Safety Flash
Fatality due to fire incident and fall from height
Fatality due to fire incident and fall from height
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 22/23
- Hot Work and FirePermit to WorkSimultaneous OperationsWorking at Height
- Falls from heightFire
- Hot workInspection and maintenanceWorking at height
- Fall protection equipment
- Operational supervisionPermit to workSimultaneous operations coordinationStop-work authority
- Marine industry
- Vessel
Summary
A rope access technician undertaking pipelay tower maintenance suffered a fatal fall from approximately 8.5 m after welding particles ignited solvent and fire melted the body harness. The flash examines independently authorised, conflicting work and highlights coordinated permits, shared planning, whole-operation supervision and effective stop-work authority.
Classifications: Falls from height; fall from height.
Classifications: Fire; fire safety.
Classifications: Hot work; welding and cutting.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Working at height; work at height.
Classifications: Fall protection equipment; safety harness; fall arrest equipment.
Classifications: Operational supervision.
Classifications: Permit to work; PTW; work permit.
Classifications: Simultaneous operations coordination; SIMOPS; simultaneous operations.
Classifications: Stop-work authority; stop work; stop-work intervention.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Vessel; aboard ship; onboard vessel.
Summary
A rope access technician had a fatal fall from around 8.5 m while engaged in routine maintenance activities on a pipelay tower
IMCA SF 22/23. Themes: hot work and fire, permit to work, simultaneous operations, working at height.