INCIDENT ALERT

# JGC-IA-0007 Issued on 31 October 2017

Workers Leg Hit by Pipe (LTI)

Brief Incident Description
In order to install an eleven meters long 24 inch pipe, riggers were using three chain blocks for moving it into its
correct installation position across some horizontal structural beams. To be able to pull the pipe, the middle chain
block was loosened and the pipe touched one short support beam beneath it. When the rigger was pulling the
pipe with the chain block attached to the end of the pipe, the hand chain of the chain block became jammed at
the gear housing. In order to reach and fix the jammed chain, the rigger walked in between the end of the pipe
and another structural beam. While fixing the jammed chain, the pipe rolled off the short support beam it was
sitting on and the force imposed onto to the pipe from the tension of the pulling chain block caused it to slide
forward. The rigger tried to quickly move away but the pipe end hit the riggers knee pushing it hard against the
structural beam, which resulted in a fracture of the kneecap.

Immediate Cause
Moving pipe spool due to tension on the chain block.

Root Causes
No direct supervision for critical activities;
Rigging arrangement was not properly done;
No specific procedure developed for pipe
installation by means of chain blocks;
No risk assessment developed for pipe
installation activities by means of chain blocks;
Riggers had very little experience in such
specific pipe rigging activities;
Pre-start talk was not carried out at the task
location, thus specific job hazards were not
identified. Pipe rolled off the support
beam and moved from the
Corrective Actions tension of the pulling chain
Subcontractor should organize work crew and block.
ensure direct supervision is available;
Practical training should include safe methods
of pipe installation by means of chain blocks;
Develop specific procedure for pipe
installation by means of chain blocks;
Riggers assigned to piping group should attend Pipe installation direction
training for specific manual lifting activities.
Improve pre-start talks by providing Task
Supervisors with suitable and sufficient
training.
Issue a Site Memorandum instructing all
Supervisors to conduct all pre-start talks at the
task location.

Corporate HSE Control Team Advice
When pulling chain block hand chains too fast it may get jammed at the gear housing. Should
this happen, always ensure that you are not in between pinch points while fixing the jammed
chain. Pinch points can be either the ends of the pipe, or the side of it.

HSE CONTROL TEAM | CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT | PROJECT MANAGEMENT DIVISION | OIL & GAS DIVISION
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