The Federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (“BSEE”) issued a new safety warning on fall hazards following recent inspections that it conducted on offshore rigs and platforms throughout the Gulf of Mexico.
Overhead and Dropped Objects are a Leading Cause of Offshore Accidents and Injuries
Dropped overhead objects are a well-known hazard and leading cause of injuries while working offshore. These incidents generally occur because the loads aren’t properly secured during overhead moves and lifts.
The injuries most commonly associated with dropped or falling objects include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries, including cervical and lumbar disc herniations
- Head injuries
- Fractures
- and, in some cases, death
Falling objects can also result in structural damage, which causes combustible hydrocarbons to escape, ignite and explode.
BSEE Inspectors Visited 20 Offshore Oil Rigs and Platforms in the Gulf of Mexico
According to the Bureau of Safety & Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), agency inspectors visited approximately 20 offshore oil rigs and platforms along the Gulf Coast from June 1, 2021, to June 11, 2021.
The inspections revealed that a majority of the offshore operations lacked specific training requirements to prevent dropped objects and other overhead fall hazards.
The inspectors also found
- an absence of and failures in barrier management programs
- incomplete and deficient JSAs and other safety assessments
To reduce the hazards associated with dropped objects at offshore drilling operations, the BSEE recommended that owners and operators:
- Develop a Dropped Objects prevention strategy and action plan
- Conduct regular inspections on slings, hooks, lines, and equipment used to transport equipment on and above the rig floors
- Develop training requirements for workers involved with and exposed to overhead transfers
- Implement JSAs to fully account for the risk of dropped and fallen objects during overhead transfers lifting
- Utilize the Management of Change process for new equipment and changes to work procedures
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