Roughly 35 per cent of the incidents followed up by the PSA in 2022 related to cranes, lifting and dropped objects.

The trends in risk level in the petroleum activity (RNNP) process has been further developed to be able to say something about what types of incidents are involved, what causes them, and how the picture is developing over time.

Observations (nonconformities) from PSA audits and investigations in 2019-22 have also been analysed, and the subject has been raised in audits, incident follow-ups and investigations.

In addition, the PSA has participated actively in relevant collaboration arenas on relevant challenges in order to contribute to improvements in the companies and at industry level.

Work in the RNNP context has included categorisation in order to assess underlying and triggering causes. The graph below provides an example of results from such an analysis, which presents underlying causes of incidents in crane and lifting operations categorised by breaches of technical, operational or organisational barriers in 2013-22.

Figure. Breakdown of underlying causes in incidents  (2013-22). (Key: No information; Technical; Operational; Organisational)

One of the main conclusions from the analysis is that operational conditions represent the most frequent underlying and triggering causes of incidents involving crane and lifting operations for the whole period and for all types of offshore facilities and land plants. That agrees with results from the PSA’s own analyses of audit and investigation results.

Measures

Based on its analyses of the relationship between operational and other causes in the RNNP, the PSA has concentrated on the companies’ own management of crane and lifting operations. The aim has been to help improve prevention and reduce the number of incidents.

To achieve better understanding of and to investigate company management of operational conditions, the PSA has paid particular attention to capacity, expertise and compliance with governing documents in such operations. These issues have come up in all audits, follow-up of incidents and investigations, both offshore and at the land plants.

In addition, the PSA has participated in relevant collaboration arenas, meetings, conferences and seminars, and actively communicated and advised on current challenges in order to contribute to improvements in the companies and at industry level.

Results

Audits and investigations by the PSA have revealed deficiencies and/or challenges in the following areas.

  • Uncertainty over roles and responsibilities as well as pressure on time. Personnel hold or have been given several roles, and reports have been received of uncertainties with some roles and responsibilities and lack of competence. Pressure on time is reported by certain groups, including roustabouts and people with operational and technical responsibility.
  • Deficiencies in planning, risk understanding, mapping of risk aspects, and communication.
  • Deficiencies in governing documents, such as inadequate local supplements, lack of correspondence with practice and failure to keep documents updated.
  • Failure to measure conformity with safety levels specified in current regulations, often related to older equipment and lack of gap analyses.
  • Shortcomings in competence, often related to less frequently used equipment.

Effects

Feedback from the companies shows that the PSA’s audits, follow-up of incidents and investigations related to this subject have helped to increase knowledge and improve management and systematics in the companies.

The party with  operational responsibility plays a very important role for safe crane and lifting operations. This role is categorised by a standard referenced in the PSA’s regulations. Audit findings have included increased awareness of the importance of this role, and the PSA has noted that a number of companies have given priority to boosting the expertise of the people holding it.

In addition, the spotlight turned by the PSA on safe material handling and its explicit demand for better prevention of accidents and injuries in this area have led to several improvement initiatives at sector and industry level.

For example, Working Together for Safety – a collaboration between employers, unions and government on health, safety and the environment in the energy sector – has taken the initiative on experience transfer about and learning lessons from crane and lifting incidents.

Methodological developments and analyses for the RNNP represent a significant knowledge base for the PSA in contributing to improved causal analysis and understanding, measuring trends over time and the ability to prioritise important areas of commitment for crane and lifting operations.

Although the PSA is achieving effects with the measures it has taken, results over time show that a continued commitment is needed.

This article is taken from PSA's annual report for 2022. The full report (in Norwegian only) can be read here.