The document discusses responsibilities for dropped objects throughout the supply chain, from design to packing. It provides examples of dropped object incidents from different stages and their causes. The purpose is to show that dropped objects can occur anywhere and that all parties, including employers, workers, designers, and suppliers have legal and moral duties to ensure work is done safely and risks of dropped objects are minimized.

1. Dropped Objects
Who’s Responsible

2. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Introduction:
Since the introduction of the Dropped Objects Forum one of the
biggest challenges to its development has been the perception that
DROPS is entirely a Drilling Issue.
This presentation has been developed by the DROPS Forum for
the industry. Many thanks are given to those who contributed and if
the information given helps to prevent one incident this effort can
be considered well spent.
While the presentation is aimed at the UKCS operations it is
intended that the lessons learned can be transferred to other
theatres of the industry.

3. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
The purpose of this presentation is to:
• Show that a Dropped Object can manifest itself anywhere in the
working environment.
• Everybody; Employers, Workers, Drivers, Suppliers, Designers,
Maintainers etc. have a moral and legal responsibility to carry
out their activities in a safe manner.
• Provide sufficient material to be communicated to relevant
personnel for both training and awareness purposes.

4. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain

5. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Health and Safety at Work - Duties of Employer
HSE at Work
HSAW Act Duties of Employer s.2(2)
So far as is reasonably practicable:
1. Provide and maintain plant and systems of work that are safe and without risk to health.
2. Ensure that the use, handling, storage and transport of articles is safe and without risk.
3. Provide such Information, Instruction, training and supervision to ensure that employees can
carry out their jobs safely.
4. Ensure that any workshop under their control is safe and healthy and that proper means of
access and egress are maintained, particularly in respect of high standards of housekeeping,
cleanliness, disposal of rubbish and the stacking of goods in the proper place.
5. Keep the workplace environment safe and healthy so that the atmosphere is such as not to
give rise to poisoning, gassing, or the encouragement of the development of disease.
Adequate welfare facilities should be provided.

6. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Health and Safety at Work - Duties of Employer
HSE at Work
HSAW Act Duties of Employer s.3
So far as is reasonably practicable:
To conduct his undertaking in such a way to ensure that
persons not in his employment who may be affected
thereby are not exposed to risks to health and safety.

7. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Health and Safety at Work - Duties of Employer
HSE at Work
HSAW Act Duties of Employer s.6
Legislation: HSAW s(6) Places duties on every one in
the supply chain from the designer, manufacturer,
importer to the supplier to:
• Ensure that the article is safe and without risks to health at all times
when it is being set, used, cleaned or maintained
• Carry out any necessary testing and examination to ensure that it
will be safe
• Provide adequate Information about its safe setting, use, cleaning,
maintenance, dismantling and disposal.

8. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Design
Legislation HSAW s(6)
Responsibility Designers
Hazard Dropped objects due to poor design
Controls Competent persons, Procedures, Provision of Information,
Instruction, Training and Supervision, Quality Control
Consider Vibration, Corrosion, Transit shock, Shock Loading,
Contact with fixed / moving objects

9. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Design - Bolt fell from URA to Drillfloor - 1.6kg x 25m
• A bolt attaching the gripper head to the upper
racking arm came loose and fell to the drill
floor during a tripping operation
• All personnel were outside the danger area.
Causes:
1. Incorrect material in manufacture
2. Bolt had the incorrect part number
3. Faulty design - should not have been with
welded head
4. New design bolt in 2000 - not changed out.

10. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Manufacture
Legislation HSAW s(6)
Responsibility Manufacturers
Hazard Loose articles, Scrap material, Overlooked tools
Controls Competent Persons, Procedures, Quality Control, Information,
Instruction, Training and Supervision
Consider Loose materials following build, final checks

11. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Manufacture - Bar fell 30m to Cargo Deck
• Bar holding skid rubber
in place fell 30m to
cargo deck.
Causes:
1. Poor design
2. Poor manufacture
3. Poor maintenance.

12. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Packaging
Legislation HSAW 1974 ss(6), 2(2), 2, 3
Responsibility Packaging Manager
Hazard Loose packaging, damage to equipment, loose articles
Controls Competent Persons, Quality Control, Procedures,
UKOOA Cargo Handling Guidelines
Consider Secure stowage of all assembly / packaging equipment.
Ensure packaging equipment can be used for return.

13. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Packaging - Unsuitably Packaged Equipment
Box shown without warning
• Unsuitably packaged equipment labels/markings of heavy contents
transported to offshore destination
• Cardboard box weighed
approximately 40kg
• Contents fell out during transit.
Causes:
1. Unsuitable packaging process
2. Failure to check loads prior to despatch.
Hydraulic pump approx weight 30kg
was inside cardboard box

14. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Packaging - Coupling sheared off during transit
• Compressor delivered with
broken Weco coupling
inside skid
• Coupling was external to
frame and had been
sheared off during transit.
Causes:
1. Poor design
2. Poor packaging
3. Lack of awareness.

15. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Transport by Road
Legislation HSAW s(6)
Responsibility Driver
Hazard Loose articles, Poorly secured cargo
Controls Competent Person, Procedures, Information, Instruction,
Training and Supervision, Quality Control
Consider Debris, Tools, Loose Articles, Forklift Pockets.

16. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Transport - Items found on the top of container
• Hammer and Chisel
found on the top of
container prior to lifting.
Causes:
1. Carelessness of
persons using tools
2. Failure to check loads
prior to despatch.

17. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Transport - Items found on the top of container
• Piece of Wood found
on the top of container
prior to lifting.
Causes:
1. Carelessness
2. Failure to check loads
prior to despatch.

18. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Quayside
Legislation HSAW s2(2)2, 3, s(3)1
Responsibility Quayside Manager
Hazard Load damaged during lift, Dislodged objects, Loose articles,
Poorly secured cargo
Controls Competent Person, Procedures, Quality Control, UKOOA Cargo
Handling Guidelines, Information, Instruction, Training and
Supervision, Quality Control, LOLER 98
Consider Debris, Tools, Loose Articles, Forklift Pockets.

19. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Quayside - Rubble found in the Forklift Pockets
• Rubble found in the
Forklift Pockets.
Causes:
1. Poor storage facility
2. Failure to check loads
prior to despatch.

20. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Transport by Sea
Legislation HSAW s2(2)2, s(6)
Responsibility Ships Master
Hazard Load damaged during lift / transit, Dislodged objects,
Loose articles, Poorly secured cargo
Controls Competent Person, Design of Equipment, Procedures, Quality
Control, UKOOA Cargo Handling Guidelines, Information, Instruction,
Training and Supervision, Quality Control, LOLER 98
Consider Debris, Tools, Loose Articles, Forklift Pockets,
Secure / Controlled Areas.

21. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Transport by Sea - Item left on top of a unit
• A temperature gauge
used to check exhaust
temperature was left on
top of a unit
• The gauge weighed
approximately 0.25kg.
Causes:
1. Lack of awareness of
maintenance staff
2. Failure to check loads
prior to despatch.

22. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Installation / Commission
Legislation HSAW s2(2)1-5
Responsibility Offshore Installation Manager
Hazard Dropped objects during installation, Incorrect installation,
Equipment ejected during operation / test, Dislodged objects,
Loose articles, Poorly secured cargo
Controls Competent Person, TRA, Safe Working Practices,
Competent Persons, Design of Equipment, Information,
Instruction, Training and Supervision
Consider Debris, Tools, Loose Articles, At Height Toolkit,
Secure / Controlled Areas.

23. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Installation / Commission - Item not designed for use at height
• Air regulator fitted to wireline
hoist.
• Not designed for use at
height
• Securing dogs not engaged
• When energised cover and
internals (230gm) blew off
and fell 10m to drill floor
• No injuries were sustained.
Cause:
1. Equipment unsuitable for
use at height.

24. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Installation / Commission - Chain fell to Drillfloor
• During a connection, a
piece of the chain (0.4kg)
on the compensator link
broke and fell (33m) to the
drill floor
• No personnel in the vicinity.
Causes:
1. The chain was corroded with an old crack
2. Only visual inspection performed
3. The compensator link was not de-activated
before lifting the string.

25. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Installation / Commission - Item fell from Riser to Drillfloor
• While running riser a 1m long (2kg) piece of wood fell
to the drill floor. The height is not known as nobody
observed the piece of wood on the riser
• Several persons were working at the
drill floor, no one was injured.
Causes:
1. Carelessness
2. Failure to check loads prior to lifting.

26. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Operations
Legislation HSAW s2(2)1,3,4,5
Responsibility Offshore Installation Manager
Hazard Dropped objects during operation, Incorrect installation,
Equipment ejected during operation, Vibration dislodged objects
Controls Competent Person, TRA, Safe Working Practices, Competent
Persons, Design of Equipment, Information, Instruction,
Training and Supervision
Consider Barriers, Signs, Maintenance, Debris, Tools, Loose Articles,
Secure / Controlled Areas.

27. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Operations - Bolt fell 24m to Drill floor
• A bolt was observed laying on drill
floor 3m from personnel
• Investigation showed that a bolt for a
roller on pipe handler had come
loose, the nut and bolt had
disassembled. Roller (750gr) was
found loose on roller gripper head.
Causes:
1. Failure of lock washer
2. Poor design.

28. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Operations - Pin fell 6m to Drill floor
• Pin fell 6m from Bail Retainer
to Drill floor, the pin weighed
0.5kg.
Causes:
1. Poor design of cotter pin
security
2. Cotter pin safety spring was
flicked-up and fell out.
Considerations:
1. Secure pins with ty-wraps
2. Re-design pin security.

29. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Operations - Broken tool handle (7kg) fell 7m
• During cleaning of the drill floor the grating
over a drain hole was removed. The grating
was bent and a sledge hammer was used to
straighten it. While hitting the grating, the
handle broke and the sledge hammer
bounced over the edge of the floor landing
on the cat walk. The area below was not
fenced off however no personnel were in the
vicinity.
Recommended actions:
1. Secure tools when there is a possibility of dropping to
lower levels
2. Fence off areas below when working at height
3. Replace sledge hammer handles from wood to
composite material.

30. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Operations - Grating (20kg) fell 8m
• While running riser a flange on the riser knocked
loose a part of the grating on a work platform.
• The grating fell to a lower level landing 2m from a
person.
• There were people on all levels observing to make
sure the riser was not hitting obstructions.
Causes:
1. Roughneck changes level without notifying
the Driller and has his focus on the guide
lines
2. Failure to follow procedures - Work platform
was not fully retracted
3. Person was inside closed area.

31. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Maintenance / Repair
Legislation HSAW s2(2)1, 3, 4, 5
Responsibility Offshore Installation Manager
Hazard Dropped objects during Maintenance / Repair, Incorrect installation,
Equipment ejected during test, Dislodged objects, Loose articles
Competent Person, Design of equipment, Procedures
Controls Competent Person, TRA, Safe Working Practices, Competent
Persons, Design of equipment, Information, Instruction, Training and
Supervision
Consider Debris, Tools, Loose Articles, At Height Toolkit,
Secure / Controlled Areas.

32. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Maintenance / Repair - Hammer fell 30m
• Hammer (0.4kg) fell 33m
from work platform
following maintenance
operations.
• No personnel were working
in the vicinity.
Causes:
1. Insufficient Risk
Assessment
2. No securing of tools at
height.

33. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Decommission / Dismantle
Legislation HSAW s2(2)1-5
Responsibility Offshore Installation Manager
Hazard Dropped objects during dismantling, Incorrect installation,
Dislodged objects, Loose articles
Controls Competent Person, TRA, Safe Working Practices,
Competent Persons, Design of Equipment, Information,
Instruction, Training and Supervision
Consider Debris, Tools, Loose Articles, At Height Toolkit,
Secure / Controlled Areas.

34. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Decommission / Dismantle - Spike fell 7 - 8 feet
• Spike, hidden inside scaffolding
tube fell 7 - 8 feet to the deck
narrowly missing Scaffolder.
Causes:
1. Insufficient Risk Assessment
2. No securing of tools at height
3. Bad habits.
Recommendations:
1. Cap tube ends
2. Secure tools at height.

35. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Packing
Legislation HSAW s2(2)2, s(6)
Responsibility Offshore Installation Manager
Hazard Dropped objects during packaging, Damage to equipment,
lack of suitable packaging, Dislodged objects, Loose articles
Controls Competent Person, Safe Working Practices, Design of Equipment,
Information, Instruction, Training and Supervision
Consider QA Procedures, Debris, Tools, Loose Articles, At Height Toolkit,
Secure / Controlled Areas.

36. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Packing - Access Door fell off during backloading
• Diesel power pack being back loaded.
Access door opened and fell off.
• Further investigation revealed door
hinges had failed and were repaired
with Ty-wraps.
Causes:
1. Poor maintenance and
fabrication of containers
2. Poor standards of inspection
prior to despatch
3. Insufficient repair methods.

37. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Packing - Door fell off during backloading
• Container back loaded from
offshore. Door opened and fell off.
• Further investigation revealed door
hinges were unsatisfactory and
container had made substantial
contact with solid object.
Causes:
1. Poor maintenance and fabrication
of containers
2. Poor standards of inspection
3. Poor handling of loads.

38. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain
Packing - Crate collapsed during backloading
• Whilst fork lifting a large crate from
a 20 feet height back loaded from
offshore the crate collapsed.
• Within the crate were unsecured
Drill Collars.
Causes:
1. Poor understanding of strength of
container
2. Poor standards of inspection prior to
despatch
3. Insufficient securing methods.

39. Dropped Objects Who’s Responsible
Responsibilities Through the Supply Chain

40. Dropped Objects
Everyone is Responsible
www.dropsworkpack.com Developed in association with