BSEE security alert highlights the restrictions of the hydraulic torque wrench
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has launched its panel investigation report on an August 23, 2020, incident that resulted in a fatality on the Pacific Drilling drillship Pacific Khamsin within the Gulf of Mexico. The drillship was beneath contract with Total E&P USA, conducting effectively operations in Garden Banks Block 1003, roughly 174 miles offshore Louisiana when the incident occurred.
BSEE’s investigation into the drillship fatality discovered that, on August 20, 2020, the drillship subject supervision and onshore administration mentioned the upcoming method of Tropical Storms Laura and Marco into the GOM and the potential impacts on the drillship’s location. After monitoring the storms over the subsequent three days, the choice was made to safe the effectively. The decrease marine riser package deal was pulled to the floor in preparation for the drillship to evacuate the placement to evade the storms.
While unlatching the decrease marine riser package deal from the blowout preventer in preparation for ship relocation, a crewmember was lifted into the air after being struck by a hydraulic torque wrench (HTW), hitting a riser clamp roughly six toes above the elevated work deck earlier than falling to the rig flooring. The crewmember was given first assist and transported to the drillship’s hospital, the place he was later pronounced deceased.
SAFETY ALERT
The report notes that, a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) have to be accomplished for all OCS actions recognized or mentioned in an operator’s SEMS (Safety & Environmental Management System) program.
After an intensive investigation and evaluation, BSEE discovered that amongst different contributing elements, an absence of coaching with hydraulic torque wrenches and a lack of knowledge of the dangers related to the riser, and a failure to provoke a cease work authority contributed to this incident. Based on its findings, BSEE has issued a security alert to the trade which recommends that operators and contractors make sure the Job Safety Analysis captures the restrictions of the hydraulic torque wrench when in use, confirm all workers perceive the Job Safety Analysis and have been formally skilled on working the hydraulic torque wrench, broaden the Drill Floor Observer duties to watch all points of jobs occurring on the rig flooring, and discover choices for using a load indicator, or an identical design mechanism onto the hydraulic utility winch (HUW) package deal (the precise mechanism used for vertically hoisting the HTW to the right operational top by way of using an digital distant controller).
- The BSEE Safety Alert could be downloaded HERE
- To learn extra in regards to the panel investigation of the drillship fatality, together with BSEE’s suggestions, the total report could be downloaded HERE
