Hibernia Management Development Company (HMDC) has reported that on June 2, 2019 workers on the Hibernia Platform were in the process of lowering a drill pipe with a gantry crane to a storage location when the pipe, weighing approximately 236kg, released from its magnetic connection point. This resulted in the pipe falling approximately 3.55m, coming to rest on the dunnage below. There were no injuries and no personnel were in the area, consistent with protocol for gantry crane operations. However, the incident had the potential for fatality based on the Dropped Objects Prevention Scheme (DROPS) calculator.
Crane operations were immediately stopped, the area was secured and the crane has been taken out of service.
The C-NLOPB is monitoring HMDC’s continued investigation of the incident.
Media Contacts:
HMDC
Lynn Evans
Public Affairs
(709) 273-1583
Lynn.evans@exxonmobil.com
C-NLOPB
Lesley Rideout
Communications Lead
(709) 725-2900
lrideout@cnlopb.ca