Safety Flash
High potential near miss: unplanned handling of unexploded ordnance
High potential near miss: unplanned handling of unexploded ordnance
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 17/18
- Control of WorkExplosionLine of FireMarine Operations
- ExplosionRisk management
- Manual handlingMarine operationsROV operations
- Remotely operated vehicle
- Management of changeOperating and work proceduresRisk assessmentStop-work authority
- Marine industry
- SubseaVessel
Summary
A high-potential near miss involved recovering and handling wartime munitions during subsea debris clearance. ROV operations continued after ammunition emerged, and crew handled recovered items before specialist advice prompted their return to the seabed. The flash identifies information, identification and management failures, calling for reinforced stop-work authority, change management and revised procedures.
Classifications: Explosion; explosive atmospheres.
Classifications: Risk management; risk evaluation.
Classifications: Manual handling; manual lifting.
Classifications: Marine operations; maritime operations.
Classifications: ROV operations; remotely operated vehicle operations.
Classifications: Remotely operated vehicle; ROV; underwater robot.
Classifications: Management of change; MOC; change management.
Classifications: Operating and work procedures.
Classifications: Risk assessment; hazard assessment.
Classifications: Stop-work authority; stop work; stop-work intervention.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Subsea; underwater worksite.
Classifications: Vessel; aboard ship; onboard vessel.
Summary
Vessel personnel handled recovered seabed items later identified as wartime munitions before obtaining specialist advice.
IMCA SF 17/18. Themes: control of work, explosion, line of fire, marine operations.