Repsol Sinopec Resources UK (RSRUK) has been hit with a safety warning after an object fell more than 200ft from a crane on the Piper Bravo platform.
On May 21st, a 3.7kg redundant warning light bracket fell “onto a walkway regularly used by installation personnel”, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
RSRUK confirmed no one was injured but acknowledged it was a “significant, high-potential event”, adding that an investigation has been launched.
HSE said the Piper Bravo crew identified it as a potential hazard on three prior occasions, going as far back as July 2018.
The improvement notice states the “dangerous ocurrance” came as RSRUK had failed to “capture and deal with” dropped object hazard observations from the Piper Bravo north crane.
An RSRUK spokesperson said: “An investigation was immediately launched to understand the cause of this incident and we will comply with the HSE’s improvement notice as a priority.
“Safe operations in all company activities is a priority and we are committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all personnel who work on our sites.”
The North Sea operator has until September 30 to comply with the notice and remedy the situation.
It states: “This contravention resulted in a dangerous occurrence that on the 21st May 2020 when a 3.7kg redundant navigation warning light bracket became detached from the crane and fell 64m (210ft) onto a walkway regularly used by installation personnel.
“This bracket had been raised as potential dropped object in the three consecutive LOLER reports of Thorough Examination prepared by ATR Lifting Solutions Limited for Repsol Sinopec Resources UK Limited dated 9 July 2018; 5 January 2019 and 1 July 2019.”
Piper Bravo lies around 120miles north-east of Aberdeen.