Subsea chain lever hoist failure
- Safety Flash
- Published on 16 February 2007
- Generated on 26 December 2024
- IMCA SF 01/07
- 2 minute read
IMCA has received a report of a near-miss resulting from a failure of a chain lever hoist being used in a subsea operation.
What happened?
The hoist had a safe working load (SWL) of 3 tonnes and was in use for the first time underwater. It was reported to be in correct usage, loaded correctly and rigged such that it was inverted, with a load of about 2 tonnes suspended from the hook on the block casing. The weight was subsequently removed from the hook and the unit left in hoist mode.
Subsequently, a load was again hung off the unit and a diver later attempted to lower it. He switched the hoist to lowering mode and started to move the lever. As he did so the load dropped, the free chain running through the unit; and the brake eventually engaging, but not before it had dropped about 0.75 metres. It then operated satisfactorily in hoist mode.
All usual safety procedures had been followed and there were no injuries or significant damage to equipment.
The unit was immediately withdrawn from service and is currently undergoing extensive tests along with other similar chain lever hoists.
The company involved reminded users of its safety procedures, the importance of risk assessments, lift plans, not working under suspended loads, avoiding single point failures and the use of secondary back-up rigging.
What were the causes?
Members are warned that no certain cause for this failure has yet been identified and to take great care when using chain lever hoists.
Investigation continues and, while no conclusions have as yet been made, orientation of the lever hoist has not been discounted as a contributory factor. Therefore, in addition to the previous precautions, another company has also instructed its employees that lever hoists should not be used in the inverted position during lifting operations; that loads should not be transferred from a lever hoist direct to a crane hook or vice versa without the load first being laid down in a suitable safe and stable location; and that particular attention should be paid to the slack chain to ensure that the chain does not bind or catch on any part of the lever hoist or adjacent equipment, during either lifting or pulling operations.
IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.
The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.
All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.
IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.
The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual's or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.
Share your safety incidents with IMCA online. Sign-up to receive Safety Flashes straight to your email.