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  Wilbon Rhome

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   OEMM Web Team

In October 1998, MMS issued a report on 34 crane incidents that occurred in the period of 1995 to October 1998. In that report, the crane workgroup made five recommendations for improving the safety of crane operations. This update discusses the actions taken on those five recommendations in the past year as well as lists the crane incidents that have occurred since September 1998.

Recommendations from Workgroup

Request API to revise API RP 2D. As a result of the Report, MMS requested API to revise API RP 2D, Third Edition, June 1, 1995, Recommended Practice for Operation and Maintenance of Offshore Cranes, (a document currently incorporated into our regulations) to include rigger training. API formed a work group, which included an MMS representative, and revised the document.

In March 2000, MMS published a technical amendment (65 FR 15862) to update and reaffirm various documents incorporated by reference under section 30 CFR 250.198. These included MMS inspection criteria for cranes and other material handling equipment, and for the training of riggers, crane operators, and inspectors according to the American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 2D, Fourth Edition.  On April 1, 2001, MMS started checking for compliance with rigger training requirement according to API RP 2D, Fourth Edition.

When this page was last updated in 1999 MMS was considering the possible incorporation of SPEC 2C, the Fifth Edition of API's Recommended Practice Specification for Offshore Cranes. On February 14, 2003, MMS published a final rule (68 FR 7421) incorporating API Specification 2C, Fifth Edition, into MMS regulations.  API Spec 2C, Specification for Offshore Cranes Fifth Edition, April 1, 1995, will establish detailed requirements for the design and construction of new pedestal mounted cranes for fixed OCS platforms. It will provide a uniform method of establishing rated loads for cranes. This rule also requires lessees to equip all existing cranes installed on fixed OCS platforms with anti-two block safety devices.

Require third party inspections/certifications. Although this recommendation has been seriously debated in past conferences and workshops MMS is not on board with this recommendation.

Review the need for regulating booms and other material-handling equipment. MMS will add a new requirement to the regulations that requires lessees to operate and maintain all other material-handling equipment in a manner that ensures safe operations and prevents pollution. MMS expects that this requirement (contained in the Final Rule for Subpart A) will be published in the Federal Register in November or December 1999. This new requirement will be found at 30 CFR Part 250.108(f).  Additionally, MMS is currently drafting a rule to address this requirement in more detail― this rule will incorporate standards e.g., API, ASME, ABS, etc. That addresses our material handling concerns, whatever is not addressed in these standards will be written out in the rulemaking process.

Improve accident investigations and reports. MMS is taking the following actions to improve its accident investigation program:

	Developing new accident reporting requirements in conjunction with USCG to provide clearer accident reporting thresholds;
	Developing guidelines with USCG for coordinating accident investigation responsibilities and data sharing;
	Improving internal accident forms and database management procedures;
	Established the Office of Safety Management in the Gulf of Mexico Region;
	Developing a better method for tracking and ensuring follow up of accident investigation recommendations; and
	Developing a strategy for publicizing more accident data and analyses.

On July 8, 2003, MMS published a proposed rule for incident reporting in the Federal Register.  The comment period closed in early December, and MMS is currently working with the USCG to review the comments and finalize an incident reporting regulation.  Through this effort, MMS will work with the USCG to better coordinate incident investigations and data sharing.  To help MMS improve incident investigations and analysis of incident data, MMS is completing the development of a crane and materials handling database and a questionnaire for inspectors and engineers to use during the investigation of crane and material handling incidents.

Industry/MMS workshop on crane safety. MMS has conducted and participated in several workshops since 1998 the most recent industry/MMS sponsored activity was the Offshore Crane Operations and Safety Conference 2003, held in Lafayette on June 25, 2003.

Table of Contents

Crane accidents from October 1998 through October 1999

MMS has identified 13 offshore crane incidents (plus 2 serious incidents involving the use of booms or other materials-handling equipment) for this time period. Three incidents resulted in a fatality in each incident. The first fatal incident occurred on October 19, 1999, when a diverter being lifted by air hoists struck the controls of another set of air hoists. The Texas deck, which was controlled by the second set of air hoists, shifted and pinned a welder against conductor pipe. The second fatality occurred on October 27, 1998, when a crane operator was killed after the crane pedestal failed. The crane was handling an anchor. The last fatality involved the drowning of a diver on August 29, 1999. The diver was being lowered into the water when a sheave on a hoisting boom failed. The sheave failure caused the diver to come in contact with the platform and damaged the diver’s aqua suit.

Crane incidents continued to injure people working in or around offshore cranes. Seven injuries occurred during the 13 incidents. Most of the injuries were broken bones. The injured included 2 riggers, 1 crane operator, 2 riders in a personnel-basket, and 2 workers not associated with the crane activities.

Damages from these incidents ranged from no damage to major. The most significant damage occurred on December 3, 1998, when the cable on a derrick barge failed during the installation of a large production module. The module damaged the barge and then sank to the seafloor where it will not be recovered. Five incidents caused varying degrees of damages to cranes or crane booms. And loads were also damaged or lost when they were dropped on 4 occasions.

Human error and equipment failure continued to play a role in most of the accidents. These categories were listed as the cause of 9 of the 13 crane incidents. They were also listed as the cause of the 2 materials-handling equipment incidents.

Crane Incidents From October 1998 To October 1999

* Incident involved air hoists or other-materials handling equipment

** MMS suspended the investigation after USCG took over jurisdiction

*** USCG is lead agency on this investigation

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Last Updated: 07/15/2008, 07:39 AM