Fatality: Fall from rig of a container
- Safety Flash
- Published on 1 April 2003
- Generated on 26 December 2024
- IMCA SF 03/03
- 2 minute read
We have received a report of an incident where a man died when a refrigerated container fell from a mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) to the sea.
What happened?
The MODU was a jack-up drilling rig, jacked up in drilling operational mode. The container had been previously lifted from a supply vessel and placed on an elevated purpose-built landing platform. The container was longer than the landing platform, with the back of the container (which contained the refrigeration unit) overhanging the back of the landing platform.
Supplies were being unloaded from the container on the MODU at the time, with a worker inside the container passing the food cargo to personnel outside. As the unloading progressed, with load being removed from the front of the container, it appears that the centre of gravity changed, causing the container to tip backwards onto the deck below and then to the sea. The worker inside the container died as a result.
The company involved has re-emphasised the importance of ensuring that the potential risks associated with any containers (full, empty or partially full), whether or not they are supported and/or fully secure, should always be fully assessed and any concerns arising addressed.
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.