Control
Exclusion Zones
Defined areas separating personnel from hazardous operations or energy paths.
Newest 100 Documents
All 296 in search- 202625 Jun
Serious injury to a crew member on board the scallop dredger Jacoba (BM77)
Investigation into serious crushing injuries aboard Jacoba during scallop dredging in the English Channel. A winch-operated main beam was lowered while a deckhand worked beneath it to clear snagged gear. The report examines inadequate task-specific risk assessments, snag-clearing procedures, familiarisation, crew certification and oversight, and recommends improvements to fleet safety management.
- 202621 May
Man overboard from the potting vessel Wilaya (M36) with the loss of 1 life
Investigation of a fatal overboard incident during pot deployment on Wilaya near Jack Sound. A rope bight caught the deckhand’s leg, dragging him into the sea; attached gear overcame his flotation device. The report examines crew–gear separation, risk-assessment implementation, safety training, inspection shortcomings and casualty recovery.
- 202614 May
High Potential Near Miss: Dropped object due to contact with crane sheave
A vessel crane near miss involved a DP beacon striking sheave protection bars, detaching with its holder and falling to the deck. Nobody was injured. The flash examines wire-mounted attachment, absent secondary retention, unconsidered management of change and inadequate access controls, highlighting crane limits and third-party equipment coordination.
- 202626 Mar
Fatal accident to a crew member on board the roll-on/roll-off cargo vessel Laureline
Investigates a crew member’s fatal crushing between a reversing trailer and Laureline’s structure during cargo operations at Purfleet. CCTV review and scene inspection informed analysis of driver–crew communication, danger-zone definitions, training and supervision. The report examines procedural weaknesses, subsequent safety actions and recommendations for an industry vehicle-deck code of practice.
- 20263 Mar
BSEE: Falling corroded crane component results in near miss
A corroded crane boom cable runner fell approximately 16 m during maintenance on an offshore platform, landing approximately 6 m from personnel. The flash describes outstanding inspection repairs, incomplete hazard identification and absent barricades, with lessons on inactive equipment, dropped-object controls and workforce involvement in pre-job planning.
- 20263 Mar
Dropped object: falling shim plate while lowering A-frame
A shim plate fell 15 m onto a crane cabin roof while a vessel’s A-frame was being lowered. The unsecured plates had remained in place through dirt and corrosion. The flash examines earlier modification and maintenance, missing hazard analyses, subsequent securing, and checks for components affected by changing crane inclination.
- 202613 Feb
Fall from height during mooring due to rope tension reaction
A tanker’s propeller caught a mooring rope, loading a jetty dolphin platform until the line parted. The platform recoiled and a kneeling worker fell onto a lower platform about 1.8 metres below, sustaining minor scratches. The flash examines barrier design, body positioning, communication and keeping clear of tensioned lines.
- 202622 Jan
Dropped GRP cover during subsea lifting
A GRP manifold cover detached during subsea relocation and dropped approximately 7 m, without injury or damage to the manifold or bottom structure. Findings identified excessive loading during a crane mode transition and erroneous lifting-rod calculations. Revised lift planning removed the mode switch and used deployment lifting points; keeping divers clear prevented potential serious injury.
- 20255 Dec
Falling Corroded Crane Component Results in Near Miss
A corroded crane boom cable runner fell approximately 50 feet during maintenance on an offshore platform, landing approximately 20 feet from personnel. The alert identifies uncompleted inspection repairs, incomplete hazard identification and absent barricading, and recommends considering improved job safety analysis, supervision and maintenance follow-through.
- 202517 Nov
Stay in the right place – the importance of personal positioning
Two events illustrate unsafe personal positioning: a seafarer approached a deck edge during berthing to improve visibility, and workers pushed a suspended load during lifting alongside. The flash discusses communication, barriers, hands-free lifting tools, keeping outside load impact zones, clear decks and stopping unsafe work.
- 202510 Jul
Man overboard from creel fishing vessel Nista (LK121) with loss of 1 life
Investigation of a fatal overboard accident involving Nista’s lone skipper during creel shooting near Luing. Entanglement in the back rope pulled him underwater. The report examines deck layout, personal flotation, alarm access, self-recovery and risk assessment, and discusses outstanding industry recommendations on single-handed fishing safety guidance.
- 20254 Jun
BSEE: Failure to identify and restrict access to faulty gratings
A worker installing a pump supported himself on nearby piping when corroded grating beneath scaffolding boards failed. Previously installed barricades had been removed to allow work. The flash highlights checks on surface integrity, protection of openings and clear expectations for rigid barricades restricting access to unsafe areas.
- 202516 May
Person injured when unsecured grating gave away
A worker securing sea-fastening lashings slipped through unfinished walkway grating beside a Multiple Reel Drive System, sustaining shoulder discomfort and leg abrasions. The hot-work subcontractor had been redirected before completing installation. Lessons address assessing risks from unfinished work, communicating its status, barricading access and checking worksite safety.
- 202516 Apr
USCG: Hazardous Zone Markings and Safety Protocol Awareness
This flash summarises a USCG alert about a fire aboard a tri-fuel vessel. A failed purge valve actuator released LNG vapours near crew working above the pilothouse; a lighter ignited the fumes, severely injuring both crewmembers. Recommendations emphasise clear hazardous-zone markings and crew awareness of hazardous-area conditions.
- 20253 Apr
Incidents occurring during decommissioning
This safety flash compiles decommissioning incidents involving offshore structures, lifting and diving work. Cases include falling loads, damaged rigging, structural collapse, chemical exposure and underwater burning. It summarises breaches of selected life-saving rules and records a riser recovery incident in which personnel remained clear of the lifting area and escaped injury.
- 202519 Mar
LTI: rope under tension moved and hit person’s hand
A crew member sustained serious finger injuries when a tensioned winch rope jumped a slipway side during equipment recovery to a vessel. The flash identifies sea-induced movement, an unrecognised hazard area and unsuitable vessel design, and describes revised work instructions, a recovery no-go area and task redesign.
- 20257 Mar
BSEE Safety Alert 497 - Weather Creates Sudden and Unpredictable Risks
BSEE describes a wave-related femur injury on a deepwater drilling rig and further adverse-weather incidents involving personnel transfers, vessel collision and lost dynamic positioning capability. Recommendations address weather-dependent access restrictions, communication of unusual hazards, suspension of non-critical work and assessment of medical evacuation capabilities during adverse conditions.
- 20256 Mar
BSEE Safety Alert - 496 - Misidentification of Corrosion Hazard Results in High Potential Event
A worker installing a pump at a Gulf production facility supported himself on nearby piping when corroded grating gave way beneath scaffold boards. Previously installed barricades had been removed. The alert recommends facility walkthroughs, secure restriction of unsafe areas and review of safe work practices governing barricades.
- 202520 Feb
Near miss: narrowly avoided fall from height due to missing deck gratings
A Chief Engineer narrowly avoided a 4–5 m fall through a missing mezzanine grating during docking. Worksite barriers had been removed after machinery lifting, while a secondary ladder access remained unprotected. The flash examines overlooked access routes, delayed grating replacement and the yard’s subsequent emphasis on vigilance in task planning.
- 20256 Feb
Confined space entry hot work fatality
A welder died after entering a pipe to check welding in a shipyard. The flash identifies shortcomings in entry restrictions, supervision, communication, procedures and assessment of argon-related risks. Actions included barriers and signage at specified pipe openings, revised restricted-space procedures, and additional inert-gas input to risk assessments and work permits.
- 20256 Feb
MAIB: Parted mooring rope leads to fatality
A deck officer suffered fatal head injuries when a mooring line parted during strong winds alongside a container vessel. Released tension lifted a bight aboard, rather than snapping the rope end onto the forecastle. The flash discusses snap-back zones, possible arrestors and a campaign encouraging crew to challenge unsafe positioning.
- 202421 Nov
Mooring deck accident on bulk carrier Mona Manx with loss of 1 life
Investigation into a fatal mooring accident aboard Mona Manx at Puerto Ventanas, Chile. An entrapped spring line released under tension during an engine-powered astern manoeuvre and recoiled upwards, striking the second officer. The report examines procedural gaps, omitted entrapment risks, safe positioning and communication, and records subsequent safety actions.
- 202411 Nov
BSEE: person fell through open hatch
A worker injured his leg and knee after falling through a hatch opening whose damaged cover had been removed. This flash summarises BSEE findings on situational awareness, fall protection and hazard communication, alongside measures operators and contractors should consider, where appropriate, including barricades, safety gates and spotters.
- 202411 Nov
Dropped object – wooden packing block
During pipelaying, a wooden packing block weighing approximately 1 kg travelled with the pipe into the tower, then fell more than 10 m onto a workstation floor without injury. The flash examines inadequate dropped-object barriers and pipe-deflection gaps, recommending suitable barrier design and personnel separation while warning against risk normalisation.
- 20247 Nov
Crush incident on board ro-ro cargo vessel Clipper Pennant with loss of 1 life
Investigates the fatal crushing of a bosun during semi-trailer loading aboard Clipper Pennant in Liverpool. Reconstructions examined restricted driver visibility and trailer positioning. Analysis addresses unsafe corner-stowage workarounds, a walkway inside the vehicle lane, conflicting duties, inadequate risk assessments and ineffective incident learning, with recommendations for coordinated vehicle-deck procedures and driver standards.
- 202424 Oct
Dropped sheave and clump weight
During wind turbine monopile installation, a clump weight was hoisted into a sheave, breaking it and dropping both components onto the deck. No injuries occurred, but equipment damage and a hydraulic oil spill resulted. The flash highlights simultaneous winch operation, inadequate observation, absent automatic stops and lessons on lift oversight and stopping unsafe work.
- 202419 Mar
MSF: Chemical handling – eye burn
A biocide splash from a hose during pneumatic pump checks reached a person on the deck below, causing a small eye burn despite safety glasses. The flash identifies inadequate risk assessment and missing access safeguards, and calls for relocation of chemical transfer, review of assessment and renewed toolbox discussion.
- 202419 Feb
Unauthorised entry into confined space
During barge repairs involving welding and grinding, subcontract personnel entered a confined space without authorisation. A stand-by person intervened and work stopped; nobody was harmed. The flash identifies inadequate barriers, hazard awareness and supervision, and describes strengthened access controls, contractor engagement, permits and training requirements.
- 202412 Feb
MSF: Two dropped object incidents
Two vessel incidents involved a metal wedge falling 13 m during gangway pin removal and a lightning rod falling 26 m onto deck. The flash examines unsecured items, access to drop zones and rod fittings, describing tethering modifications, improved barriering guidance and planned maintenance checks.
- 202425 Jan
Fingerboard Locking Bolt Failure Leads to Near Miss Incident
A drilling-rig near miss involved six pipe stands falling from a fingerboard during cement line pressure testing. Investigators identified adverse weather and poor fingerboard design as main causes. The alert describes improved bolt retention and recommends that operators consider inspections, secure pipe racking, manufacturer updates and Red Zone management where required.
- 202425 Jan
Safety Alert-Fingerboard Failure Leads to Near Miss
Six pipe stands fell from a drilling rig fingerboard during cement-line pressure testing, with nobody on the rig floor. Investigators identified adverse weather and poor fingerboard design as main causes. The alert describes an enhanced locking arrangement and recommends considering bolt inspections, improved securing mechanisms and Red Zone management where required.
- 202422 Jan
Day Signal mast broke off and fell to deck
A vessel’s aluminium Day Signal mast broke off during deteriorating weather, with a 35 kg part falling 16 m to the main deck. Nobody was harmed; deck access had been restricted. Actions included additional securing wiring, dropped-object survey inclusion, and review of deck-closure procedures and mast inspection arrangements.
- 202318 Dec
Line of fire near miss during lifting operations
A banksman narrowly avoided a structure being landed on a vessel’s back deck; an adjacent container was damaged. Inadequately spaced bumper bars allowed load rotation and were wrongly relied upon for personnel protection. The flash discusses exclusion zones, unassessed changes and differences between planned and actual work.
- 20236 Dec
LTI: Gangway collapsed
A gangway collapsed during departure from vessels alongside in a shipyard, fracturing both of a person's heels. Scaffolding obstructed complete gangway removal during engine tests. The flash identifies absent barriers, signs, watchkeeping and lighting, and recommends better communication, crew supervision and secure restriction of hazardous access.
- 202313 Nov
High potential near miss: Dropped Paraguard stretcher during drill
During a rescue drill in a crane pedestal, a 12 kg Paraguard stretcher fell approximately 50 m after the descending cable was connected to the dummy’s harness rather than the stretcher. Nobody was injured. Lessons address equipment-specific rescue planning, attachment arrangements, team familiarity and exclusion of personnel from the potential drop area.
- 20232 Nov
Pedestrian Injuries from Sikorsky S-92A Downwash During Hospital Landing
Investigates fatal and serious pedestrian injuries caused by downwash during a Sikorsky S-92A landing at Derriford Hospital. Examines approach planning, public access, risk assessments, warning signs, staff competence and hospital–operator coordination. Reviews landing-site guidance and sets out recommendations and safety action addressing risks beyond the landing-site boundary.
- 202316 Oct
Unprotected openings in floor grating – work stopped
Grating removal on a horizontal lay system exposed an opening through which someone could have fallen. Work was stopped without injury or dropped objects. The flash identifies underestimated height risks, absent work authorisation and unclear instructions, and describes supervision improvements and assessment of accessible lifting points to avoid removing grating.
- 202312 Sep
BSEE: Hazards to Personnel During Lifting Operations
This safety flash summarises BSEE examples of workers pinned or struck during offshore lifting. It presents recommendations on barricading hazardous areas and measures operators and contractors should consider, including careful tagline handling, suitable rigging, clear escape paths, weather monitoring, stopping uncontrolled lifts and maintaining communication.
- 202329 Aug
Fatality during transfer of pipes
This safety flash reports a fatality during pipework transfer between a quay and a vessel, with local authorities still investigating. It highlights suspended-load exposure, crush areas and sudden load movement, and recommends access barriers, securing loads against rolling and controlled drop zones adjusted for possible deflection.
- 202329 Aug
Red Zone Hazards Pose Increased Risk to Personnel During Lifting Operations
This alert describes three offshore lifting incidents involving workers struck or trapped by moving loads. It recommends restricting access to red zones and asks operators and contractors, where appropriate, to consider careful tagline handling, suitable rigging, clear escape paths, weather monitoring, stopping uncontrolled lifts and maintaining communication.
- 20233 Aug
High potential: dropped chain assembly
A 2.3 kg chain assembly fell 10 m during lowering, grazing a worker’s helmet without injury. Wind displaced a soft sling, whose fibres prevented the hook latch from locking. The flash highlights unsafe positioning, poor visibility and absent communication, recommending correct rigging placement, clear lifting areas and supervision.
- 20233 Aug
MSF: Person injured falling between decks
An off-duty client representative fell approximately 2 m between decks on an AHTS vessel alongside in port, sustaining multiple injuries. A raised grating edge was a possible trip hazard; the safety chain’s prior position remained uncertain. Actions included replacing chain barriers with gates or railings and improving restricted-area identification and inductions.
- 202313 Jul
Serious finger injury in power operated watertight sliding door
A crew member lost balance as a vessel rolled and trapped his right middle finger between an opening powered watertight door and the bulkhead. The flash describes deficiencies in hazard communication and protective arrangements, and reports an enforced no-go zone during door operation.
- 20231 Jul
LTI – Crew person cracked shin bone
An engineer fractured his tibia after taking a shortcut around stairs where maintenance obstructed access to a control panel. He struck the stairs, lost balance and hit his ankle on a valve. The flash highlights maintenance-related access hazards, risk assessment, communication, signage, physical barriers and stopping unsafe work.
- 202320 Apr
Dropped spanner falls 15 m
A spanner detached from its tool lanyard during hydraulic hose replacement outside protective netting and fell 15 metres to a deck. Nobody was injured. The flash examines worn carabiner threads, unauthorised additional work and barrier weaknesses, and describes actions on inspection, maintenance, work limits and dropped-object exclusion areas.
- 202320 Apr
Equipment damage: Dropped object from tiltable lay system
During tensioner function testing, a door struck a seized bracket on an open inspection manhole gate, causing the 10.5 kg bracket to fall approximately 16 m. Exclusion barriers prevented personnel exposure. The flash highlights incomplete repairs, unrecognised clash hazards and failure to formally report earlier damage.
- 202320 Apr
Near Miss: Personnel nearly struck by rotating chain attached to flexible pipe
During a production flexible’s second-end transfer, residual torsion caused the pipe and an attached 16.5te chain to rotate, nearly striking two crew members. The flash identifies task inexperience, language barriers and procedural omissions, and discusses rigging removal, translated task documentation and restricted access to the pipelay system’s top module.
- 202310 Mar
Overhaul Ball Crashes to Deck Resulting in High Potential Near-Miss Fatality
During decommissioning and well abandonment, a snagged wedge socket released a 700-pound crane headache ball, which fell 24 feet near a rigger. The alert examines misleading load indication and blind-lift communications. BSEE recommends considering snag-point assessment, secondary slack detection, verified load movement, toolbox discussions and safe-zone planning.
- 202327 Feb
Compressor fire
A rented diesel-driven screw compressor caught fire aboard a diving support vessel. An electrical short circuit damaged cable insulation; radiant heat compromised an oil scavenger line, releasing oil that ignited. No injuries occurred. The flash discusses maintenance testing gaps, pre-mobilisation checks, equipment assessments, fire suppression and deck positioning.
- 20239 Feb
High-potential near miss: Uncontrollable movement of auxiliary whip line
A vessel crane near miss involved uncontrolled auxiliary-line movement during start-up following water damage to its encoder. The wire parted, ejecting the block and hook before they fell to the deck; nobody was harmed. Lessons address encoder replacement, crane inspection, hook storage and revised procedures, risk assessments and personnel barriers.
- 2023Jan
Hydrogen Sulfide Release
This fatality alert describes hydrogen sulphide poisoning that killed a worker responding to a pump alarm and, later, his spouse at an oil production facility. It examines defective gas detection, missing detector-use policies, inadequate isolation arrangements and visitor access, alongside recommendations for lockout/tagout, ventilation assessment and detection-system assurance.
- 202221 Dec
Dummy hot stab ejected during leak investigation
A pressure-test near miss involved an incompatible dummy hot stab ejecting from its receptacle while personnel stood nearby but outside the direct line of fire. The flash identifies missing retention, undocumented work controls and inadequate barriers, and recommends secure compatible fittings, safe-distance exclusion zones and depressurisation before investigating leaks.
- 202221 Dec
Kuraray Pasadena Release and Fire
Investigation of an ethylene release and fire during reactor startup at Kuraray’s Pasadena plant, injuring 23 workers. It examines unsafe atmospheric pressure-relief discharge, disabled interlocks, alarm flooding, conflicting operating instructions and restricted flare use. Recommendations address safe discharge design, worker exclusion, operating limits, training and independent process safety assessment.
- 202223 Nov
Connection failure during lifting operation
A tugger-line splice opened while a Vibro Lifting Tool was being positioned on a windfarm installation vessel. No injuries occurred, and an exclusion zone kept personnel clear. The flash discusses possible contributing factors, including unengineered connections and splice quality, alongside actions addressing competence, inspection, maintenance and suitable shackles.
- 20224 Jul
LTI – Struck when anchor wire end pulled free of drum clamps
A crew member suffered skull fractures when an anchor wire whipped over a winch drum during wire replacement. Vessel movement tensioned the wire connected to a shoreside spooler; stoppers failed and loosened clamps released the end. The flash examines inadequate risk assessment, stopper arrangements and missing safety chains, stressing better planning.
- 202218 Apr
Barricades and Fall Protection Will Help Prevent Injuries Even Without Open Holes Visible
This alert describes two incidents involving deteriorated deck grating: a contractor fell into water and another worker partially fell through grating. BSEE recommends that operators and contractors consider barricading suspect areas even without visible holes, using fall arrest equipment, preparing job safety analyses, communicating hazards and invoking stop-work authority.
- 20228 Apr
Riggers struck/trapped by pipe section
This safety flash describes riggers struck by a suspended pipe moving sideways during transfer to a pipelayer conveyor, with one trapped against a handrail and suffering a back fracture. Findings address crane slew, supervision and conflicting positioning instructions. Lessons emphasise confirmed communications, clearly defined safe positions and maintaining awareness during repetitive work.
- 2021Oct
Wheeled loading shovels
This safety notice addresses fatal vehicle–pedestrian collisions involving wheeled loading shovels, particularly in waste and recycling. It examines restricted visibility and larger buckets, emphasising strict pedestrian segregation while camera systems remain unproven or unavailable. It also discusses transport risk assessments, visibility aids, daily checks, driver training and enforcement of site rules.
- 202114 Sep
BSEE Identifies Dropped Object Hazards during Risk Based Inspections
BSEE summarises risk-based inspections addressing dropped-object hazards in offshore production and well operations. Findings highlight weaknesses in prevention programmes, hazard hunts, training, lifting analyses and restricted access. Operators and contractors are encouraged to consider targeted inspections, documented findings, dedicated training and management-of-change triggers for new equipment or structures.
- 202119 Aug
Crane contact with pipelay tower resulting in dropped object
During a vessel lifting operation, a crane struck pipelay tower guardrails, detaching a section that fell approximately 22 m without injury. Preliminary findings identify distractions, restricted visibility and unfamiliarity with clash points. Actions address drop zones, collision hazards in inductions and risk assessments, and additional spotters where applicable.
- 202118 Aug
LTI – ankle injury caused during lifting operation
A crew member fractured an ankle and fibula after stumbling while holding a steering line during a rotating jacket lift. The investigation identified an exclusion-barrier breach, insufficient line length and an impractical alternative tugger arrangement. Actions address rigging-team participation, steering-line checks and verification of engineered tugger arrangements before offshore operations.
- 202111 Aug
BSEE Inspector Nearly Falls Through Unsecure Grating
A BSEE inspector fell to knee level through loose well-access grating, sustaining minor abrasions. Engineering review identified unsuitable construction, loosened connections and inadequate structural loading analysis. The alert recommends that operators and contractors consider barricading unsafe areas, removing specified angle-iron platforms and ensuring professionally engineered access structures.
- 202130 Jul
Acetylene quad fire on quayside
An acetylene cylinder quad caught fire on a quayside during vessel demobilisation involving removal of sea-fastenings by welders. No injuries were reported. The flash describes emergency response, cylinder puncturing, evacuation and cooling, and recommends pre-use inspections, appropriate quad storage and review of emergency procedures. Causes remained under investigation.
- 202116 Jun
Dropped object during lifting operations
During tensioner-pad replacement on a vessel’s tiltable lay system, a lifted basket struck the crane boom and an 8.5 kg pad fell approximately 15–18 metres to deck. Nobody was in the exclusion zone. The flash examines unsecured loads, inadequate task-specific risk assessment and lift planning, recommending basket covers, secure doors and sea-state-aware routing.
- 20212 Jun
UK HSE: Employee in a port suffers life changing injuries in clamp truck incident
A port employee suffered injuries requiring leg amputation after being struck by a five-tonne clamp truck in a paper reel shed. The flash describes unsafe pedestrian–vehicle interaction, inadequately reviewed supervisory activities and missed learning from earlier incidents. HSE recommends separating pedestrians through physical barriers or clear, well-supervised safe systems of work.
- 202111 May
Crush incident on scallop dredger Olivia Jean with loss of 1 life
Investigates a fatal head injury aboard scallop dredger Olivia Jean during attempts to free snagged dredge gear. The engineer was probably struck by a towing bar swinging inboard. Analysis examines deck supervision, restricted winch-operator visibility, language barriers, training, risk reassessment and weak safety management, alongside subsequent actions and recommendations.
- 20216 May
Swedish Club: Lessons learned – crew member loses leg in mooring injury
A crew member lost a leg after becoming trapped between a rapidly paying-out mooring line and a fairlead. The lines sank and caught in the propeller. The flash examines how a bight around a bollard expanded the snapback zone and highlights the need to reassess mooring risks for each operation.
- 202116 Apr
BSEE: Crewman fell to his death through faulty grating
This safety flash summarises BSEE findings on a fatal platform fall in the Gulf of Mexico in 2019. A production operator fell through corroded grating into the sea. It highlights deficient walking surfaces, hazard communication and barricading, alongside failures in operator–contractor safety-management bridging arrangements.
- 202116 Apr
Life raft dropped to the jetty
During securing-strap replacement, a crew member released the middle life raft while a crane held the topmost raft. It fell approximately 10 metres onto the pier, damaging its container without injury. The flash identifies inadequate risk assessment, unmarked straps, unclear responsibilities and absent drop-zone barriers, and calls for clearer task allocation.
- 20218 Apr
Dropped object – Crane auxiliary block dropped from crane boom
A vessel crane’s 30 kg auxiliary block fell approximately 30 metres onto the main deck during preparations for load and rock testing. Double blocking and failed overload protection were identified. The flash discusses permit controls, restricted deck access, daily crane checks and banksman positioning, including additional spotters where applicable.
- 202130 Mar
Dropped object – Steel deck plate falls from pipelay tower
A steel deck plate fell 9 m during pipelay tower inspection on a vessel in dry dock. Corroded, incorrectly specified bolts and inadequate support were identified in an undocumented modification. Nobody was hurt; barriers protected the drop zone. The flash recommends routine inspection of elevated plates and fixings, and controlled equipment modifications.
- 202122 Mar
Marine Riser Drops to Drill Floor
A riser joint slipped from a Running Riser Tool during transport to the drill floor and fell onto it. The alert records visual inspection and verification of locking before lifting, alongside a positive proximity-switch indication to drilling control. No personnel were in the red zone.
- 20219 Mar
BSEE Safety Alert 416 - Investigation into Grating Failure Fatality Reveals Deficiencies
An operator disappeared during routine production-platform work and was never found. The investigation identified weak grating, delayed repair, inadequate barricading and failures to communicate known hazards. Recommendations address rigid barricades, distinct hazard communication, contractor bridging agreements and reviews of unsupported surfaces and modified work zones.
- 20214 Mar
Line of fire: deck tugger wire failure
During back-fill plough recovery, a chain sling failed under increasing tension and recoiling rigging narrowly missed deck personnel. The flash identifies unclear communication of a changed hauling method, uncertain operational responsibilities and failure to follow safe-zone requirements. Actions address toolbox talks, procedural compliance, management of change and shared understanding of tensioned-line hazards.
- 202124 Feb
Hazards Identified in Level I Surveys not Communicated to Affected Personnel
BSEE describes platform inspections revealing structural deterioration already recorded in Level I Surveys but not communicated to visiting personnel. Cases include collapsed helideck skirting and unsecured well-deck grating. Operators are urged to consider disseminating findings, tracking structural issues to closure, marking compromised access areas out of service and barricading hazards pending repairs.
- 202111 Feb
Rigging failure during riser recovery – soft slings parted
During riser recovery at sea, a 3.8-tonne section fell approximately 2.5 m onto the deck after sharp deadman-anchor edges cut its soft slings. Personnel remained behind barriers. The flash recommends wire rope slings, subject to a risk-assessed exception, and consideration of rounded anchors or welded pad eyes.
- 20218 Feb
Fall from Platform Results in a Fatality
Two employees fell approximately 80 feet into the ocean when a cementitious moisture-barrier layer shattered during platform galley floor repairs; one later died. With its investigation ongoing, BSEE recommends that operators and contractors consider checking similar designs for danger and barricading work areas to restrict access.
- 202119 Jan
Dutch Safety Board: Fatality when mooring line snapped
This safety flash summarises a fatal mooring-line recoil aboard RN Privodino while entering a lock. It examines transfer between winch drums while the vessel was moving, communication failures and restricted supervision. Lessons address vessel positioning before tensioning lines, supervisors’ workload and changing snap-back danger areas.
- 202119 Jan
Near miss: uncontrolled movement of mooring chain
A near miss during vessel chain laying involved uncontrolled movement of heavy bottom chain after a circulation pump tripped and the chain lifter lost holding force. The flash identifies incomplete safety systems, inadequate project-specific preparation and missing barriers, with lessons on documentation, technical safeguards, training and familiarisation.
- 20206 Dec
Man overboard incident (not fatal)
A rigger fell overboard while sea-fastening oversized spools in port at night, passing through a temporary chain barrier where bulwarks had been removed. Colleagues rescued him unharmed using life buoys and a pilot ladder. The flash highlights rigid edge protection, adequate lighting and alternative protection when permanent safeguards are removed.
- 20209 Oct
Dropped object – Wireless crane control unit
A wireless crane controller fell almost seven metres through a hatch after its waist-belt buckle failed. Two riggers remained outside the dropped-object exclusion zone. The flash recommends securing-mechanism inspection and planned replacement, reinforces pre-use checks, and calls for consideration of secondary retention and review of hatch kick boards.
- 20207 Oct
Grating Failures Cause a Fatality and a Serious Near Miss
This alert describes two grating failures in May 2020: a contractor died after falling 30–40 feet, while an electrician caught himself and was assisted to safety. BSEE recommends considering structural inspections, marking and barricading suspect areas, repairs or mitigation, facility-level fall protection practices, worker discussions and pre-operation job safety analysis.
- 20204 Sep
Dropped Object from Derrick
Part of a seized guide sheave fell approximately 15 m onto a drilling vessel’s drill floor while drill pipe was being run. Nobody was injured. The flash identifies design, installation, inspection and retention shortcomings, and describes changes to preventative maintenance, contractor reporting and protected standing areas within revised red zones.
- 20206 Jul
Leg entanglement from tag line during cargo operations
A safety flash describes an AB’s leg becoming entangled in a tag line as a container was lifted from a vessel alongside a rig. Another AB radioed for the load to be lowered. The account identifies limited situational awareness and omission of clear-deck policy from the cargo-operation risk assessment.
- 202023 Jun
Crewman fatally injured while standing on the stern ramp of Seatruck Progress
This safety flash summarises MAIB findings on a fatal semi-trailer strike on Seatruck Progress’s stern ramp. A port tractor was pushing the trailer ashore while the officer used a mobile telephone. It highlights obstructed driver visibility, distraction, absent vehicle–pedestrian segregation and missing ramp monitoring controls.
- 202023 Jun
Fall of a suspended load on general cargo vessel ZEA Servant injuring 2 crew
Investigation into injuries to two crewmen aboard ZEA Servant in Campbeltown when hatch cover lifting gear snagged and its fibre sling failed under overload. The report examines unsuitable stowage, sling condition, crew positioning within the fall zone, and missing task-specific risk assessment and lift planning. Company actions prompted no recommendations.
- 202012 Jun
Serious injury caused by high-pressure washer
A supervisor suffered a thigh laceration during cleaning of a vessel thruster grating on a dock floor with a 250 bar water jet. Unexpected lance kick-back led the operator to turn and spray him. The flash highlights missing barriers, access restrictions, supervisory positioning, operator competence and pressure-rated protective equipment.
- 202010 Jun
Accident on the stern ramp of the ro-ro freight ferry Seatruck Progress with loss of 1 life
Investigates a third officer’s fatal injury during trailer discharge from Seatruck Progress at Liverpool. Analysis examines obstructed driver visibility, mobile telephone distraction, ineffective warnings and absent pedestrian segregation. Reconstruction and CCTV review inform findings on ship–shore traffic control, generic risk assessments, procedures and safety culture.
- 202022 May
Fall from the quayside into water
A contract worker fell approximately three metres from a quayside into water while slinging a palleted water bag. Substitution of a shorter-reach ROV crane without reassessment placed the load near the edge. The flash describes sling release, loss of balance and self-rescue, emphasising change management, situational awareness and third-party briefings.
- 202031 Mar
Chain hoist failure resulting in a serious near miss
An electric chain hoist failed while lifting a 400 kg charge air cooler during vessel engine maintenance, dropping the load two metres. Internal brake corrosion impaired load holding despite current inspection records. The flash describes inadequate unloaded testing, personnel remaining in safe zones, expanded maintenance scopes and annual overload-device checks.
- 20206 Mar
High potential LTI: Rigger ear injury
A rigger removing temporary rigging aboard a vessel suffered partial severing of his left ear after moving crane access ladders trapped his head against a railing. The flash identifies shortcomings in awareness, communication and modification assessment, and sets out actions addressing access barriers, dynamic risk assessment and documented management of change.
- 202012 Feb
Safety Alert 376 - Rig Floorman Pinned by Moving Equipment
A rig floorman suffered a major lost-time injury when an Iron Roughneck control panel pinned him against a guide roller assembly after its travel switch failed to return to neutral. BSEE recommends considering design and layout changes, checking control functionality, evaluating proximity switches and delineating unsafe operating areas.
- 202030 Jan
Near miss during helicopter operations
A crew member removed a helideck access chain during helicopter boarding and passed beneath the tail rotor despite a shouted warning. No injury occurred. The flash examines passenger judgement, access supervision and ineffective readiness checks, and recommends clearer boarding routes, passenger briefings and consideration of human factors in safety-system design.
- 202017 Jan
Cargo shift and damage to vehicles on board ro-ro passenger ferry European Causeway
European Causeway’s heavy rolling in the North Channel caused inadequately secured freight vehicles to shift and topple, damaging 22 vehicles. The investigation examines sailing decisions, passage planning, chain lashings and drivers remaining in cabs. It identifies insufficient heavy-weather securing guidance and recommends specific fleet-wide instructions.
- 201925 Jul
Mattress beam landed very close to divers
A mattress lifting beam was lowered dangerously close to saturation divers recovering concrete mattresses on the seabed. The flash identifies lost visual monitoring, poor visibility and failure to stop work. Follow-up checks addressed load separation, diver–crane communications, ROV monitoring, beam visibility aids and incident reporting.
- 201916 Jul
Near miss: Dropped magnet during dry docking
During dry docking, a magnet securing fire protection fell 32 m from scaffolding while the protection was adjusted during hot work. No injuries or damage occurred. The flash identifies absent secondary retention and barriers below the worksite, and calls for identifying equipment used at height and suitable dropped-object controls.
- 201918 Jun
Three fatalities: Stored energy; Falling objects; Traffic management
This flash summarises three fatal workplace incidents involving a whipping concrete delivery hose, collapsing plastic bale stacks and reversing mobile plant. It reports failures in exclusion-zone enforcement, contractor oversight, secure storage, risk assessment and pedestrian–vehicle segregation, and points members towards related IMCA safety materials.
- 201929 May
Safety Alert 351 - BSEE Identifies Rig Operations Hazards during Risk Based Inspections
BSEE summarises performance-based risk inspections of 11 Gulf of Mexico rigs following a review of 2016–2018 compliance and incident data. Findings address contractor communication, emergency drills, short-service employees, fitness for duty, safe zones, fall protection, grounding and man riding. Recommendations focus on reviewing procedures and strengthening equipment integrity arrangements.
- 201928 May
Dropped load – water
During an inter-deck lift aboard a vessel, bottled water fell approximately 11 m after the load struck an intermediate bulk container. Nobody was injured; the area below was barricaded. The flash identifies inadequate lift planning and recommends reviewing slinging, securing and stores positioning to minimise lifts at sea.
- 201913 May
Weight dropped to the seabed narrowly missing diving bell
A winch wire trapped during preparation to launch an air-diving recovery system parted, dropping a 300 kg clump weight near a saturation diving bell and deployed divers. No injury or equipment damage occurred. The flash identifies missing pre-use checks, restricted drum visibility and loose-wrap design issues, recommending checks, visibility and drop-zone identification.