IPLOCA SAFETY WORKSHOP GENEVA, SWITZERLAND July 1st 2015 Lifting incident, Analysis and Lesson Learned

LIFTING INCIDENT During lifting of an amphibious excavator upper structure (approximately 26.5t weight lifted by a 75t crane), at the time when the weight was lifted 200 mm above the undercarriage, one of the lifting points located on excavator's boom failed and the turret fell onto the undercarriage. No injury and no release to environment. Minor damages. Potential consequences: one of the persons around the working area could have been severely injured by the lifting eye, approx 1 Kg in weight, which was catapulted during the incident through the air about 20 m and fell on the ground from a height of approximately 10 to 12 meters. A quantity of diesel and hydraulic oil could have been spilled on the ground. Immediately after the incident Broken lifting eye

ANALYSING THE CAUSES Following the investigation, a number of different latent (LC) and root causes (RC) were ascertained: Immediate Cause: Lifting point failure. LC: Personnel involved (foreman and rigger) were not qualified (short work experience); LC: Inadequate supervision; LC: No documentation supported the choice of the lifting points. RC: Project was at a starting phase, incomplete organisation and partial setting of the project control tools; RC: Nobody in the engineering team had lifting competencies; RC: Task risk assessment had not been carried out; RC: Operator and foremen did not follow the lifting plan; RC: Poor level of awareness by the foreman concerning HSE competencies and responsibilities, PTW and Risk Assessment despite the fact that he had passed relevant training; RC: Unclear line of reporting. Position of the turret after fall

LESSON LEARNED The incident, a minor one, nevertheless exposed the failure of several basic requirements of the HSE Management System, i.e.: Permit To Work system; Management of Change Adequate Supervision Ensuring competent human resources Ensuring proper engineering Communication Main Follow Up Recommendations A lifting competent person to participate always to the engineering process; A person responsible for lifting safety with at least 3 years experience in lifting to be appointed; PTW audits on all PTW for hazardous activities to be implemented; Human Resources to ensure involvement of discipline specialists in the process of recruitment; Personnel not applying safety rules to be disciplined; Implement periodical safety awareness meetings and stand downs with the project workforce.