Safety Flash
Near-miss: Divers’ umbilical rupture during routine maintenance
Near-miss: Divers’ umbilical rupture during routine maintenance
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 20/16
- DivingInspection and MaintenancePressure Systems
- Mechanical failurePressure systems
- Inspection and maintenancePressure testing
- Diver umbilicalHosePersonal protective equipment
- Exclusion zonesPre-use checksPreventive maintenance
Summary
A diver’s umbilical breathing hose ruptured at about 14 bar during scheduled pressure testing, before final test pressure was reached. Mechanical damage may have contributed. The flash highlights visual inspection before testing, designated test areas, personnel notification, appropriate PPE and careful umbilical handling.
Classifications: Mechanical failure; equipment failure.
Classifications: Pressure systems; stored pressure; pressurised systems; pressurized systems.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Pressure testing; hydrostatic testing; pneumatic testing.
Classifications: Diver umbilical; diving umbilical.
Classifications: Hose; flexible hose.
Classifications: Personal protective equipment; PPE; personal protection equipment.
Classifications: Exclusion zones; red zones; restricted access zones.
Classifications: Pre-use checks; pre-use inspection.
Classifications: Preventive maintenance; preventative maintenance; planned maintenance.
Summary
A diver’s breathing hose ruptured during planned pressure testing after mechanical damage was found on the umbilical.
IMCA SF 20/16. Themes: diving, inspection and maintenance, pressure systems.