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Saudi Aramco
Drilling & Workover Organization
High Potential Crane Drops Incident

July 2014
The Alerts are provided to all Drilling and Workover Operations Foremen and Liaisonmen so that we all learn from the
experiences of others. The knowledge of this incident could prevent similar ones from happening in the future.
Saudi Aramco policy requires the information in this Alert to be communicated to all crew members and documented on
morning reports.

What happened?

July 2014. The Crane Operator was in process of moving Big Sacks near the Big Sack Hoppers,
at that time one puffer (rubber) piece –weight 1.5 kg approx. – fell down from the boom crane
to the main deck about 21 meters. No one was near the landing area, thus no injury occurred.

Consequences:

 Potential of Human Injury, using the “Drops Calculator” as a benchmark the outcome of
this incident could have been a Recordable (MTC- RWC-FAT).

Why did it happen?

 The puffer rubber piece was not adequately secured to the crane, the secondary retention
line was not installed.

What should be done to prevent reoccurrence?

 In addition to the Derrick, Contractors should utilize the Drops Program to control other
areas of the rig (Zone 6, Ref; HSERM A-7), such as:

 Cranes,  Man- Basket

 Forklifts,  Shale Shaker
 Big Sacks Hoisting System  Store Rooms
 Genie-Lifts  Welding Shops

 Secondary retention devices shall be installed, in accordance with the OEM and
installation standards, on all equipment identified in the Drops surveys
(Ref: SWIM 001 No- 50)

 Retention devices shall have a minimum breaking strength of at least fifty (50) times the
weight of the secured equipment.

 Conduct full Drops inspection on the cranes; install Secondary Retention, where
applicable, for all puffers rubbers.