Topic
Falls from Height
People falling from elevated positions or into openings.
Newest 100 Documents
All 403 in search- 202628 Jul
Man overboard from the bulk carrier World Prize with the loss of 1 life
This investigation examines a bosun’s fatal fall into the sea during combination-ladder rigging on World Prize. It analyses normalised unsafe practices, ineffective supervision, permit compliance, incompatible flotation and harness equipment, and radio shortages. Pilot-boat recovery capability and training gaps are examined alongside subsequent corrective actions; no recommendations were made.
- 202628 Apr
Failure of moonpool railing system caused man overboard situation in moonpool
A degraded removable railing post failed when a crew member lost balance beside a moonpool. They caught a guidewire and were rescued with a boathook, sustaining a dislocated shoulder. The flash examines inspection omissions, unclear responsibilities and ineffective hazard follow-up, recommending secured barriers, preventive maintenance and pre-task assessment of barrier failure.
- 202615 Apr
Death of seafarer due to fall from crane cabin
A seafarer cleaning a cargo crane cabin on an anchored vessel fell 12 m to the deck and died. The investigation identified probable window seal failure following removal of protective grating. Possible corrosion and glass weakening are discussed, alongside lessons on barrier integrity, structural inspection, routine-task risk assessment and warning signage.
- 202617 Mar
Failure of A-frame fold-down platform
A hinged A-frame platform failed during sheave-block load checks aboard a vessel alongside for mobilisation, leaving a crew member suspended in their harness with minor injuries. The flash identifies missing cotter pins, hinge design flaws and galvanic corrosion, alongside omitted change management, scheduled maintenance and platform inspections.
- 2026Mar
Personal Safety (USCG)
US Coast Guard inspection questions address personnel safety on manned and unmanned OCS platforms. They link protective equipment, housekeeping, deck guarding, lifesaving provision, escape arrangements and emergency drills to regulatory authorities and enforcement actions. Individual entries carry update labels, including March 2026 changes to escape and survival equipment checks.
- 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
Fall from a pilot ladder while attempting to board the cargo vessel Finnhawk from the pilot vessel Humber Saturn with loss of 1 life
Investigation of a fatal pilot boarding accident involving Finnhawk and Humber Saturn. A probable cardiac event preceded the fall, while recovery-platform failure left the injured pilot partially immersed for over 40 minutes. The report examines medical fitness assessment, hydraulic defects, maintenance, cold-water protection and rescue training.
- 202622 Jan
Some positive findings and good practices
This flash presents four positive marine safety observations: thorough safety-zone entry checks on a PSV, a fabricated mesh guard protecting an open mud-tank hatch during ventilation, simulator-based officer training in Papua New Guinea, and crew-led deck upkeep. It reinforces procedural discipline, hatch protection, competence development and maintenance beyond dry-dock schedules.
- 202518 Dec
Man overboard in port: Seaman falls from quay access ladder
A seaman climbing a damaged quay access ladder became distracted by moving mooring lines, lost balance and fell onto the gunwale before entering the water. Recovery was achieved without serious injury. The flash highlights continued use of defective access, concentration, stop-work intervention and consideration of quayside conditions in task planning.
- 2025Nov
CHIRP Maritime FEEDBACK 81
Six confidential maritime reports examine a pilot’s fall, unsafe ladder rigging, illegal waste disposal, congested harbour operations involving an uncrewed vessel, a yacht–ferry close-quarters encounter and management intimidation. Commentary discusses transfer procedures, collision avoidance, competence assurance, reporting protections and the influence of leadership on safety and environmental compliance.
- 202527 Oct
Injury after fall from vertical ladder
A crew member carrying a fire patrol device lost grip while climbing a vertical ladder and suffered a minor eyebrow cut after striking a steel bund. The flash examines inadequate ladder design and routine-task risk awareness, identifying possible ladder extensions, anti-slip paint, carrying aids and pre-task discussions.
- 20252 Oct
Crane cab access platform collapsed
A vessel crane’s cab access platform collapsed as the operator climbed the ladder, causing a fall partially mitigated by its enclosure without injury. Hidden weld cracking and corrosion caused the failure. The flash questions inspection access, alternative testing and contractor oversight, and stresses surface preparation before repainting.
- 202511 Aug
BSEE Safety Alert 505 - BSEE Risk-Based Inspections Reveal Increase in Slip-Trip-Fall Hazards on Offshore Facilities Inspections
BSEE reports findings from a Performance-Based Risk Inspection of 19 offshore assets following an increase in slip, trip and fall injuries. Findings address training gaps, obstructed walkways, sharp edges, simultaneous operations, safety boots and faded markings. Recommendations invite operators and contractors, where appropriate, to consider improved hazard checks, housekeeping, training and footwear maintenance.
- 2025Aug
Motion Compensated Gangways Auto-retraction
HSE warns that power failures or control-system errors can trigger unexpected retraction of motion-compensated gangways, exposing users to falls and moving parts. The notice requires reviews of gangway arrangements, design and automatic-function testing, and calls for adequate advance warnings and rigorous assessment of operator overrides.
- 2025Jul
CHIRP Superyacht FEEDBACK 10
Six superyacht reports examine dismissed safety concerns, inconsistent fall protection, unsafe pilot boarding, crew abandonment, a mooring-line injury and chemical burns. Commentary addresses leadership, reporting protection, procedural compliance and task risk assessment. An appended flag-state flyer reinforces safe working at height, equipment training and intervention in unsafe work.
- 202516 May
MSF: Multiple LTIs - Vessel gangway fell from quay causing injuries
Five workers were injured when a container vessel’s gangway moved off the quay; one fell into the water. Tidal movement had positioned the gangway partly over a ladder void. The flash identifies absent supervision, slack hoist wires and faded markings, and presents suggestions on positioning, procedures, checks, signage and correct PPE use.
- 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
Fatality following a fall from a wind turbine
A safety flash describes a fatal five-metre fall at Kilgallioch Wind Farm in Scotland, where the worker had not connected his harness to a fall arrest system. Inquiry recommendations address rehearsed rescue arrangements, suitable casualty stretchers and consideration of technology to warn colleagues when someone disconnects from fall protection.
- 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.
- 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.
- 20256 Mar
Person fell in engine room and injured head
An oiler working alone suffered head injuries after a pipe used to reposition a heavy cylinder head slipped, causing him to fall backwards from an unprotected elevated area. The flash highlights underestimated task complexity, familiarity and inadequate lever insertion, and recommends barriers, serious toolbox talks and avoiding lone working where possible.
- 202520 Feb
LTI: Fall from height during FRC maintenance
A mechanic reinstalling a fast rescue boat engine on a laid-up vessel lost balance while standing on a cable-covering pipe and fell 2.33 m to the main deck, fracturing his left leg. The flash identifies absent fall protection, risk assessment, toolbox discussion and supervision, and stresses planning and stop-work authority.
- 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
MAIB: Step-ladder failure (LTI)
A crew member fell when a folding stepladder’s top-step support welds failed, sustaining back and head injuries. MAIB considered pre-existing damage almost certain; the ladder was not overloaded. The flash stresses thorough pre-use inspection, equipment upkeep and a just culture supporting honest incident reporting.
- 2025Feb
Communication is the key to safer operations — Process Safety Beacon, February 2025
A bulletin examines unclear torque instructions during pipefitting work that led to a hydrogen chloride release and workers falling while escaping. It contrasts equipment manuals with design drawings and promotes clear written instructions, field demonstrations of critical tasks, worksite permit reviews and radio message repeat-back.
- 202417 Dec
LTI: fall from height during anchor chain handling operation
A bosun on an anchor handling tug supply vessel fell through a gap between chain barriers while passing a tugger wire, landing 2.75 m below and sustaining fractures. The flash identifies unstable footing and inadequate task assessment, and recommends secure access, detailed risk assessment, crew communication and stronger supervision.
- 202415 Nov
Safety Alert 492 - Fall Protection Self-Retracting Lanyard
BSEE describes two falls involving self-retracting lanyards: an approximately 90-foot fall with an incorrectly rigged belay, and a swinging fall involving an offset anchor point. It recommends that operators and contractors consider system angle limits, pre-use inspections, functional checks, job safety analysis, current training and site-specific rescue planning.
- 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.
- 202424 Oct
UK HSE: Incident during rig decommissioning leads to fatality
An IMCA flash summarises HSE findings from gas-rig dismantling ashore. A skirt pile weighing more than 27 tonnes struck a mobile elevating work platform, throwing two workers to ground about 12 metres below. One died; another sustained life-changing injuries. Findings highlight inadequate planning, risk assessment and supervision, with no cutting plan or safe system of work.
- 202427 Sep
Fall from height on bulk carrier Equinox Seas with loss of 1 life
This investigation examines a fitter’s fatal fall of approximately 10 m through an engine room ventilation trunk aboard Equinox Seas during shipyard maintenance. It identifies inadequate barriers, unassessed fan-removal risks and poor safety coordination, and discusses permit systems, hazard communication and improvements to ship repair safety management.
- 202425 Sep
Man overboard during motion compensated gangway transfer
An offshore worker fell overboard from a height of one metre when a manually station-kept vessel drifted off and its motion-compensated gangway disconnected. His life-jacket failed to inflate, but he was recovered within 22 seconds. The flash addresses gangway emergency procedures, drift-off familiarisation, flotation-device checks and safety induction.
- 202425 Sep
UK HSE: fall from height injury at container port
A worker undertaking routine maintenance at a container port fell over 10 metres through an opening in a straddle carrier cab, sustaining serious injuries. Contractors had removed the glass floor for replacement. The flash highlights failures in simultaneous-work coordination, risk assessment and implementation of the employer’s working-at-height permit policy.
- 202412 Sep
Fall overboard from sail training vessel Pelican of London with loss of 1 life
MAIB investigates a volunteer relief cook’s fatal fall from Pelican of London’s gangway at Sharpness. It examines ineffective guard ropes, a downward-sloping safety net, deficient risk assessment and informal rigging practices. Alcohol impairment and policies for returning from shore are analysed, with recommendations addressing gangway approval, training and alcohol controls.
- 20245 Sep
BSEE Safety Alert 489 - Situational Awareness Pre-Job Assessment
An offshore worker injured his leg and knee after falling through an opening on a blowout preventer work platform where a damaged hatch cover had been removed. BSEE recommends operators and contractors consider pre-job hazard checks, communication, suitable fall protection, barricades and continued reassessment of changing surroundings.
- 202429 Aug
LTI – person fell from step ladder
A worker maintaining a tool aboard a vessel lost balance when the vessel pitched and fell from an unsecured two-step ladder, fracturing a rib. The flash identifies inadequate risk mitigations and insufficiently robust equipment, and describes securing access equipment and a planned fabricated access point to replace the temporary ladder.
- 202429 Aug
Non-fatal man overboard: worker fell from height into the sea
During installation of a new jacket, a worker fell into the sea from almost 3 m and was recovered unharmed. Required temporary platform and handrails were absent, but work continued. The flash describes a safety stand down, a request to install the protection, and updates to task documentation.
- 2024Aug
CHIRP Superyacht FEEDBACK 7 (August 2024)
Six superyacht reports examine tender lifting-point failure, fouled anchors near a lee shore, an open shell door, a fall during window cleaning and unsafe diving arrangements. Commentary emphasises thorough risk assessment, properly completed work permits, reliable equipment, crew communication and isolation during underwater maintenance.
- 20242 Jul
UK MAIB: A slip into the hold
A cargo-vessel crew member fell into a hold while repositioning a single-lanyard safety hook to reach a bulkhead locking bolt, sustaining an open upper-arm fracture. The flash highlights inadequate lighting, incomplete working-at-height risk assessments and missing casualty recovery arrangements, with treatment at the scene lasting over an hour before hospital transfer.
- 20242 Jul
UK MAIB: Man overboard – unguarded opening
A crew member preparing for berthing overbalanced while swinging a heaving line around a pillar and fell through an unguarded opening. Crew recovered the person using a line; medical assessments found no injury. The flash highlights dynamic risk assessment, stopping unsafe work and subsequent installation of a railing.
- 202422 May
Crew member suspended above deck by lifting equipment
A trainee deckhand aboard a crew transfer vessel was lifted when his loose work restraint lanyard snagged on a rising hook and wire sling. He fell unharmed between one and two metres onto lifting bags. Lessons address lanyard positioning, clearing rigging of snagging points, communication and stopping unsafe work.
- 2024May
Risk of serious injury from motion compensated gangways
This safety notice addresses serious injury risks during deployment and use of motion compensated gangways, including entrapment, shearing and falls from open walkway ends. It sets out expectations for risk assessment, timely audible and visible auto-retraction warnings, user and operator competence, and inspection and maintenance arrangements.
- 202430 Apr
Near miss: dislodged grating with potential fall to sea
A vessel welder recovered without injury after GRP grating tipped and fell 5.5 m into the sea. Incorrectly secured clips, missing design clips and an unnoticed overhang were identified. The flash describes maintenance and checklist changes, future DROPS surveys, design guidance and approval requirements for grating modifications.
- 202427 Feb
LTI: Damage and personal injury arising from heavy weather
A rogue wave forced open a vessel’s weathertight crane-pedestal door. While attempting to close it, a crew member was struck by incoming water and washed down two flights of stairs, sustaining serious injuries. The flash examines door orientation, coordinated medical care and recommendations to reposition the door and maintain weather awareness.
- 202419 Feb
Hot work whilst working at height in a confined space – job was stopped
A contractor’s welder was observed flame-cutting inside a vessel’s ballast tank on a wooden platform over 1.80 m high, without fall protection. Work was stopped and a harness, inertia reel and tripod arrangement introduced temporarily. The flash identifies missing permits, an unreviewed risk assessment and inadequate supervision.
- 20248 Feb
Fall overboard from fishing vessel Eder Sands with loss of 1 life
Investigates a fatal fall overboard during net shooting west of Ireland. The report examines unguarded working positions, undocumented procedures and inadequate risk assessments. Lifejacket trials support the probable loss of a loosely fitted lifejacket. Recommendations address flotation-device suitability, correct wearing, vessel-specific procedures and consideration of personal locator beacons.
- 202422 Jan
Person injured going down ladder
A worker descending a fixed carousel manhole ladder lost his footing and fell approximately 87 cm. His helmet came off and his head struck a steel structure. The flash discusses possible contributions from misjudgement, an unsecured chinstrap and poor lighting, and records lighting improvements and reminders to secure PPE correctly.
- 20244 Jan
Rig worker falls while descending derrick ladder
A worker slipped while descending a derrick ladder after untying a lashed double stand of drill pipe. The worker had connected a full-body harness to the fall-arrest system’s cable sleeve before descending, but fell 6–7 ft (approximately 2 m) onto an intermediate platform.
- 2024
CHIRP Maritime FEEDBACK 74 (Spring 2024)
This maritime digest examines tug and barge safety, dry-ice asphyxiation, leaking bunker connections, sulphur-emission non-compliance, a fall during mast work, lift-maintenance hazards and open cargo hatches at sea. Commentary addresses leadership, familiarisation, ventilation, permits to work and verified isolation, alongside design shortcomings and protection for confidential reporters.
- 2024
MAIB Safety Digest 1/2024
This marine accident digest presents lessons from merchant shipping, commercial fishing and recreational craft incidents. Cases examine pilot ladders, navigation, mooring machinery, suspended loads, falls and recovery from the water. Reproduced bulletins and flyers address RIB passenger injuries, dredging-chain failures, fire-extinguishing systems and flotation-device suitability.
- 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.
- 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.
- 20233 Oct
Rope access technician slipped and dislocated shoulder
A rope access technician dislocated his right shoulder after slipping from a wet vessel platform handrail and falling approximately 1 m while still connected to ropes. The flash identifies inadequate risk planning and assessment, and describes detailed job safety analysis, a subcontractor safety stand-down and refresher training.
- 20233 Oct
Unsafe flooring led to man overboard fatality
This flash describes a January 2023 fatality on a jack-up rig in transit, where a missing crew member was understood to have fallen through an opening left by dislodged polymer grating. It calls for checking fastener installation against manufacturer instructions, including loose grating in dropped-object checklists and updating planned maintenance as required.
- 202312 Sep
Fall from pilot ladder
During a pre-departure man overboard drill at a shipyard, a Chief Officer fell about 2 m onto a lifeboat after an unsecured pilot ladder slid downwards. He sustained minor bruising. The flash stresses secure ladder installation, officer checks and crew familiarisation with deployment, securing and stowage procedures.
- 202312 Sep
Fatality due to fire incident and fall from height
A rope access technician undertaking pipelay tower maintenance suffered a fatal fall from approximately 8.5 m after welding particles ignited solvent and fire melted the body harness. The flash examines independently authorised, conflicting work and highlights coordinated permits, shared planning, whole-operation supervision and effective stop-work authority.
- 202329 Aug
Getting fall arrest equipment right
A crew member replacing mast lamp bulbs around 4 m above a vessel’s deck wore fall arrest equipment under a permit to work. The assessment overlooked equipment length and the lanyard’s minimum 6 m clearance marking. No fall or injury occurred; the flash stresses correct fall arrest calculations.
- 202315 Aug
LTI – Person fractured pelvis in a fall from a ladder
A crew member fractured his pelvis after slipping from a temporary cargo-hold access ladder aboard a cargo vessel. The flash examines blocked permanent access, an unprotected platform edge, absent risk assessment and change management, and unchallenged subcontractor standards. Actions address contractor assurance, supervision, stop-work authority and safe access.
- 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.
- 202324 Jul
LTI – Crew member fell down open hatch
A crew member securing a rope during mooring stumbled into an open hatchway, sustaining three broken ribs and a lost time injury. The flash identifies failures in communication and hazard recognition, absent barriers and warning signs, and lack of a toolbox meeting. It recommends task-specific briefings and discussing protective measures.
- 202315 Jun
Wacker Polysilicon Chemical Release
This investigation examines a hydrogen chloride release during heat-exchanger maintenance at Wacker Polysilicon. Excessive bolt torque fractured a graphite nozzle; three workers fell while escaping, with one fatality. The report analyses maintenance instructions, hazardous-energy control, simultaneous insulation work and restricted egress, recommending clearer procedures, coordinated operations and additional escape routes.
- 2023Mar
Unsafe use of floor grating systems in oil and gas, and wind generation
HSE warns that polymer floor gratings on offshore platforms, vessels and wind installations can dislodge, creating trip hazards and openings through which people may fall. Investigations identified fastener installation or positioning inconsistent with manufacturer guidance or good practice. Employers should identify grating areas and prioritise reviews of safety-critical locations, including escape routes.
- 202318 Jan
Near miss: pilot ladder – side rope failed
During night-time pilot boarding, a ladder side rope parted during weight testing; the pilot was uninjured and boarding was aborted. The flash identifies omitted strength testing, continued use beyond operational life and absence of a spare ladder. Actions address pre-use inspection, replacement intervals and planned maintenance records.
- 202311 Jan
Incorrect gangway rigging
Two cases illustrate unsafe gangway arrangements: placement near an unbarriered quay drop with an incorrectly mounted safety net, and deformation over a bollard as propeller wash moved a vessel. Lessons address inclination limits, fencing, safety nets, positioning, assessment of vessel movement risks and adequate gangway watch.
- 2023
CHIRP Ports and Harbours Feedback summer 2023
This inaugural ports and harbours digest analyses five reports involving a quayside ladder fall, failed moorings and collisions, ferry traffic conflict, a trapped mooring launch and container-ship grounding. Commentary examines safe access, casualty recovery, bollard capacity, wind loading, navigation aids and communication between port authorities, pilots and vessel crews.
- 2023
CHIRP Superyacht FEEDBACK 3 (Summer 2023)
Superyacht incident reports examine missing atmospheric testing equipment, tender lifting-eyebolt failure, an unsafe hull inspection dive, a fall following release of a securing shackle, and an anchoring near miss. Commentary addresses enclosed-space entry, lifting-point specifications, risk assessment, supervision, authority gradients and communication during anchor handling.
- 202213 Dec
MAIB: Worker falls between vessel and quay
A shore worker used a stowed gangway despite crew instructions to wait for alternative access as the tide fell. He slipped and fell over 8 m into the sea, sustaining significant injuries. The flash describes his rescue and stresses safe access arrangements and compliance with instructions to visitors.
- 2022Sep
CHIRP Maritime FEEDBACK 68 (September 2022)
Maritime incident digest examining unsafe work aloft, a timber-cargo overboard casualty, fatal crane-access falls, engine maintenance, navigation errors, tug capsizing and flooding, hot-fuel burns and an eye injury. Commentary addresses continuous harness connection, rescue planning, towage competence, watertight closures, maintenance programmes and accountability during permitted work.
- 202212 May
Safe Use of Ladders and Stepladders
This safety flash highlights Ladder Association guidance LA455 for workplace use of portable leaning ladders and stepladders. It summarises equipment suitability, stable positioning, securing, pre-use checks and inspection records. Alternative equipment is recommended where a task would require more than 30 minutes at a time on a ladder.
- 202225 Apr
Toppled Hydraulic Workover Unit Results in Fatality
This preliminary alert describes a fatal hydraulic workover unit toppling on a Gulf of Mexico caisson. An elevated, harnessed contractor fell into the water with part of the unit. Initial observations identified a casing break; causes remained under investigation. Recommendations address structural capacity, support arrangements, fall protection design, supervision and task 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
UK HSE: worker died following fall from crane platform
An electrician repairing gantry-crane wiring died after a walkway access panel failed beneath him. This safety flash summarises HSE findings on neglected panel maintenance, previous weld repair and the absence of evidence that the panel had been safely replaced and secured. It highlights risks from unsecured access panels.
- 20221 Apr
UK HSE: worker falls from height during oil platform decommissioning
An IMCA safety flash describes a worker’s 15-metre fall during dismantling of the Brent Bravo platform. Corroded attachment bolts and an unrecognised separate platform affected structural integrity. The HSE investigation identified a missing full structural appraisal before demolition, with implications for risk assessment and the cutting method.
- 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.
- 202228 Feb
MSF: LTI – Fall from Height (control of work during SIMOPS)
A crew member fell 3 m through removed gantry grating during vessel superstructure maintenance, in an incident classified as a lost-time injury. The flash identifies ineffective work-control systems, poor situational awareness and communication, and absent barriers or signage. Actions address simultaneous operations planning, pre-task risk assessment and toolbox talks.
- 2022Feb
CHIRP Maritime FEEDBACK 66 (February 2022)
This maritime incident digest examines accommodation ladder failure, unsafe floating-armoury conditions, personnel falls, defective workboat lifting eyes, berthing errors, a fatal tug-line incident and a hydraulic motor fire. Commentary addresses maintenance, securing arrangements, bridge resource management, mooring briefings, human-centred deck design and collision-avoidance communication.
- 202210 Jan
Hazards When Replacing Grating
This alert describes fatal, man-overboard and near-miss incidents involving compromised grating. It explains how ripping, needle or chisel gunning and removal of anchor welds can reduce load capacity. BSEE recommends considering personnel training, staged replacement procedures and preventative maintenance, stressing that visual judgement cannot establish deteriorated grating’s integrity.
- 202210 Jan
LTI: Person fell down hatch inside crane pedestal
During inspection inside an offshore crane pedestal, an engineer fell through a hatch after its unsecured cover shifted and tipped into the room below. Foot and back bruising required several weeks of rest. The flash identifies poor cover design and highlights testing and securing similar hatch covers against unintended movement.
- 2022
CHIRP Annual Digest 2022
A compilation of maritime cases published during 2022, with commentary and supporting insight articles. Reports examine navigation, pilot boarding, mooring, towing, engineering maintenance and working conditions. Discussions address communication, bridge-team challenge, pressurised equipment, harness arrangements, risk assessment, permits and training, alongside examples of unsafe practice and effective intervention.
- 202128 Oct
USCG: Corrosion causing structural failure on accommodation ladders
This flash summarises a USCG alert about corrosion of accommodation ladder turntable pins. A pin failed during ladder stowage, causing a crew member to fall approximately 30 feet and suffer serious injuries. The Coast Guard strongly recommends pin maintenance, periodic inspection, replacement when necessary and inclusion in ladder maintenance plans.
- 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.
- 202112 Jul
Incidents relating to hatches and doors
Three cases concern a wired-open engine-room fire door, a watertight door left open at sea, and unprotected open wharf hatches. The flash explains the protective purposes of closed doors and reports crew intervention leading to hatch closure and locking, illustrating stop-work authority beyond the vessel.
- 202116 Jun
Lifting frame detached from fast rescue craft (FRC)
A fast rescue craft’s lifting frame detached during recovery alongside a vessel, pulling a crew member upwards before they fell back into the boat with minor injuries. Investigation found cracks, delamination and potential anchoring weaknesses. The flash highlights inspection difficulties within the hull and suggests attention to crack detection in planned maintenance.
- 202120 May
Britannia P&I Club: Double fatality resulting from confined space entry
An IMCA safety flash recounts two fatalities in a bulk carrier’s cargo hold containing logs. The Chief Officer collapsed after entering, and an Able Seaman attempting rescue also collapsed. Both fell and died from asphyxia. The flash describes crew response and points to Britannia’s case-study learning materials.
- 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.
- 20218 Apr
LTI during deck cargo operations
A crewman injured his right foot after instinctively holding lifting wires as vessel heave increased the crane-to-deck distance during pipe-bundle transfer. He let go from around almost a metre above deck and landed badly. The flash highlights discussing automatic responses to unexpected events through toolbox talks and risk assessment.
- 20214 Mar
Bypassing safety controls – violation of working at height requirements
This flash describes hull painting in dry dock using a shipyard crane and personnel basket without supplied safety harnesses or valid equipment test certificates. Work was stopped and certified equipment provided. Preliminary findings identify unclear oversight and failures to follow agreed requirements; actions address pre-docking checks and shipyard–contractor bridging agreements.
- 20214 Mar
Three man overboard fatalities
This safety flash summarises two bulk-carrier incidents involving three fatalities. Waves washed two crew members overboard while they secured mooring ropes; a bosun drowned while rigging a combination pilot ladder in darkness. It highlights absent lifejackets and securing arrangements, an unsuccessful search, and stopping work when in doubt.
- 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.
- 202016 Dec
Unexpected truck movement caused rigger to fall off a ladder
A rigger bruised his leg after a container truck moved while he was removing its final chain hook from a ladder. The flash identifies missing driver briefing, incomplete risk assessment and non-use of the permitted work platform, and calls for clearer communication and formal work controls for third-party drivers.
- 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.
- 20201 Dec
2020-002 GC 205-A Investigation of June 1, 2019, Fatality Lease OCS-G05911 Green Canyon Area Block 205-A
Investigates a fatal fall through a well hatch on the Genesis platform during slickline work. Workers mistakenly lifted the A-13 cover while intending to replace A-14’s cover. The report examines cover identification, securing, handling and task planning, and recommends improved procedures, practical training and designs distinguishing installed from stored covers.
- 20201 Dec
Labeling, Removing, Storing and Installing Hatch Covers
A slickline helper suffered fatal injuries after the wrong well hatch cover was lifted on a Gulf of Mexico facility, exposing an opening through which he fell approximately 90 feet. The alert recommends hatch identification, specific procedures, practical training and hazard review, and suggests mechanical handling to reduce proximity to openings.
- 202010 Nov
Falls from step ladders
Two step-ladder falls injured a crewman and a forklift operator during descent. The accounts identify unsecured or unstable ladders, uneven decking, damage and missing task safeguards. The flash highlights pre-use checks, routine inspection, quarantine of damaged ladders, risk assessment, toolbox talks and stable positioning.
- 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.
- 20206 Jul
Manhole opened and not correctly closed
A deck safety round identified an unsecured manhole cover following ballast-water removal for valve replacement. Its securing nuts had been removed, with no barriers or warnings provided. The flash highlights failure to follow company procedures and overlooked risks of falling into the opening or slipping on the unsecured cover.
- 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.
- 202023 Jun
Man overboard from stinger
An electrician checking a stinger camera on a vessel alongside in port fell about two metres through an opening in the grating into the water. He reached a pre-deployed lifebuoy and was recovered with minor scratches. The flash examines deferred repairs, unverified work controls and failures to reassess unsafe conditions.
- 202022 May
Fall from Height Leading to Injury
A bosun slipped and fell 2.5 m to a vessel’s deck during FRC stowage following davit wire replacement, injuring his ankle. The flash examines an uneven, unguarded area and missed fall hazards in work planning. Actions included revised job safety analysis, fall-protection signage and hazard hunts by unfamiliar personnel.
- 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.
- 202020 May
Man overboard from dredger Cherry Sand with loss of 1 life
These annexes bring together maritime medical fitness standards, UK Dredging transfer risk assessments, Cherry Sand’s mooring instructions and a new-joiner induction form. They address eyesight testing, physical capability, boarding unmoored vessels, mooring-line handling and winch operation, with requirements for bridge permission, briefings and protective equipment.