Crane Inspections

The Bureau National PINC List and Guidelines Book utilized by the offshore inspectors contain 20 specific crane PINC’s. These PINC’s and Guidelines were created by Bureau, and more specifically by the National PINC Review Team. These PINC’s conform with the requirements found in 30 CFR 250.120(c) and Third Edition of API RP 2D.

The workgroup conducted a query of the TIMS database to see how many Incidents of Noncompliance (INC) were issued from January, 1995 through August, 1998. The results of this query shows that a total of 165 crane related INC’s were issued during this time period. As Attachment 2 illustrates, only 12 of the 20 available PINC’s were cited. The most frequently cited PINC was PINC G-201, which is primarily a records PINC. In fact, with the exception of PINC G-204, all of the recorded crane INC’s listed in Attachment 2 are associated with record keeping. This is not an unusual finding. With the variety of safety inspections expected to be performed in a very limited time, record checks on cranes are not only considered a legitimate type of inspection, but sometimes the only means of inspection. Aside from obvious deficiencies that may be found during a physical inspection of a crane, the Bureau Inspectors must rely on the integrity of the operator and the accuracy of their required paperwork associated with qualified crane inspections and personnel training.

Unfortunately, there will probably always be cases where a breakdown of this integrity exists, such as the crane mishap investigated by the Bureau Camarillo District Office around the first part of 1998. After an initial investigation was conducted, several INC’s were issued and subsequently the Pacific Region filed a civil penalty against the operator. This operator had a substantial record of noncompliance over a span of about 18 months. The action initiated by the Camarillo District is still partially under appeal, however, this effort is an ideal example of how an investigation should result in the necessary action to gain attention to ongoing concerns with safety, and more specifically, with safety involving cranes.

Our workgroup was recently informed that during the third week of October, 1998, the the Bureau PINC Review Team will meet to discuss several PINC inspection categories. Because of the increase in incidents involving offshore cranes, the PINC team will include a portion of their agenda to discuss in detail what, if any, recommendations the Bureau should submit to the API committee regarding the revision or improvement of API RP 2D.

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