Crewmember suspended above deck by lifting equipment

What happened

On a CTV (Crew Transfer Vessel), a crew member’s work restraint lanyard became entangled in a hook and wire sling, and the crew member was lifted off the deck. The incident happened during lifting operations offshore at a wind turbine. A deckhand and trainee deckhand were both on deck receiving a load of four lifting bags, attached by a three-leg wire sling. The trainee landed the load, detached the load from the slings, and signalled the crane operator to raise the lifting equipment. As the hook and wire sling raised, it became entangled within the trainee’s work restraint lanyard, and he immediately gave the signal to emergency stop. The crane operator neither saw nor heard the signal, so the trainee was lifted from the deck. The trainee’s weight freed the entanglement, and the crew member fell unharmed between 1 to 2 metres onto a group of lifting bags on deck. 

Why did it happen

Our member noted the following:

• The crew member’s lanyard was worn in a loose position where it could become easily snagged;
• The crew member was too close to the lifting equipment when it was raised, without a tag-line or holding onto the equipment to guide it free of entanglement;
• The crane operator neither saw nor responded to the emergency stop signal.

The potential consequences of a major injury or worse were present had the crew member been lifted higher, outboard of the vessel, or without a cushioned landing.

Lessons learned

• Ensure that lanyards are properly secured and are kept away from entanglement / entrapment hazards, such as lifting accessories, moving parts, etc.;
• Ensure that all lifting accessories are fully clear of any potential snagging points, including the path of any lifting accessories, before instructing the crane operator to raise the equipment;
• Step away from any lifting accessories or manually guide any lifting accessories away from you before signalling a lift, to prevent any snagging;
• Never assume that someone will be aware of a hazard, especially less experienced colleagues – always speak up and be prepared to STOP THE JOB;
• Always ensure that clear lines of communication are open during the lift and during the recovery of rigging equipment;
• Always pay attention during a lifting operation, even where there is no load or the lift is underway, and the lifting accessories are believed to be clear of obstructions.

Members may wish to refer to:

• Snagged load, a sling snaps, dropped objects: persons injured
• Man overboard from anchor handler tug