GMT

Alert ID: 00055 - A hydrocarbon gas release incident, discovered following a cyclone in Australian waters, has highlighted issues associated with maintenance and testing of inaccessible components of offshore platforms, and preparation for response to potential emergencies.

Tow Pin Incident

Thu, 12 May 2011 15:03:29 GMT

Alert ID: 00054 - During preparations on the main deck for anchor handling operations, a crew member was injured while attempting to bring the port tugger wire down the deck and around the vessel's tow pins.

Cracked Hard Eye on Crane Rope

Thu, 12 May 2011 14:57:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00053 - Cracked Hard Eye on Crane Rope

Pinched Finger Changing Crane Block Falls

Thu, 12 May 2011 14:54:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00052 - During the change-out of a 1.5-tonne crane block from two-fall to a single fall arrangement, a person sustained an injury to the middle finger of their right hand.

Failure to Follow Safe Systems of Work (MoC & QA/QC)

Thu, 12 May 2011 14:49:24 GMT

Alert ID: 00051 - A recent incident involving the failure of a mud pump pulsation damper has highlighted the importance of ensuring that a safe system of work and appropriate management of change is applied to repair and refurbishment work.

Hydrocarbon release - Failure to Follow Safe Systems of Work (PTW

Thu, 12 May 2011 14:44:55 GMT

Alert ID: 00050 - A recent incident involving two hydrocarbon releases from a bleed plug on a test header isolation valve has highlighted the importance of conducting appropriate reviews prior to re-commissioning mothballed equipment and following a Permit to Work (PTW) system.

Jet A1 – Fuel Hose Parted at Pressure Coupling

Thu, 12 May 2011 14:10:53 GMT

Alert ID: 00049 - During a routine helicopter refuelling operation on the helideck, using an Avery Hardoll HUMY 431 A2 BDR pressure refuel coupling, the coupling parted at the centre filter connection when the pilot closed his fuel valve. This resulted in a small quantity (< 3 litres) of helifuel spilling onto the helideck.

Sea Bin Lids

Thu, 12 May 2011 13:59:22 GMT

Alert ID: 00048 - Sea bin was placed in close proximity to other equipment, this along with poor communication and the lack of personal responsibility lead to missed steps in the opening procedure resulting in minor injury to an operative.

Work aloft tool slipped from safety clip and fell 19 metres.

Thu, 12 May 2011 13:55:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00047 - Work aloft tool slipped from safety clip when working at height and fell 19 metres to work area below.

Unsecured Coil

Thu, 12 May 2011 13:31:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00046 - Cladding (transportation straps) was cut from the spool of coiled tubing, there was no chain securing the coil end to the drum, the coil sprung up and became loose on the drum. Individual was struck by the end of the coil tubing prior to it being trapped on the frame.

Hose Parting on Rotabroach

Thu, 12 May 2011 13:27:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00045 - Air hose parted from rotabroach. Two employees working in accordance with workpack and PTW were setting up a magnetic air-powered drill [Rotabroach]. On turning on the air supply, the hose parted from the drill. No harm resulted from this incident. The operator was wearing impact resistant goggles at the time of the incident and the hose had no metal fitting on the end. The Investigation Team agreed that the most reasonable foreseeable potential for harm would be a broken nose leading to a lost time incident.. The operator managed to catch the flailing hose end and call for his colleague...

Dropped Pennant

Thu, 12 May 2011 13:11:33 GMT

Alert ID: 00044 - During cargo handling operations, unloaded wire pennant detatched from headache ball hook.

Radial Cutting Torch resulted in an uncontrolled release of energy at surface

Thu, 12 May 2011 12:59:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00043 - A near miss incident occurred during routine operations to plug and abandon a well. An attempt by a third party company (directly contracted by the operator) to cut the 7” casing using a Radial Cutting Torch (RCT) failed, resulting in a release of energy. No person was injured and the casing was not successfully cut.

Emergency Stop Button – 240 volt electric shock

Thu, 12 May 2011 12:55:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00042 - During an audit, a wall fixing screw for an Emergency Stop button in a workshop area was found to be missing. Whilst pointing this out to an electrician the auditor received an electric shock when he touched one of the case cover securing screws.

Knives on Site

Thu, 12 May 2011 12:51:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00041 - A subcontractor sustained a serious cut to finger which required 5 stitches when carrying out an unauthorised activity (cutting holes in a hose with a personal knife)

Tubulars Trapped Thumb

Thu, 12 May 2011 12:45:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00040 - Whilst bundling 9.5/8 casing a contracted operative attempted to turn the bundle to allow placement on trailer. He placed his right hand on the bundle and the tubulars shifted trapping and crushing the tip of his right thumb. The operative was treated by site first aid personnel and transported to hospital A & E. Subsequent treatment required the surgical dressing of the tip of the thumb.

Waste Cubes

Thu, 12 May 2011 12:40:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00039 - A piece of rusty flat bar discovered hanging from the base of a unit during lifting operations to transfer a "Waste Cube" from one deck to another had the potential to be a dropped object. The vigilance of the deck crew in stopping crane operations prevented a serious incident from occurring.

HWO Failure

Thu, 12 May 2011 12:36:49 GMT

Alert ID: 00038 - An HWO Unit was being used for milling activities on an offshore installation. The mill was picked up off-bottom to alleviate hydraulic motor stalling problems and in an attempt to achieve rotation the string was in the process of being ‘worked’ up and down using the jacks controlled from the work basket while the rotary was controlled from the base of the Unit. Having reached an elevation of approx. +2 metres from its original position, the rotary table accelerated causing attached hoses to bow out under centrifugal force in turn causing significant impact damage to the work basket

Gas Rack Fell From Trailer During Forklift Operation

Thu, 12 May 2011 12:32:08 GMT

Alert ID: 00037 - During forklift loading operations a gas rack was dislodged and consequently fell from a trailer while the forklift was loading another gas rack alongside it. Fortunately controls in place at the Base prohibit personnel to be in the area of danger during forklift operations. These controls, greatly reduced the risk of serious injury therefore only minor asset damage resulted from this incident.

Dropped Object

Thu, 12 May 2011 12:24:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00036 - Whilst transferring a Gun Basket from the supply vessel to the pipedeck of the offshore installation a metal bar approx 28cm long and weighing about 0.5kgs fell about 4 ft to the pipedeck.

Failure of 2 Inch Snowdon High Pressure Air Hose

Thu, 12 May 2011 11:57:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00035 - A Hydrasun Customer returned 10 Snowdon Air Hose Assemblies after 2 of the hoses failed while in service. The hoses were being used at 340PSI and at ambient temperature

Crane wire failure

Thu, 12 May 2011 11:53:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00034 - A crane wire failed during a routine lifting operation. The load, a glycol tank weighing 4.2T landed on a half height basket causing some damage to both the tank frame and the basket. No one was injured during the event

Free Rotation of Composite Flanges During Installation and removal

Thu, 12 May 2011 11:49:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00033 - While re-aligning a section of new 16” pipework, an actuated valve on composite flanges was slackened off to permit movement. The valve rotated on the composite flanges and injured a fitter.

Dropped BOP Cover

Thu, 12 May 2011 11:44:50 GMT

Alert ID: 00032 - During HWO duties offshore a BOP cover was struck and then fell 32ft to the wellhead below. No injury or damage was sustained during the incident. The outcome of the investigation found inadequate design and HAZID process ultimately leading to the incident occurring.

Potential and Actual Dropped Objects

Thu, 12 May 2011 11:41:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00031 - During a recent scaffolding operation a potential dropped object was discovered within a scaffolding tube. This is highly concerning as dropped objects can ricochet outside barriers and cause harm. Recently a scaffold sleeve dropped from a scaffold and travelled 14 m to land outside the barriered area and 1.5 m away from an individual.

Crew Member Fell 14ft

Thu, 12 May 2011 11:38:07 GMT

Alert ID: 00030 - Whilst banking the lift of a helifuel tank at an elevated helifuel bund, a crew member stepped back through the open gate at the top of the vertical access ladder and fell 14ft to the deck below. Although bruised, he was uninjured and, after a precautionary x-ray examination onshore, was fit to return to work.

Casing Hanger and Pup Joint

Thu, 12 May 2011 11:34:08 GMT

Alert ID: 00029 - Casing hanger and casing pup detached from running tool when the assembly was being lifted.

Bulk Hose Flotation Collars

Thu, 12 May 2011 11:30:35 GMT

Alert ID: 00028 - During bulk hose operations at an installation, a hose was sucked into a vessel's propeller.

Mud Skip Safety Alert

Thu, 12 May 2011 11:26:58 GMT

Alert ID: 00027 - While stacking mud skips by forklift truck, two skips were dislodged and subsequently fell over the neighbouring fence landing on top of two parked cars. No injuries occurred, however both vehicles were extensively damaged and there was an environmental spill.

Potential Dropped Object

Thu, 12 May 2011 11:23:40 GMT

Alert ID: 00026 - Potential Fatality, near miss

Breaking of Flanged Joints & Migration Of System Contents

Thu, 12 May 2011 11:20:28 GMT

Alert ID: 00025 - Whilst swinging a spectacle blind during reinstatemnet of the closed drains system on the completion of modification works, oily water and oil was released from the flanged joint. This resulted in a spill to deck and subsequently to the sea.

Hydrocarbon release

Thu, 12 May 2011 11:15:58 GMT

Alert ID: 00024 - Investigation of a hydrocarbon release incident resulted in improvements to an offshore installation’s corrosion management system. This alert summarises the lessons that should be learned by other oil and gas operations in their corrosion control arrangements.

Fatal accident during lifting operations within a main crude tank on an FPSO

Thu, 12 May 2011 11:06:13 GMT

Alert ID: 00023 - On the 6th of January 2007 the industry experienced the tragic loss of a colleague offshore on an FPSO in the UK sector of the North Sea. Another colleague sustained an injury to his arm.

Contact with live LED casing on Victor Emergency Light Fitting

Thu, 12 May 2011 11:00:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00022 - Whilst carrying out routine maintenance on a Victor Emergency Light fitting, an Electrical Technician received a minor electric shock.

Unintended Firing of Flare Ignition Shotgun

Thu, 12 May 2011 10:56:28 GMT

Alert ID: 00021 - Unintended Firing of Flare Ignition Shotgun When the shotgun barrel was closed it immediately discharged. The cartridge struck the deck grating and was deflected below. No damage was caused by the discharge but the potential for harm and damage was high.

Pipeline Construction - Transportation Failure

Thu, 12 May 2011 10:52:10 GMT

Alert ID: 00020 - A truck driver had just arrived at location to deliver a pipe layer tractor. He unchained the pipe layer and had started moving the unit towards the trailer's beavertail. Eyewitnesses observed the pipe layer teetering, the driver suddenly standing up at the controls, followed by the machine shifting sideways appearing to lose control, then tumbling and overturning onto ground on the ditch side of the road, fatally injuring the driver who had unsuccessfully tried to jump clear from the tumbling machine.

Uncontrolled extension of Top Drive Link Tilt

Thu, 12 May 2011 10:48:40 GMT

Alert ID: 00019 - Uncontrolled extension of the Top Drive Link Tilt causing elevators to strike the derrickman working on the monkey board resulting in a Lost Time Incident

Inergen Failure

Thu, 12 May 2011 10:39:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00018 - A fire within the enclosure of a gas turbine was caused as a result of hot air escape from the turbine bleed air line leading to ignition of lube oil and diesel in the base of the skid. The Fire and Gas/Shutdown system tripped the turbine and initiated the Platform GPA, closed the turbine enclosure dampers and initiated Inergen discharge as per the cause and effects design intent.The fixed suppression system (Inergen) was activated during as per the sequence of executive action from the shutdown system and appeared to operate as intended as observed from the main Control Room. Following...

Failure of anchor winch shaft

Thu, 12 May 2011 10:13:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00017 - During running of anchors from MODU, failure of main winch shaft resulted in uncontroled payout of anchor chain, brake system managed to stop chain before complete loss. Significant damage to winch resulted.

Contact with Live Low Voltage Switchboard

Thu, 12 May 2011 10:06:19 GMT

Alert ID: 00016 - During connection of a new HVAC system to the low votage switchboard, for which a third party Company had been contracted, one of the engineers made contact with a live busbar and received burns to his hands and face from the resultant flashback.

Offshore lifting operation HIPO

Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Alert ID: 00015 - A steel frame structure weighing approximately 4000kgs was being transferred from a floating accommodation installation to a fixed platform when the lifting arrangement failed resulting in the load being dropped to the deck in close proximity to two deck crew. The deck crew sustained minor injuries whilst moving to avoid the falling object however the potential for serious injury was significant.