Notice
No. 10
April
16, 1993
During repositioning of a sand bin with a crane on a Pacific Outer Continental Shelf
Region (POCSR) platform recently, two of the pad eyes broke and one end of the bin fell
and punctured holes in the platform deck. In addition, there have been a number of rigging
failures during cargo transfers between supply vessels and POCSR facilities during the
last few years, some of which resulted in cargo losses overboard. To prevent recurrences
of these types of accidents, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) has identified safety
measures to be followed:
1. When bins or other containers are moved by crane, operators should ensure that the
stresses on the pad eyes, due to (1.) the weight of the bin and its contents, (2.) the
configuration of the slings, and (3.) the dynamic offshore conditions, do not exceed
design capacity for the pad eyes. The design criteria, with applicable safety factors,
must be taken into account along with any visible corrosion or weakening of critical parts
of the transfer containers.
2. With respect to the rigging failures, operators must follow the measures specified
in American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice for Operation and Maintenance of
Offshore Cranes, API RP 2D, which is incorporated by reference into MMS's regulations at
30 CFR 250.20, Safe and workmanlike operations, (c) Crane operations. The sections on
handling, attaching, moving, and holding the load are particularly pertinent to this
matter.
Our Safety Alert Notice #8, dated January 28, 1993, entitled "Lifting
Operations," highlighted the measures relevant to a fatal accident involving a load
which dropped due to a parted sling.
