Offshore association publishes lifting guide
17 December 2007The International Marine Contractors Association has published 'Guidelines for Lifting Operations'. The guide includes sections on personnel, categorising lifts, risk assessments, lift plans, inspection, examination and marking of lifting equipment, maintenance and recordkeeping. An appendix features a job risk assessment form and worked examples of a number of key documents.
"While primarily aimed at subsea lifting operations, the principles described in the new publication are relevant to all offshore lifting operations and generally to lifting operations anywhere," said Hugh Williams, IMCA chief executive.
The publication is intended to show essential components that should be included in company procedures for lifting operations and to offer advice on the steps within a lifting operation process that will promote safety, the group said.
"It was to help increase safety levels in this vital area of our members' work that we formed the IMCA Crane & Winch Operations Workgroup," Williams said. "Regardless of whether a complex and perceived high-risk project, or a comparatively straightforward every day task, proper risk assessment, comprehensive lift planning and safety awareness throughout a lift team can help to avoid incidents."
The 66-page softcover guide, IMCA SEL 019 and IMCA M 187, costs £30 (Eur 50 including shipping) from IMCA, or is available for download from the association's web site.
