Alerts & Learnings Fatality due to fire incident and fall from height A rope access technician had a fatal fall from around 8.5m while engaged inroutine maintenance activities on a pipelay tower. Work was conducted by different vessel work groups, with each team independently completing their permits to work, following the vessel’s safety management system’s requirements. The rope access technician was doing work consisting of chipping, brushing and painting. To clean the areabefore painting, the worker decided to bring abucket of thinners (solvent). At the same time, another group of workers were engaged in tack welding activities at the top of the tower. Some of the welding particles fell from the welding location and ignited the bucket of thinners. The heat produced by the fire melted the rope access technician’s body harness resulting in a fatal fall from the height of approx. 8.5m. The potential conflict between the two activities was not properly evaluated;Sparks were coming down from the welding location above because of incomplete protection of the area with fire blankets;Thinners (solvent) were taken from the paint store without authorization and its use was not foreseen for the specific activity; To view this IMCA safety alert in full, click the 'Download Alert' button above and refer to section 1 of the document. Download Alert Rate this Alert Your Rating Average Rating Share: Share on Linkedin Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share with Email
Learning Moment 5 Feb 2026 Life Saving Rules This pack contains an overview of each Life-Saving Rule (LSR) with relevant incident examples. Whilst not all of the incidents occurred within our industry, the learnings remain applicable. You may wish to use this pack during safety meetings or break it up and use the individual sheets provided wit… View Learning Moment
Alert 15 Mar 2024 Pipeline End Manifold yoke dropped from 45° position During adjustment of the yoke securing arrangement for a PLEM (Pipe Line End Manifold), the cargo strap failed resulting in the yoke falling and landing in its horizontal resting position. Two persons were working inside the PLEM in close proximity to the yoke at the time. Neither were injured. Whi… View Alert
Alert 18 Jan 2024 Chain hoist paid out unsupervised near running main engine An electric chain hoist on the beam above one of the main engines in a vessel, was left unattended after use. The chain hook paid out and coiled the chain onto the running main engine close to the generator drive shaft. The incident occurred when the chain hoist was being used to lower spare parts r… View Alert