Alert 12 – 30 Unstable Lifting Device Injures Crewman
WHAT HAPPENED:
The vessel was about to complete discharging and back loading at the platform. The last lift to come down was an “I” shaped spreader beam which measured approximately 8 meters (26 feet) long. The top and bottom of the beam has two lifting eyes situated at each end. The crane operator lowered and set the beam down on the lifting eyes directly against a previously loaded 20 foot (6 meter) basket. When the tension was taken off of the lifting slings, the two Able Seamen (ABs) moved towards the beam to release the slings from the hook. As soon as the slings were disconnected, both ABs focused their attention on the hook to make sure it would not hit them. At that moment, the ship made a slight rolling movement towards the starboard side and the beam flipped over, landing on top of and fracturing the left ankle of one of the AB’s.