Introduction

Les Linklater
Executive Director
Step Change in Safety
“Any intelligent fool can make things bigger,
more complex, and more violent. It takes a
touch of genius – and a lot of courage – to
move in the opposite direction.”
EF Schumacher
Lifting Operations
Risk Assessment &
Planning Process

Graham Young
Technical Director
ATR
Background
• Although great strides have been made and
lifting incidents have reduced unfortunately
they still occur.
• The most common theme when such
incidents occur is the failure to identify site
specific hazards with the risk assessment
instead focussing on generic hazards which
are common to all lifting operations.

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New Approach
• Generic hazards grouped together with control
measures always in place (Appendix 1)
• The risk assessment will then focus on non-
generic hazards specific to the lift being carried
out
• Every Lifting Operation assessed on its own
merits
• TBT focused on the Lifting Plan and site specific
hazards with control measures identified

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Background
• Since the first publication of the Step Change
‘Lifting and Mechanical Handling Guidelines’
11 - 12 years ago, the offshore industry has
adopted the principals detailed in the
guidelines with particular emphasis placed on
the development and use of lifting plans.

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New Approach
• TBT cards specific to Lifting Operations
(Appendix 4a and 4b)
• Work party members allocated specific
responsibilities
• Dynamic RA incorporating Situational
Awareness should continue throughout the
entire task

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Changes in the planning process

• If, during the drafting of the lifting plan,

hazards are identified that are not part of the
generic hazards for lifting operations, or they
cannot be eliminated in the lifting plan, then
these will need to be addressed in the lifting
operations risk assessment and the control
measures identified.

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Changes in the planning process
• The normal hazards associated with lifting
operations should be grouped together as
generic hazards and the duty holder will need
to have the required control measures in place
to address these.

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Changes in the planning process
Lifting Operation Risk Assessment
• Upon completion of the draft lifting plan, the
Competent Person must identify any hazards
which are not ‘generic hazards’
• Where such hazards remain then they must
be addressed in a lifting operation risk
assessment.

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Changes in the planning process
Lifting Operation Risk Assessment
• The Competent Person should avoid recording
the ‘generic hazards controls,’ (Appendix 1)
where such hazards have already been
recognised as continuously re-occurring and
are eliminated or controlled by identified
processes already in place.

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Changes in the planning process
Lifting Operation Risk Assessment
• This will then allow the risk assessment
process to focus on the specific hazards
associated with the lifting operation.
• Following this stage the lifting plan and risk
assessment may require further technical
review.

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Changes in the planning process
During the Lifting Operation
• As a job proceeds, it becomes natural for an
individual’s sensitivity to risk to diminish, this is
due to growing familiarity and the knowledge
that the lifting operation is going according to
plan.
• It is therefore vital that the process of evaluating
risk is dynamic, that it is continuous throughout
the entire lifting operation.

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Any Questions?

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15 min coffee break
TOOL BOX TALKS

Kenny Lawtie
Head of Lifting
WGPSN
Different Types of Lifting Operations
• There are two main types of Lifting and Hoisting
Operations
1) Deck Lifting Operations; carried out with the use
of the installation cranes.
2) Portable Lifting Operations; carried out with the
use of portable lifting equipment
• Both need a robust Tool Box Talk before
beginning and at different times during the lifting
operation depending on circumstances.
Prompt Cards
• The new version of the Step Change Lifting &
Mechanical Handling Guidelines provides two
very good “Prompt Cards” one for each of the
aforementioned lift types.
• Both give good guidance on the type of
information that should be discussed and
delivered.
Prompt Cards
• The guidance given in this document is not
meant to be restrictive and each dutyholder
can add any additional items they feel are
specific to their own installation or are
required on the day.
Allocation of Responsibility
• Personal responsibility means assigning
different tasks to different people.
Task Persons allocating the responsibility and Name
details of any additional control measures

6.Nominate the Banksman and Slingers / Load Handlers Allocated by Supervisor B/M: J Smith
L/H: B Kidd &
A Mann
8. Check condition of load for dropped objects Allocated by Supervisor A.Mann

• This clearly assigns the duties and gives

accountability to the individual for the
particular task.
Personal Responsibility
• If a person is specifically identified to carry out
a particular task he is more likely to do it.
• He may willingly embrace the challenge and
feel pride in doing his job correctly.
• Or he may only do it because it he has been
asked to.
• Either way he is more likely to do it, resulting
in a win for all and a safer environment.
Human Factors Checklist
• Some of us can remember 7 plus or minus 2
things at any one time, for most of us it is only
5 plus or minus 2
• Appendix 5 of the new Lifting and Mechanical
Handling Guidelines deals with Human Factors
• It gives a very comprehensive check list for
items which we as humans can easily forget
and on many occasions do forget.
Human Factors Checklist
• It is not a requirement to use these human
factors checklists for every lifting operation as
human factors have been integrated
throughout this document.
• However these checklists serve as prompts for
periodic audit and assurance purposes.
• Make use of them, its worth an occasional
check just to see how many things you have
remembered, 3, 5, 7 maybe even 9.
Human Factors Checklist
• However, on a daily basis your team’s attitude
and thought process may change any number
of times for any number of reasons.
• After planned breaks have another Tool Box
Talk keep things fresh in their minds.
• If during the shift things appear to be
changing, if someone seems distracted STOP,
regroup and have another Tool Box Talk.
Dynamic Risk Assessment
• Remember new hazards may appear at any time,
a change in the weather, the start of another
work scope nearby, even a tannoy
announcement.
• Everyone should be continually assessing their
surroundings looking for new hazards and
communicating the required controls to others,
or STOPPING the job to allow the controls to be
implemented. If you do identify any and you feel
it is required have another Tool Box Talk
REMEMBER
• The Tool Box Talk belongs to you, the work
party.
• Use it to its best advantage.
• Listen to others, contribute to the discussions,
don’t be afraid to question.
• Make the decision to lead the Tool Box Talk
Concluding Remarks:
an HSE Inspectors View
Trevor Gregg
Mechanical Engineering Inspector
Our Strategy is to focus on the Control
of Major Accident Hazards
1. Hydrocarbon Releases

2. Structural Integrity

• We inspect how these hazards are managed

• That the maintenance of Safety Critical Systems and Plant is

being undertaken

• Examining ORA’s that are in place and Maintenance Backlogs

A Reminder
• Since Piper Alpha the offshore work activity
that has killed and injured the most personnel
is Mechanical Handling and Crane Operations.
• None of these incidents resulted in a major
accident hazard however the potential still
exists.
Industry Progress with Lifting and
Mechanical Handling
• Massive improvement since the first issue of
these Guidelines
• At that time fatalities were running at one a
year
• Last fatality in 2007
• However we still have incidents and near
misses so we must continue to strive to make
improvements
This Latest Draft is such an
Improvement
• Industry has become good at producing lifting
plans but not at producing meaningful risk
assessments
• Site specific hazards are frequently missed
• Therefore a new approach to the risk
assessment process is included in this latest
draft
What do we expect
• These Guidelines represent Industry Best
Practise
• Expectation that Duty holders will adopt them
or show they have something equally as good
in place
• Inspectors will refer to them when
undertaking an inspection based upon HSE’s
Mechanical Handling and Crane Operations
Inspection Guidelines
Any Questions?

#Playyourpart

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