Proforma Safety Blog

China Construction Industry Safety Practices Leave Much to Be Desired

Posted by proforma on June 29, 2009  |  No Comments

We don’t usually post construction stories like this one, but the absence of safety systems is so glaringly apparent that we are making an exception.

This is a 13-story apartment building that is — or was — nearing completion in Shanghai, China. As you can see in the photo, the building simply fell over. One worker was killed. This article in the Los Angeles Times describes the shoddy construction practices in China.

Loose Drilling Line Kills Worker

Posted by proforma on June 29, 2009  |  No Comments

While tripping to the bottom with the drill string, the drilling crew met with an obstruction and came to a stop, which triggered the drawworks drum to spool off excess drill line. When the drum brakes were applied and the spool off stopped, the crew decided to spool the line back onto the drum.
One worker, unfortunately, then apparently moved to the area between the derrick and the drawworks. The drill string broke free as it fell through the bridge, the line whipped up towards the drawworks and struck the worker. The worker died from his injuries.
Obviously the worker should not have been in that position; the review of this incident details the mistakes made that resulted in this wholly avoidable fatality.

Welder Electrocuted by Damaged Cord

Posted by proforma on May 21, 2009  |  No Comments

A 220-volt floodlight caused the death of a welder when its cord became pinched between the fixture and a mounting bracket. Tragically, the light had been determined to be inappropriate for the job and set aside, but not disconnected.

The location: a bilge pump room in the column of a semi submersible. Conditions were hot, 97 degrees, and the welder’s coveralls were soaked with perspiration. A Permit To Work (PTW) and Job Safety Analysis (JSA) had been completed, but reports are the PTW didn’t capture all the elements (confined space, ventilation, electrical hazard, etc.) The JSA was not specific to the job.

Among the corrective actions taken was a “hazard hunt” of the rig fleet focused on portable lights, power tools and electric cords. Rig supervisors were not only urged to enforce STOP(TM), but one STOP card per person per day on board was mandated.

Further details on steps taken to prevent repeat of the incident are detailed here on the International Association of Drilling Contractors site.

Welder Killed When Pan Dropped Out

Posted by proforma on April 20, 2009  |  No Comments

On a drilling rig, a casing crew was rigging up as welders worked on the pollution pan. Suddenly the pan dropped, falling 50 feet and killing one welder. A tragic combination of mistakes contributed to this fatality. A synopsis is available on the MMS website, and a full account here.