Page 137 - Xmo Strata - Bulletin Archive

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POTENTIAL LOSS

Serious injury to the crane operator assistant and/or to other people looking at the activity

WHY?

The possible cause of this incident is, very likely, in the fact that, with the final pull of the crane, the
pole was definitely pulled out from its base, but this caused to the pole a fast ascensional movement.
This movement caused loss of tension of the chain, and the complete torsion of the hook.
In one of these torsions the hook did a complete turn around itself and the safety device squeezed
against the bee opening itself.
In this situation, with the hook open, a light torsion was sufficient to cause fall of the pole The fall was
due partly to the movement of the crane and partly to the light swinging of the pole itself.
In addition at the base of pole, there was only one person attending instead of two persons.
Two people, at the base of crane, would have been able, with the aid of a rope, to limit the swinging of
the pole.

ROOT CAUSES

Personal factor, it was never happened before.
The crane operator was alone, because his scope was only to provide the crane, for the pulling
operation.
The maintenance worker assisting him was alone, a second operator would have been necessary.

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS

1. The Contractor should prepare and issue a detailed JSA regarding this activity
2. The Safety Alert arising from this incident should be distributed as a minimum to all
Contractors involved in similar activities

Prepared and issued by Osvaldo Ferraris ABB PS&S on 18-07-2007

“let’s make sure that we continue to make our sites THE SAFEST by helping ourselves, our colleagues,
our customers and even our competitors by improving training, helping where necessary and
addressing any issues of concern there and then”

If you have any queries regarding the Safety Bulletin content or require further information please
contact any staff member of Xmo Strata Ltd.