George Steen Docherty Gibson Bartlett

Section 26(4) of the Act, I make the following recommendations which might realistically prevent other deaths in similar circumstances, namely circumstances in which members of staff on offshore installations require to carry out work or other activities on or in relation to lifeboats, and involving the attachment of pendants, of a similar nature to those used on the Harding Platform at the time of this fatal accident: 8. I recommend that operators of offshore installations whose procedures prohibit the operation of lifeboat release gear during any type of work or other activity in relation to lifeboats amend any applicable template work control certificate or equivalent document so that it states that prohibition clearly and prominently. 9. I recommend that operators of offshore installations equipped with lifeboats and pendants similar to those used on the Harding Platform at the time of this fatal accident whose procedures require the attachment of pendants prior to the commencement of particular types of work or other activity on or in relation to lifeboats introduce measures whereby the secure attachment of pendants to each lifeboat requires to be confirmed to the satisfaction of the Area Authority or equivalent authorising official before the work or other activity in relation to that lifeboat is authorised to proceed. 10. I recommend that operators of offshore installations equipped with lifeboats and pendants of a similar nature to those used on the Harding Platform at the time of this fatal accident should ensure that their procedures concerning the role and competence of any person who is required to attach, or verify the attachment of, such pendants prior to the commencement of any work or other activity in relation to a lifeboat do the following things: a. Clarify who is responsible for identifying a person who is to verify the secure attachment of pendants prior to any specific work or activity in relation to lifeboats and at what stage, with reference to that work or activity, that person is to be identified; b. Identify the technical requirements of the tasks of securely attaching pendants and verifying that pendants have been securely attached; c. Identify the level of knowledge and experience which is required in order to carry out these tasks effectively, including in relation to the mechanism by which pendants are attached to lifeboats and the identification of the correct components to which pendants should be attached, the consequences of insecure attachment of pendants and how to avoid insecure attachment; d. Identify any training which is necessary in order to provide relevant staff members with the required level of knowledge and experience, the means by which such training is to be delivered and the means by which the knowledge and experience of the trained staff members are to be maintained and refreshed as necessary; e. Identify the means by which the delivery of any necessary training, and the attainment of the necessary knowledge and experience, can be certified and evidenced; f. Identify practical, quick and reliable means of establishing which members of staff on an installation are trained to attach pendants and to verify that pendants have been securely attached; g. Identify the means by which operators will ensure that sufficient staff members who are trained to attach pendants and to verify that pendants have been securely attached are available before any work or other activity which requires the attachment of pendants to a lifeboat can commence; and h. Identify appropriate means of monitoring and evaluation in order to ensure the maintenance of the necessary levels of competence to attach pendants and to verify that pendants are securely attached. 11. I recommend that operators of offshore installations on which the checking or operation of release gear is prohibited during particular types of work or other activity in relation to lifeboats should include, within their audit processes, the targeted auditing of documents which record the details of such work or other activities actually carried out, in order to check compliance with that prohibition. 12. I recommend that operators of offshore installations on which a tool box talk or equivalent safety-focussed discussion is required to take place in advance of any type of work or other activity on or in relation to a lifeboat by a member of staff working alone should ensure that their procedures make clear to all staff members who may be required to arrange or participate in such a discussion: a. The categories of such work or other activity which require a tool box talk or equivalent discussion to be held in advance; b. Who should participate in such a discussion; and c. The issues which should be discussed and, in particular, whether the discussion should include the identification of a second person, where required, to verify that pendants are securely attached. For the avoidance of doubt, this recommendation proceeds on the assumption that a person whose role is limited to verifying that pendants are securely attached prior to the commencement of any work or other activity on or in relation to a lifeboat does not thereby participate in that work or activity.