An investigation has been launched into a near-miss incident on the ExxonMobil-owned Hebron Platform off Canada. Even though the incident on 14th September claimed no injuries, it had the potential to cause severe fatalities.

The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) in its press briefing about the accident said it occurred when the auxiliary hoist hook along the south intervention deck, weighing approximately 3.6 kg, fell five to six meters to the deck.

The petroleum regulator also revealed that according to the Dropped Objects Prevention Scheme (DROPS) calculator, the accident had a high potential of causing multiple fatalities.

The statement added that the incident occurred when preparations for an upcoming lift with no load connected were underway. It also confirmed that the only individual in the proximity of the falling hook was a hoist operator, who managed a narrow escape with no injuries as he stood six meters away.

ExxonMobil on Thursday revealed that all auxiliary crane operations were suspended since the incident and an investigation had been launched into the root cause of the accident. The probe will be monitored by C-NLOPB.

The Hebron platform, situated about 350 kilometers offshore Newfoundland and Labrador’s capital St John’s, in the Jeanne d’Arc Basin. The platform has witnessed several accidents earlier, since it began production in November 2017.

In the most recent accident that occurred on 21st August this year, a worker on board a support vessel, AVALON SEA was injured during a lifeboat winch load testing. The worker sustained an injury on his face after the rigging hit him while it was being unhooked to get rid of a twist. He was then transferred to the Health Sciences Centre through medevac.

A similar investigation has been launched into the accident, monitored by the C-NLOPB. A series of such potentially fatal accidents on the Hebron platform raises serious concerns regarding the safety installations onboard and protocols followed by the crew.

 

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