April 2022 Accidents Report

Operator training and equipment inspections are essential to preventing job-site accidents.  Sign up for training or schedule your next inspection. But first, read on for the April 2022 accidents we’re reprinting here.

Saipem Gives Likely Cause of Crane Incident Onboard Saipem 7000

We are reprinting this article from OffshoreWind.biz originally published on April 15 2022 and written by Adnan Durakovic. An additional photo comes from the Vertikal.net article on the same incident.

A photo of Saipem 7000 following the crane incident in Amoyfjorden, Norway. Redningsselskapet
From vertikal.net, a crawler crane boom was among the damage caused during the incident

Semi-submersible crane vessel, Saipem 7000, has returned to ”a stable position and safe condition” soon after developing a list during a crane incident off the coast of Amoyfjorden, Norway, Saipem said.

As reported, Saipem 7000 and a couple of cargo barges were involved in a lifting incident on Thursday, 14 April, causing the local authorities to respond.

No one was injured in the incident.

Saipem 7000 left the Seagreen offshore wind project in Scotland, where the vessel is installing the wind farm’s jacket foundations, for scheduled maintenance and was expected to return to Scotland later this month.

According to Saipem, after having completed DP trials as per DNV testing programme, Saipem 7000 was performing the planned five-year main cranes load test, under the attendance of the Classification Authority.

”Further to a preliminary assessment, it would appear that the main block wire broke during the test lifting operation and the testing load, the two cargo barges, with the main block, were released in the water,” Saipem said in a statement.

The two barges capsized following the incident.

A crane assessment is ongoing, Saipem added.

Tradie injured as 50 tonne piling rig topples to the ground

This article was reprinted from 9news.com, originally published April 21, 2022.

The piling rig collapsed at a Broadbeach construction site this morning. (Nine).

A Queensland tradie has been injured after the 50 tonne piling rig he was operating crashed to the ground. The machinery collapsed on a Gold Coast construction site around 8am this morning, forcing the 67-year-old to leap from his operating seat to avoid being crushed. It’s believed the machinery may have hit a sinkhole. The man broke his lower leg during the accident and has been transferred the Gold Coast University Hospital.

Paramedic Joel McEwan said the high acuity response unit and critical care team rushed to the man’s aid, adding it was lucky no one else was injured.”When we arrived we found the gentleman had jumped clear of the rig as it fell onto the construction site,” he said.

“He’s in good spirits, he’s conscious and alert and able to communicate with us effectively. “Considering the size of the rig its quite lucky it didn’t hit anyone else on the way down.”

A witness said the man was “an absolute hero,” with several others commending his bravery. The 50 tonne rig narrowly avoided a nearby building as it crashed to the ground. Surrounding residents said they felt the impact from their apartment block and the force appeared to move their furniture. They added they heard the sounds of a man, believed to be the operator screaming in pain. The incident is the second major accident on the construction site in just under a month.

A few weeks ago, a crane unloading building materials collapsed onto the street. Nearby resident Doug Burgess said the site was “an accident waiting to happen,” and a safety hazard to workers and residents. “It’s just ridiculous,” he said. “That crane went over onto the road, fortunately no one was in the way but if anyone had been there they would have been crushed. “Something needs to be done…do we wait for someone to get killed?” Workplace investigators on the scene to determine the cause of the accident this morning. The building company, Ezra Constructions has declined to comment.

If you see an accident report you’d like us to feature in the blog, like the ones shown here in the April 2022 Accidents Reports, let us know. Contact heather@cranes101.com with the information.

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