Update to Finds and Recommendations of the Crane Accident Workgroup

Last October Bureau 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. The Bureau is currently preparing a Final Federal Register notice incorporating the new edition of API RP 2D, Fourth Edition, August 1999, Recommended Practice for Operation and Maintenance of Offshore Cranes, into our regulations (including rigger training). At this time, Bureau’ goal is to have a final rule published in the Federal Register no later than January 2000.

Require third party inspections/certifications. The Bureau has not examined this recommendation; however, this will be a topic at the workshop the Bureau plans to hold on the safety of offshore crane operations. The workshop is tentatively scheduled for the first quarter of 2000. However, the Bureau is considering the possible incorporation of SPEC 2C, the Fifth Edition of API's Recommended Practice Specification for Offshore Cranes. The Bureau is currently preparing a proposed rule to incorporate SPEC 2C by reference into our regulations governing oil and gas and sulfur operations in the OCS. The addition of API SPEC 2C will ensure that lessees and contractors use the best available and safest technologies for design, construction, and testing of pedestal mounted cranes while operating in the OCS.

Review the need for regulating booms and other material-handling equipment. The Bureau 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. The Bureau 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(b).

Improve accident investigations and reports. The Bureau 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.

Hold Industry/Bureau workshop on crane safety. The Bureau will hold a workshop on the safety of offshore crane operations in the near future. The Offshore Technology Research Center will run the workshop and it is tentatively schedule for the first quarter 2000. The Bureau will also hold a panel discussion on the safety of crane operations at the Information Transfer Meeting (ITM) in New Orleans on November 30, 1999. The Bureau will use the panel discussion to help identify the topics for the workshop.

Crane Accidents from October 1998 through October 1999

The Bureau 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 equipement

** MMS suspended the investigation after USCG took over jurisdiction

*** USCG is lead agency on this investigation