Valaris, a drilling company, has been fined £130,000 by a court in Aberdeen for a crane collapse incident in the North Sea in 2016. The incident, which was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), did not cause any injuries but resulted in significant disruption and damage. HSE inspectors described the incident as a “wholly preventable accident”.
The incident occurred at sea when personnel on the Solvik Supplier vessel were preparing to recover a damaged submersible pump. After the crane operator lifted the crane’s boom, a catastrophic collapse occurred. HSE investigations revealed that the crane collapse happened because Rowan Drilling, a company owned by Valaris, failed to properly check the limit switch, which was meant to prevent mechanical failures.
Three out of four sections of the crane boom fell into the sea, while the auxiliary hook, ropes, components, and debris from the crane fell onto the deck of the Solvik Supplier. The top of the boom also snagged a flexible hose, causing it to rupture and release a cloud of cement dust.
Although no one was injured in this incident, there were at least five Rowan employees and thirteen crew members on board the Solvik Supplier. HSE stated that safety mechanisms were ignored to prevent accidental operation of the crane controls, indicating a faulty safety management system.
HSE Inspector Brian Kennedy emphasized the importance of maintaining and testing crane limit switches to ensure the intended level of protection. He highlighted that this incident was a result of a faulty system that allowed for the maintenance of unsafe conditions.
Valaris, formerly known as Rowan Drilling, is the world’s largest offshore drilling company in terms of fleet size. The company merged with Ensco in 2019, creating a leading position in the market.
FAQ:
1. Who received the fine?
– Valaris drilling company was fined.
2. Why did the crane collapse occur?
– The crane collapse occurred because Rowan Drilling failed to properly check the limit switch.
3. Did anyone get injured in this incident?
– No, no one was injured in this incident.
4. What actions did HSE recommend after this incident?
– HSE recommended maintaining and testing crane limit switches to ensure the intended level of protection.
Source: example.com
The source of the article is from the blog smartphonemagazine.nl