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Play your part in improving workplace safety. Browse our extensive catalogue of Safety Alerts and Learnings to learn from the experiences of industry colleagues.

Alert
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Catastrophic failure of mud centrifuge

While processing drilling fluids, a mud centrifuge (Fig. 1) experienced a catastrophic failure resulting in the ejection of the pillow block bearing assembly. The 65 lb. assembly travelled approximately 190 ft before striking the steps of a living quarter trailer (Fig. 2). The gearbox, back drive el…

Alert
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Blind shear door blown off BOP body

During a high-pressure test of the Blow Out Preventer (BOP), one of the Blind Shear Ram (BSR) doors blew off the BOP body. The door was found resting on top of an adjacent equipment container, approximately 5 meters (16 feet) to the port side of the BOP. The pressure test took place using the cement…

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Sudden ice plug release results in struck-by injury

While converting from air to mud, the employee was attempting to reinstall the pressure gauge on the standpipe manifold. When he removed the bull plug from the manifold, he noticed ice had accumulated inside the two-inch (5cm) line. He notified the Driller and then attempted to remove the ice using …

Alert
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Dropped object during lifting operations

As the banksman was providing final instructions to the crane operator, the load handler looked up and observed the hoist rope very close to an antenna fixed to a handrail on the Heli-deck access platform. The load handler alerted the banksman of the hoist rope proximity to the antenna. Immediately …

Alert
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Foreign object in eye

An Able-Bodied Seaman (AB) was carrying out a routine maintenance which changed to include paint chipping. A few hours after the job was completed, he reported a pain in his eye to the Master. Subsequent examination indicated that he had a small piece of debris in his left eye. Medical assistance …

Alert
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Do you consider how measures to prevent a leak could cause a leak?

Sometimes the measures we put in place to prevent a release of flammable or toxic fluids can lead to other problems that just make the situation worse. A few weeks after the start-up of production on a platform in the North Sea several gas alarms suddenly sounded in the central control room. The ala…

Alert
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Aviation Security Alert - Mobile phone case holder with lighter

Mobile phone case holders with a built- in cigarette lighter are available to purchase on the market at a cost of less than £5. These items do have a high heat exposure. Anyone found at Heliport Security with one of these items will have it removed and confiscated.

Alert
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Near Miss - Wireline unit failed to stop

Wireline crew had just made up toolstring, stabbed on lubricator and pressure tested the stack. They then equalised and opened the well to run in hole, they released the tools from the tool catcher and confirmed it had released by applying 2 x hand jars. On confirming that the tools had released, t…

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Electrician suffered flash burn to hand

A third-party electrician on a vessel in dry dock got burnt whilst verifying the integrity of insulation on a 690 Volt bus bar. A voltaic arc was created resulting in a flash burn to his hand. Following medical treatment and a period of restricted duties, he returned to work. To view the full IMCA S…

Alert
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Crane boom floodlight impact with scaffolding

Personnel were conducting crane function tests at an opportune time, requiring movement of the crane boom. During the testing, the crane driver and two other personnel within the cab were distracted by a noise. A floodlight attached to the crane boom struck a scaffold structure at 38m elevation. Min…

Alert
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Hand injury sustained during routine checks

During routine weekly checks, the injured person (IP) was performing the weekly test for the Emergency Generator, he approached the generator to investigate an abnormal noise coming from the cooling fan, his fingers were struck by the fan blades and he sustained an injury to 3 fingers. Click on the…

Learning Moment
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Major Accident Hazard Awareness

This pack has been compiled to enable you to have proactive safety conversations about MAH barriers. The pack contains learnings from both oil & gas and other industries' major accidents. Each mini alert describes the circumstances, what went wrong and includes discussion points relating to the …