Safety Flash
Near-miss incident involving subsea headache ball
Near-miss incident involving subsea headache ball
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 02/04
- Control of WorkDivingLifting OperationsLine of Fire
- Dropped objectsHuman factorsLine of fire
- Diving operationsLifting operations
- CraneHoseWire rope
- Job safety analysisOperating and work proceduresSafety communication
- Marine industry
- Subsea
Summary
During subsea rock clearance, venting an air line removed buoyancy and caused a headache ball to descend uncontrolled near working divers. The flash identifies incomplete venting confirmation, slack crane wire and misunderstood buoyancy effects, and describes procedure changes and job hazard analysis addressing air lift lay-down.
Classifications: Dropped objects; falling objects; DROPS.
Classifications: Human factors; human performance; ergonomics.
Classifications: Line of fire; struck-by hazards.
Classifications: Diving operations; diving; commercial diving.
Classifications: Lifting operations; load lifting; hoisting.
Classifications: Crane; cranes.
Classifications: Hose; flexible hose.
Classifications: Wire rope; steel wire rope.
Classifications: Job safety analysis; JSA; job hazard analysis; JHA.
Classifications: Operating and work procedures.
Classifications: Safety communication; toolbox talk; toolbox talks.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Subsea; underwater worksite.
Summary
A headache ball descended uncontrolled near divers when air-line buoyancy was released without confirming the line had been vented.
IMCA SF 02/04. Themes: control of work, diving, lifting operations, line of fire.