Safety Flash
Near-miss: Bell umbilical damage incident
Near-miss: Bell umbilical damage incident
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 08/12
- DivingHuman FactorsMachinery and EquipmentMarine Operations
- Crushing and pinch pointsHuman factors
- Diving operations
- Diver umbilicalDiving bellOperator displays and control interfaces
- Alarm managementRisk assessmentStop-work authority
- Vessel
Summary
During diving bell recovery, insufficient umbilical tension allowed trapping between the cursor and bell, damaging the sheath and causing a small gas leak. Divers remained unharmed. The flash examines supervisor distraction and a visual-only differential alarm, recording umbilical re-termination, installation of an audible alarm and revised recovery risk assessments.
Classifications: Crushing and pinch points; crush hazards; pinch points.
Classifications: Human factors; human performance; ergonomics.
Classifications: Diving operations; diving; commercial diving.
Classifications: Diver umbilical; diving umbilical.
Classifications: Diving bell; closed bell; wet bell.
Classifications: Operator displays and control interfaces.
Classifications: Alarm management.
Classifications: Risk assessment; hazard assessment.
Classifications: Stop-work authority; stop work; stop-work intervention.
Classifications: Vessel; aboard ship; onboard vessel.
Summary
A bell umbilical became trapped during recovery after insufficient tension and distraction, causing damage but no harm to divers.
IMCA SF 08/12. Themes: diving, human factors, machinery and equipment, marine operations.