Notice No. 8
                                                                                                    January 28, 1993

LIFTING OPERATIONS

During a recent lifting operation on the rig floor of a Pacific Outer Continental Shelf Region platform, one of the nylon slings being used parted and the load dropped and fatally injured a floorhand. To prevent a recurrence of this type of accident, the Minerals Management Service has identified safety measures to be followed:

1. Slings need to be protected from any sharp edges on their loads, e.g. with wear pads. Careful consideration of the lift must be made, especially when the load contains sharp edges, like the whipstock tool being lifted in this case.

2. All personnel must be kept clear of suspended loads and cautioned against walking under such loads.

3. In the interests of safe and workmanlike operations and to help guard against persons walking under loads being lifted, the view(s) of the personnel operating the hoisting equipment must not be obstructed.

In the case at hand, both a crane and air tugger (air-operated hoist) were used to make the lift; the air tugger operator's view of the lifting operation was obstructed by drill collars and pipe.

As is frequently the case in such matters, many of the precautions inherent in safe and workmanlike operations would appear to be common sense, but they bear repeating and emphasizing because of the tragic results that can come about due to a lapse of attention or judgment.

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