Stability: key to survival
Not something we would publish normally, but this is obviously something to share:
The recently puplished report of the Dutch Council for Safety (Onderzoeksraad voor de Veiligheid) that investigated the tragic accident in Alphen a/d Rijn (The Netherlands) has shown that even highly experienced companies may neglect the influence of stability in the preparation and planning in lifting operations. During the accident 2 telescopic cranes that were placed on barges were supposed to lift a section of a bridge in place. As one of the cranes slowly moved, the centre of gravity shifted causing the barge to list; the result was a catastrophic domino effect.
Key elements in the report:
-incorrect lifting plan
-large influential factors were underestimated (wind, stability and (shifting of) high centre of gravity)
-little risk mitigation actions were taken
-safety for surrounding was not taken into account
As we all know project preparation can prevent a lot of additional surprizes and costs, but can actually save lives!
If you require assistance or a second opinion in screening your chain of responisbility and risk analysis, simply get in touch with us!
Find the full report and images here