IMCA Safety Flash System

IMCA Safety Flash

• The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system relies on members sharing information to avoid repeat incidents.

Emergency Procedures and Equipment

• The United States Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) published Safety Alert 469, highlighting the importance of readiness for medical evacuation and dealing with emergency hazards.
• An inspection of offshore sites in the Gulf of Mexico revealed inconsistencies in documenting and recording injuries and illnesses, procedural gaps, and issues with medical support and evacuation resources.
• Key findings included:
  • Average evacuation time was 6.8 hours from incident to arrival at medical facilities.
  • Medical supplies for facility personnel were inadequate.
  • Offshore workers were unaware of first aid kit locations or proper use.
  • Emergency action plans were out of date, difficult to find, and contained incorrect contact information.
  • Many operators failed to conduct regular medical emergency drills.
  • Facilities had equipment obstructing high-traffic areas, creating trip hazards and blocking escape routes.
  • Rescue baskets (Stokes litters) were found inoperable, inconveniently located, and unsuitable for hoisting during emergencies.
  • Although facilities had automatic external defibrillators (AEDs), they were not easily accessible, and only medical staff were trained on proper use.

Failure of Self-Righting Frame on Fast Rescue Craft (FRC)

• During a routine rescue drill, the self-righting frame assembly fell off the FRC into the water while transiting at approximately 15 knots.
• Key lessons learned:
  • The integrity of self-righting frames should be periodically inspected, which may involve removal of the frame.
  • FRC inspection checklists and procedures should be reviewed to ensure the self-righting frame is periodically removed and inspected.

MSF: Two Dropped Object Incidents

• Incident 1: A metal wedge was dislodged and fell 13m to the deck below while pulling a pin on a hinge system for a dynamic gangway system on a W2W vessel.

• What went wrong:

  • Metal wedges did not have a place to secure a tethering device.
  • The method chosen to pull the pin was not optimal.
  • Not all tools could be secured from dropping, and there was no collective dropped object arrest system to catch smaller tools or items.
  • The aft area around the gangway was not fenced off, and personnel could have walked underneath the drop zone.

• Actions taken:

  • Modified metal wedges to accept a tethering device.
  • Investigated installing a collective dropped object arrest system under the gangway for future work.
  • Identified an optimal solution for pulling pins on gangway.
  • Improved guidance and training for personnel on barriering-off areas in a DROPS zone.

• Incident 2: A lighting rod conductor mounted on top of a dynamic gangway tower was found lying on the deck below the tower.

• What went wrong:

  • The fittings loosened/unscrewed over time, causing the rod to fall.

The IMCA Safety Flash system shares key safety matters and incidents to avoid repeat incidents and promote learning. Members are encouraged to share information to improve overall safety.