Accidents Involving Improper Rigging

Within a short span of two days, there were two accidents involving lifting operations, that resulted in the death of one worker and injuring another two.

Case 1
A horizontal lifting clamp was used to lift a web frame. During the lifting operation, the web frame slipped out of the lifting clamp and crushed a worker who was standing next to the web frame.

>> The Web frame

Case 2
Steel plate hooks were used in conjunction with a spreader bar to lift metal plates. While lifting, the spreader bar suddenly swung out and struck two workers thereby injuring them.
<< Steel plate hook used to lift a few pieces of metal plates

>> Spreader bar involved in the accident

"Struck by Falling Object" accounted for the second highest number of fatal accidents (26%), after "Falls from Height" (34%) of all fatal industrial accidents from 2002-2005.

All lifting operations must have a lift plan supported by an analysis of the hazards and risks.

Advisory Note(Please note that the following advisory note is provided for the benefit of enhancing workplace safety and health and in no way should the information be misconstrued as implying any liability on any party)
1. Prior to any lifting operation, a lifting plan must be developed by a competent person with the relevant lifting operation personnel. The lifting plan should comprise of hazard identification and risk assessment to eliminate or reduce the risks associated with the hazards.
2. The lifting plan should, though not limited to, address the following :

• The personnel required;
• Their roles, responsibilities and competencies;
• Nature and weight of load;
• Type and location of lifting points;
• Selection of the appropriate lifting gears and equipment;
• Assessment of the need for tagline to control movement of suspended load;
• Means of communication during lifting operations;
• Restrictions to the lift operations such as weather and illumination;
• The provision of safe place of work for all personnel during lifting operations.

3. In the lifting plan, there should be a set of written safe work procedures. If the lifting operation deviates from the plan, the lifting operation should stop immediately.
4. The manufacturer or supplier of lifting equipment and gears has a duty to make available to the users, the necessary information on the safe use and maintenance of the lifting equipment and gears.
5. The employer should ensure that the appropriate personnel are adequately instructed, trained and supervised in the use of lifting equipment and gears.
6. Lifting equipment and gears must be inspected and certified safe for use by an Authorised Examiner. Lifting gears must not be modified and should only be used in such a manner as specified by the manufacturer.
7. As a safety precaution, no personnel shall be positioned beneath a suspended load during lifting operations.

(Extracted from MOM OSH Alert, dated Monday, 21 May 2007)

Approved Codes of Practice

WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH
(APPROVED CODES OF PRACTICE) NOTIFICATION 2007
(Made Under Section 39 of the Workplace Safety and Health Act)

In accordance with section 39 (3) of the Workplace Safety and Health Act 2006, the following 23 Codes of Practice were approved for the purpose of providing practical guidance on safety and health to the industry:

CP 14: 1996 Code of Practice for Scaffolds
CP 20: 1999 Code of Practice for Suspended Scaffolds
CP 23: 2000 Code of Practice for Formwork
CP 27: 1999 Code of Practice for Factory Layout - Safety, Health and Welfare Considerations
CP 37: 2000 Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Mobile Cranes
CP 62: 1995 Code of Practice for Safe Use of Tower Cranes
CP 63: 1996 Code of Practice for the Lifting of Persons in Work Platforms Suspended from Cranes
CP 74: 1998 Code of Practice for Selection, Use and Maintenance of Respiratory Protective Devices
CP 76: 1999 Code of Practice for Selection, Use, Care and Maintenance of Hearing Protectors
CP 79: 1999 Code of Practice for Safety Management System for Construction Worksites
CP 84: 2000 Code of Practice for Entry into and Safe Working in Confined Spaces
CP 88: Part 1: 2001 Code of Practice for Temporary Electrical Installations Part 1: Construction and Building Sites
CP 88: Part 3: 2004 Code of Practice for Temporary Electrical Installations Part 3: Shipbuilding and Ship-Repairing Yards
CP 91: 2001 Code of Practice for Lockout Procedure
SS 98: 2005 Specification for Industrial Safety Helmets
CP 101: 2004 Code of Practice for Safe Use of Powered Counterbalanced Forklifts
SS 473: Part 1: 1999 Specification for Personal Eye-Protectors Part 1: General Requirements
SS 473: Part 2: 1999 Specification for Personal Eye-Protectors Part 2: Selection, Use and Maintenance
SS 510: 2005 Code of Practice for Safety in Welding and Cutting (and Other Operations Involving the Use of Heat)
SS 508: Part 1: 2004 Specification for Graphical Symbols - Safety Colours and Safety Signs Part 1: Design Principles for Safety Signs in Workplaces and Public Areas
SS 508: Part 3 : 2004 Specification for Graphical Symbols - Safety Colours and Safety Signs Part 3: Safety Signs Used in Workplaces and Public Areas
SS 513: Part 1: 2005 Specification for Personal Protective Equipment - Footwear Part 1: Safety Footwear
SS 513: Part 2: 2005 Specification for Personal Protective Equipment - Footwear Part 2: Test Methods for Footwear

Accidents involving Cranes and Lifting Operations

In the past 8 months, there was an increase in industrial accidents involving cranes and lifting operations which sadly, could have been prevented. Here are the summaries of three such recent accidents.

Case 1

While slewing without carrying any load, the mobile crane toppled to its side. The crane outriggers were not extended during the operation.

Case 2

Crawler crane toppled during demobilization. No one was injured in this accident.

Case 3

While being lifted, one end of a 6T pipe dropped and hit a supervisor, who subsequently succumbed to his injuries.

>> Advisory Note(Please note that the following advisory note is provided for the benefit of enhancing workplace safety and health and in no way should the information be misconstrued as implying any liability on any party)

1. Risk assessments should be conducted and safe work procedures implemented for all lifting operations, not just for heavy loads. The weight of the load should not be the only determining criteria for conducting risk assessments. Many accidents involving cranes and lifting operations occur during routine lifting of light loads and even in situations where that are no loads lifted.
2. It is of vital importance to ensure that materials to be lifted are securely rigged. Under the Factories (Operation of Cranes) Regulations, riggers and signalmen engaged in lifting operations involving mobile, crawler or tower cranes must attend and pass the courses prescribed by the Commissioner for Workplace Safety and Health.
3. Occupiers shall also appoint a lifting supervisor who has successfully completed a training course approved by the Commissioner for Workplace Safety and Health to supervise any lifting operation involving the use of any crane, mobile crane or tower crane.
4. Crawler, mobile and tower cranes shall only be operated by trained and competent operators who are registered with the Commissioner of Workplace Safety and Health. 5. All lifting equipment and lifting gears must be inspected and certified safe to be used by a MOM authorised examiner for lifting equipment. Lifting gears and equipment should NOT be modified to be used in any lifting operations unless such modifications are examined and approved by the authorised examiner.
6. All lifting operations should be properly planned by a competent person before the actual execution and not left solely to the ground crew such as the crane operator or rigger.
7. Do not allow anyone to stand beneath any suspended load or within the danger zone during a lifting operation.
8. Cranes must not be overloaded under any circumstances. The weight of the load must always be made known either from specifications or through calculations. Once the overload indicator is activated, the lifting operation must be stopped immediately.

(Extracted from MOM OSH Alert dated 30 April 2007)