Based on a study conducted by the Petroleum Safety Authority of Norway (PTIL), which revealed many offshore crane accidents involving personal injuries, the oil industry itself initiated a revision of the Norsok standard. The revised edition was issued in July this year.
All oil companies with crane operations at their offshore installations were involved in the development of a new Norsok-standard. The study had revealed 52 major lifting accidents with personal injuries in the period from 1994-1999. One person died in 1995, another in 1996, both in relation to lifting operations using offshore cranes.
Still a need of safety enhancement
Recent statistics from the PTIL shows that lifting operations still represents a major risk at offshore installations. As late as in 2002, the Safety Authority registered 36 critical incidents with offshore cranes, some with personal injuries. In 2001, PTIL registered 24 unwanted incidents and 37 in 2000.
The oil industry and DNV have been working together in developing the new Norsok-standard. It all started with a workshop in the wake of the dramatic findings in the PTIL-study. The result is, in addition to the new standard, a totally new safety approach: “Lifting safety enhancement” is a method also to implement the new Norsok standard.
New approach to crane safety
Previously, technology alone has been the key factor in all offshore safety work. But the statistics shows that operational and human errors are as well important coming to underlying causes of accidents as the technology alone.
By focusing on the human beings and the organisation, as well as the technology in a triangle, DNV wants to contribute to increased safety concerning offshore cranes. A “human being-technology-organisation perspective” (HTO perspective) is the overall key element in developing and mapping risks of offshore crane activity.
The Lifting safety enhancement, developed by DNV, was initiated one year ago. The major offshore operators, which have also been participating in a work shop, have expressed their satisfaction with the new approach to crane safety.
Currently, DNV is discussing the implementation of the new method with several major oil companies, operating in the North Sea.
In addition to this, DNV and Hydro recently signed a contract related to cranes and lifting appliances. Expert advisory services, periodical inspections, assessments of new lifting appliances, user support, training of offshore personnel and technical verification services is all included in the scope. The contract’s value is NOK 40 million.
Underlying causes
The purpose of the PTIL-study was to uncover the underlying causes of the unwanted lifting incidents involving offshore cranes. Insufficient management, guidance, training and competence have been revealed as the major underlying causes of many of the unwanted offshore lifting incidents, according to the PTIL study.
The study also found that crane maintenance and operations were among the major underlying causes of accidents, in PTIL’s view. As many as two out of seven lifting incidents on offshore installations during the period from 1994-1999 have led to either personal injury or damage to the environment or equipment.
A follow-up study conducted by PTIL, due for completion by March of next year, is expected to show major safety improvements regarding cranes and lifting procedures.