The BSEE informs about an incident where a lead mechanic suffered a severe leg injury while performing a boom tip changeout on an offshore pedestal crane.

I n May 2022, a lead mechanic suffered a severe leg injury while performing a boom tip changeout on an offshore pedestal crane. The injured person (IP) and his assistant deviated from the planned scope of work, failed to rig up the mid-section to the bridle prior to removing the mid-section to boom tip connector pins, and failed to use boom connector safety pins.

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After removing the bottom right pin, both employees assumed the bottom left pin would be difficult to remove since it was bearing the weight of the boom section.

When the IP struck the remaining connector pin, it unexpectedly ejected, causing the boom to drop and pinning the IP’s leg against a sledgehammer and grating, and fracturing the IP’s tibia.

Facility personnel used a pallet jack, a piece of two-inch pipe, and a two-by-four piece of wood to lift the boom tip and pull the IP from under the boom tip. They then applied a tourniquet to the IP to help stop the bleeding from the compound fracture.

The response of the facility personnel was critical in providing the IP lifesaving interventions until treatment could be provided at the hospital on shore.

The company’s incident investigation found that the root causes were:

BSEE recommends that operators and contractors consider the following:

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Did you know that many deficiencies do not always lead to detention for 2020? 36 was the record number of deficiencies for a PSC inspection ending with NO detention in a Bulk Carrier in Nakhodka, Russia.