This incident occurred during disconnection of a cuttings hose. In connecting with lifting the hose, a webbing sling was installed at one end. The injured person entered an exposed area to remove a safety strap when the webbing sling broke, the hose fell and the person was hit on the left shoulder/neck.

Direct and underlying causes

The PSA’s investigation has established that the direct cause of the incident was the failure of the webbing sling. This occurred as a result of overloading because it snagged on the underside of the hang-off saddle as the crane was lifting. The sling thereby exceeded its maximum working load.

While the underlying causes are multiple and complex, they relate primarily to:

  • the design of the port hose and hose station
  • view from the offshore crane to the port hose station
  • execution of the activity.

Actual and potential consequences

The person hit by the hose was seriously injured. Material damage also occurred to the webbing sling and the hose.

Under slightly different circumstances, the incident could have resulted in loss of life.

PSA’s observations

The PSA’s investigation of the incident has identified three nonconformities related to:

  • inadequate design of the hose station for handling cuttings
  • inadequate safety clearance of activities
  • inadequate execution of lifting operations.

Two improvement points have also been identified. These related to:

  • competence
  • procedures.

Order

On the basis of the findings from the investigation, KCAD has been issued with the following order.

Pursuant to section 69 of the framework regulations on administrative decisions, section 13 of the facilities regulations on materials handling and transport routes, access and evacuation routes, and sections 30 and 90 of the activities regulations on safety clearance of activities and on lifting operations respectively, KCAD is ordered to do the following with reference to sections 10.1.1, 10.1.2 and 10.1.3 of the report.

  • Identify and implement measures which ensure that handling cuttings hoses is planned and executed in such a way that those participating in the activity are not injured, and that this can be done in an effective and prudent manner on KCAD’s facilities in Norway.
  • Review the systems for managing lifting operations and for safety clearance of activities with associated work processes, and implement measures which ensure prudent lifting operations.
  • Present a binding and scheduled plan for corrective measures which also sets priorities for the measures, with a description of possible compensatory measures. The deadline for submitting this plan is 25 June 2021.

The deadline for complying with the order is 30 September 2021. We must be informed when the order has been complied with.

Askeladden

Askeladden is a jack-up drilling facility owned by production licence 050 (Gullfaks) and operated by KCAD. 

It received an acknowledgement of compliance (AoC) in October 2017 and has subsequently operated for Equinor on the Gullfaks field in the Norwegian North Sea.