Equipment
Scaffold
Temporary access and working platforms assembled from structural components.
Documents
- 202613 Feb
BSEE: Miscommunication and trapped pressure causes injury during valve maintenance
An offshore valve-maintenance incident injured a worker when trapped gas pressure ejected a bonnet flange. This flash summarises BSEE findings on incomplete authorisation, inadequate isolation verification, miscommunication, unsafe scaffold use and omitted retaining nuts. Recommendations emphasise confirming zero stored energy, reviewing task assessments, following manufacturer instructions and considering two-person working.
- 20253 Dec
BSEE Safety Alert - 509 - Miscommunication and Trapped Pressure Causes Injury
An offshore contractor was injured when trapped gas pressure ejected a bonnet flange during control-valve maintenance. The alert identifies unverified isolation, missing authorisation, miscommunication, unsafe scaffold use and omitted retaining nuts. Recommendations address zero-energy verification, collaborative job safety analysis, operational support, fall protection and adherence to manufacturer procedures.
- 202427 Feb
Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) hit protruding scaffolding on a supply vessel
A crew transfer vessel struck scaffolding protruding from an anchored offshore supply vessel, damaging a railing without injury. The master underestimated the projection and vessel swing, while repeated transfers were treated as routine. The flash calls for a more comprehensive risk assessment addressing protruding objects and continuous swing.
- 202211 Mar
Fatal fall from collapsing scaffolding on a merchant vessel
A sailor died after scaffolding and a crane maintenance platform collapsed aboard a merchant vessel. Seriously corroded securing bolts failed under load, while his harness lanyard snapped. The flash identifies shortcomings in risk assessment, supervision, scaffold configuration, work instructions, harness maintenance and training.
- 202114 Jan
Structural response to fire and explosion
Guidance sets out expectations for demonstrating offshore installations’ structural resilience to fire and explosion. It addresses accidental loading, critical elements, temporary refuges, fire partitions, post-explosion door performance and escape tunnels. Particular considerations include floating structures, safety gaps, scaffolding congestion, passive fire protection and combined-operation safety cases.
- 202028 Sep
Unsafe lifting operations
Two vessel lifting interventions concern a winch frame beneath scaffolding being dismantled and a metal structure offered for loading without available lifting certificates. The flash discusses conflicting activities, an unsafe partial-lifting and rolling method, weather-related haste, lift planning, equipment colour coding and checks before and after work.
- 202023 Jun
Fall from a height into a ballast tank
A welder helper fell through a tween-deck opening while accessing work inside a vessel’s ballast tank. The flash identifies inadequate route assessment, job-specific permit shortcomings and a late team change. It describes safer access, revised confined-space risk assessments, retraining and renewed emphasis on stop-work authority; the cause of the fall remains unknown.
- 202018 Jun
Safety Alert 389 - Fatality Caused By Freefalling Pipe Underscores the Need to Adhere to Safety and Environmental Management Systems & Safe Work Practices
A contractor died when manila rope parted while lowering a cut firewater pipe on a Gulf of Mexico facility. The alert examines deficient task analysis, scaffolding arrangements, supervision and hazard communication. BSEE recommends operators consider stronger training, safe-work compliance, stop-work intervention and safety documents in languages workers understand.
- 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.
- 2018Aug
Life-Saving Rules (IOGP Report 459)
Introduces nine revised Life-Saving Rules for oil and gas workers, supported by analysis of reported fatalities from 2008–2017. Explains organisational conditions for implementation, leadership commitment, ongoing engagement and integration with existing management systems. Provides guidance on hazardous activities, work authorisation, energy isolation and personal safeguards.
- 201811 Jul
Preventing unauthorised access onto scaffolding and other work platforms
HSE alert addressing public access to construction scaffolds, particularly by children, and associated falls from height. It sets out site assessment, perimeter and local fencing, bottom-lift ladder removal and ladder-guard requirements. It also addresses scaffold contracts, security reviews and maintaining designated fire escape routes from occupied buildings.
- 201629 Nov
Lifeboat launch capability compromised
This safety flash describes scaffolding erected for subcontractor access around a lifeboat’s aft winch chain. A worksite visit identified an opening too small for the winch block and a supporting pole beneath the boards, both of which would have hindered launching or descent.
- 20152 Oct
Dropped object near-miss: Lifting
Twelve lightweight steel plates fell during transfer to a vessel work platform, landing in a barricaded area without injuries. The flash identifies restricted receiving space, inadequate supervisory planning, mixed plate sizes in one load, deficient risk assessment and failures in the pre-job toolbox talk.
- 201521 Jul
Extendable Scaffolding Loading Bay Gate - use of cable ties to secure loose mesh and unsafe means of operation
HSE warns that some extendable scaffold loading bay gates provide inadequate containment and expose workers to falls during opening. It describes loose telescopic mesh, interim stainless steel cable-tie securing, inspection requirements and rear-operated opening options. Manufacturers are expected to improve designs; acceptance of cable ties as an interim measure ends in December 2016.
- 20144 Jun
Crewman struck by dropped object
A crewman ascending a scaffold access ladder was struck on the arm by a swivel coupler, with no injury found on medical examination. Its origin remained unknown. The flash discusses unsuitable buckets used to lower scaffold materials, poor storage near ladder access, stopping work and reinforcement of suitable lifting equipment.
- 20144 Jun
Crewman suffered first aid injury during cutting operations
A crewman injured his right inner thigh when a hand grinder slipped during pipe bevel cutting. The investigation identified unsuitable scaffold adjustment and unstable positioning, despite fitted safeguards and correct PPE. Corrective actions addressed equipment and personnel positioning through training, toolbox talks and provision of a suitable working platform.
- 201421 Apr
Equipment Shift During Rig Up Results in Near Miss
During rig-up, crane adjustment of a substructure half moved the box tops apart while centre steel was being installed. A previously positioned BOP scaffold came off its track and fell approximately 3.7 metres. Two employees on the scaffold were tied off overhead; their fall-protection equipment worked as intended and neither was injured.
- 201323 Sep
Incidents involving use of scaffolding
Four scaffolding incidents concern pipe damage during a hydraulic hammer test, a crewman tripping while carrying an angle bar, alteration of scaffold support without competent inspection, and leftover boards smouldering above an exhaust line. Lessons address workplace risk assessment, clear or marked walkways, avoiding scaffold modification and removing materials after work.
- 201315 Feb
Lost time injury (LTI): Fall from height leading to multiple fractures
A worker dismantling hanging scaffolding in a construction yard fell 16 m when a dropper slipped through loose couplers, sustaining multiple fractures. The flash examines inadequate planning, supervision and coupler checks, and recommends independent fall-arrest anchorage, inertia reels where needed and checks of safety-critical coupler tightness.
- 201315 Feb
Near-miss: Scaffolding collapse
This safety flash describes a scaffolder falling after a supporting vertical tube slipped through its coupler. Nearby workers could not tighten the connection in time. An inertia reel harness arrested the fall, while the scaffolder retained the tube and remained suspended over water for approximately seven minutes.
- 201311 Jan
Scaffolding safety
A scaffolder dismantling scaffolding outboard of an offshore platform fell after a dropper slipped through a loose coupler. An inertia reel harness arrested the fall. The alert discusses absent check couplers, unsuitable rescue equipment ratings, expired certification, anchor suitability, scaffold inspections and job-specific rescue planning.
- 201214 Nov
High potential near-miss: Dropped object
During tensioner platform removal, a worker inadvertently kicked a cut angle bar from scaffolding. It fell 11 m, landing approximately 1.5 m from four crew members. The flash identifies inadequate competence, unsecured material and absent barricading, and describes corrective measures for securing loose materials, restricting access and assuring worker competence.
- 201220 Oct
Hidden Welding Lead Results in Minor Electrical Shock
An alert describes an electrical shock during scaffold assembly inside a boiler, with welding and blasting taking place concurrently. A builder’s hammer contacted a concealed welding cable. The scaffold post contacted exposed wire, allowing an electrical arc to reach a brace held by another builder, who received an electrical jolt.
- 201119 Jul
Near-miss: Personnel almost caught between crane house and scaffold pipe
An NDT inspector narrowly avoided being trapped between a slewing crane housing and scaffolding after inspecting welds. A deck supervisor intervened to stop the crane. The flash identifies failures in operator notification, guarding, lockout and tagout, initial instruction and toolbox communication, alongside an ineffective last-minute risk assessment.
- 200826 Feb
Fall from Scaffolding Results in Employee Injury
An alert describes two employees climbing scaffold handrails to connect a mud bucket drain hose beneath a rig floor. Both secured lanyards to handrails. A scaffold section overturned, pulling one employee approximately 15 feet to the ground and causing serious injuries; the other avoided falling by grasping nearby air lines.
- 20053 Jan
Dropped objects from scaffolding
This flash describes incidents involving tools left inside scaffold tubes, including a metal spike falling 7–8 feet and narrowly missing a scaffolder during dismantling. It attributes the problem to forgotten temporary storage and recommends capping tube ends, reminding personnel not to store items in tubes, and removing tools after tasks.
- 20043 Apr
Failure to Use Fall Protection Results in High Potential Incident
A scaffolding foreman removing temporary sea fastenings fell through an opening to a deck 13.5 m below after a spanner slipped, fracturing his pelvis. His safety line was unsecured. The account describes replacing planned scaffolding with harnesses, with the change agreed by a construction supervisor but not followed up with permit authorities.
- 20043 Jan
Fall Results in Serious Injury
A scaffolding foreman fractured his pelvis after a spanner slipped while removing temporary sea fastenings on a platform skid beam. He fell towards a deck 13.5 m below, striking a support beam. The work had changed from scaffold access to harness use without follow-up discussion with permit authorities.
- 20032 Jul
Fatality: Fall from suspended work platform
A worker died after falling from approximately 18 metres through a gap in a suspended modular scaffold. Plywood intended to bridge the gap was found on the floor. Contributory factors included missing scaffolding training, a supervisor’s assumption of safety, poor communication between subcontractors and an unrecognised walkway barrier.
- 2002Dec
Safety warning after contact made by river cruiser with bridge repair scaffolding
This MAIB bulletin describes Nottingham Princess striking bridge repair scaffolding on the River Trent and becoming pinned by a strong current. Passengers were evacuated with emergency services assistance, with minor injuries reported. Recommendations call for navigation authorities and passenger craft owners to assess risks where temporary structures constrain navigable passages.
- 20021 Jul
Warning signs not respected
An electrician bypassed scaffold prohibition signals aboard a semi-submersible crane vessel while accessing a J-lay tower to install lighting. The unsecured scaffold overturned, causing a 13.8 m fall and arm and leg fractures; scaffold pieces injured another worker. Corrective actions included toolbox talks, clearer signs and immediate dismantling of unnecessary scaffolds.
- Undated
Arm Injury During Temporary Scaffold Handrail Installation
An investigation records a left-arm injury while an employee erected temporary scaffold handrails around a deck hatch. His jacket caught on a bolt as he stepped over a rail, and his unsuccessful attempt to grasp the handrail hyperextended his arm. He was placed on restricted duty; the district made no recommendations.
- Undated
Worker Injured After Climbing Out-of-Service Scaffolding Ladder
BSEE investigates a leg and ankle injury after a worker climbed an out-of-service scaffolding ladder on a platform off Texas. Findings address unstable ladder construction, absent status markings, fall-arrest equipment deficiencies and fragmented contractor work planning. The report also examines delayed medical evacuation and recommends revisiting Safety Alert 469.
- Undated
Technician Struck by Bonnet Assembly During Control-Valve Maintenance
A valve technician was struck by a bonnet assembly during control-valve maintenance on Grand Isle 47 AP platform and fell onto the scaffold deck. The investigation examines unidentified trapped gas pressure, isolation verification, unsigned work authorisations, unsafe scaffolding and absent fall protection, alongside manufacturer instructions for retaining bonnet fasteners.
- Undated
Lever Hoist Broke and Dropped Part During Crane Boom Raising
An investigation examines a crane incident on the Nansen Spar involving lever hoists connecting scaffolding to the crane boom. Raising the boom broke a hoist, dropping part approximately 30 feet. Findings address communication, simultaneous operations and inspection arrangements; operator corrective actions cover anchor-point approval and crane inspections.
- Undated
Falling Strong Back Struck Worker During Water-Injection Line Demolition
An investigation examines a falling strong back during water-injection line demolition on an offshore platform. The support fell approximately 24 feet while being installed by one worker, injuring another worker’s head and face. Findings discuss two-person installation, access restrictions, overhead protection and awareness of workers above and below.
- Undated
Scaffolding Foreman Fell onto Platform Boat-Dock Grating
An investigation records a scaffolding foreman’s unwitnessed fall onto platform boat-dock grating from an unknown height and location. It describes medical treatment and evacuation, his later account of crossing scaffolding, and absent protective equipment. Recommendations address contractor supervision, handbook compliance and fall protection when working at height.
- Undated
Contractor Falls into Water During Scaffolding Removal
A contractor removing scaffolding from a production deck stepped onto an unsecured plank and fell about 35 feet into the water without being properly tied off. The report records minor injuries and identifies inadequate tie-off and plank securing, recommending continuous tie-off where falling is a danger, secured planks and additional training.
- Undated
2020-001 WC 215 Investigation of February 17, 2018, Fatality West Cameron Block 215 Platform “A”
Investigation of a fatal pipe impact during removal of redundant firewater piping at West Cameron 215 platform. A manila rope parted while pipe was being lowered from scaffolding. The report examines rigging, scaffold deficiencies, hazard analysis, supervision and stop-work failures, and recommends broader lift planning and scaffold policies.
- Undated
Contact made by river cruiser Nottingham Princess with repair scaffolding on bridge
Nottingham Princess struck repair scaffolding at Trent Bridge during a night-time river cruise. High water produced fast, confused flow, while scaffolding narrowed the navigable arch. The synopsis records passenger and crew injuries, evacuation arrangements and recommendations concerning river works, navigation information and risk assessment of vessel hazards and lifesaving provision.
- Undated
Equinor – Hammerfest LNG – investigation of gas leak
Investigation of a cooling-medium leak during insulation removal at Hammerfest LNG. The report examines an unusual left-hand-threaded bleed plug, incomplete valve closure, gas-detector positioning and impairment, and emergency intervention. Leakage lasted about 6.5 hours. Findings address equipment training, operating documentation, trapped pressure and response arrangements.
- Undated
Equinor – Hammerfest LNG – investigation of incident involving fall from scaffolding
Havtil investigates a worker’s 4.4-metre fall during formwork scaffold assembly at Hammerfest LNG, resulting in serious leg and knee fractures. The report examines unsuitable and unsecured fall-arrest equipment, absent working platforms, inadequate risk assessment and training, and contractor oversight. It distinguishes deficient rescue preparation from an effective emergency response.
- Undated
Equinor – Mongstad – investigation of personal injury and steam escape
Investigates a steam release during drainage of boiler low points at Mongstad. An operator escaping the steam fell or slid about four–five metres, sustaining minor torso injuries and a sprained ankle. HTO and Five Whys analysis identified shortcomings in risk assessment, hose securing, work planning and information transfer following a personnel change.
- Undated
Equinor/Beerenberg – Mongstad – investigation of incident where a person fell from scaffolding
Investigation of a serious scaffolder injury at Mongstad after a fall from about 23.5 metres. It examines a detached ledger used for harness attachment, material maintenance, mixed-manufacturer components, work planning and contractor oversight. Findings address collective fall prevention, practical competence and rescue arrangements, alongside organisational and contractual contributors.
- Undated
Fall Prevention Fact Sheet - English
This fact sheet presents fall-prevention measures for roof, ladder and scaffold work. It covers connected harnesses, protected openings, equipment inspection, ladder selection and positioning, and scaffold access, planking and guardrails. Planning, suitable equipment and training underpin its practical messages for construction workers.
- Undated
Norske Shell - Nyhamna - Investigation following incidents involving falling objects
An investigation reviews follow-up of falling-object incidents during Shell’s Nyhamna expansion project. It examines company investigation requirements, fall-energy classification, work permits and sharing of lessons. Case analyses include scaffolding components and a concrete hose. Improvement points concern coordinated procedures and underlying-cause analysis; no regulatory non-conformities were detected.