Standardizing Safe Lifting Practices Offshore Canada

Standardizing Safe Lifting Practices 

Offshore Canada 

Presenters: 

Mr. Harold Giddens, P. Eng., Senior Engineer, CNSOPB 

Mrs. Kelly Weir, P. Eng., CRSP, C-NLOPB C

Presentation Summary 

• Overview of East Coast Petroleum Industry and 

regulatory regime 

• Gap between lifting practices in our jurisdictions 

vs. best global practices 

• Gap between global codes & standards vs. 

Canadian regulations 

• Developing a standard best practice to include 

the design, selection, certification, cation, and 

maintenance of cranes, loose lifting gear, lifting 

devices, personnel hoists and containers 

Canada-Nova Scotia 

Offshore Petroleum Board 

Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador 


2

Overview of East Coast Petroleum Industry 

& Regulatory Regime 

There are three offshore jurisdictions in Canada: 

• The National Energy Board (NEB) - Federal Regulatory 

Agency 

• The Canada - Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board 

(CNSOPB) - Joint Federal and Provincial Regulatory Agency 

• The Canada - Newfoundland & Labrador Offshore 

Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) 

- Joint Federal and Provincial 

Regulatory Agency 

The CNSOPB and C-NLOPB C 

were established in 1985 

to manage the offshore petroleum industry following 

the sinking of the Ocean Ranger in 1982. 





3



Jurisdictions 

CNSOPB 

C-NLOPB 

NEB 

France 





4



The first well was drilled offshore Eastern Canada 

in 1966. 

The following fields have been abandoned or are 

currently in production offshore Nova Scotia and 

Newfoundland & Labrador: 

Nova Scotia 

• Cohasset Panuke (1992 - 1999) - produced 

total of 45 million barrels of oil. 

• Sable Gas (1999) - industry estimate 1.6 trillion 

cu ft of recoverable gas reserves. 





5



Canada 

U.S.A. 

Nova 

Scotia 

N o v a S c o t i a 

Exploration 

Licenses 

N.L. 

The Gully 

0 100 200 300 

U.S.A. 

Georges Bank 

Kilometers 





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Newfoundland & Labrador 

• Hibernia (1997) - estimated 1244 million barrels 

of recoverable oil reserves. 

• Terra Nova (2002) - estimated 354 million barrels 

of recoverable oil reserves. 

• White Rose (2005) - estimated 283 million 

barrels of recoverable oil reserves. 





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8


& Regulatory Regime (for Lifting) 

Occupational 

Health & Safety 

Requirements 

Installation 

Regulations 

Certificate of 

Fitness 

Regulations 

Referenced Standards: 

•API Spec 2C - Specification for Offshore Pedestal 

Mounted Cranes 

•API RP 2D - Operation and Maintenance of 

Offshore Cranes 

•Other Referenced Standards for Electrical, 

Structural, Mechanical & Occupational Health & 

Safety Aspects (e.g. CSA, API, NFPA, ANSI, ASME) 

Independent 

Review by 

Certifying 

Authority 

Other Guidelines: 

•Canadian Association of Petroleum 

Producers (CAPP) Container 

Guidelines (C-NLOPB only) 

•CAPP Training & Qualifications 

Standard Practice 

Operator (Duty Holder's) & Facility 

Owners Due Diligence: 

• Policies & Procedures 

• Company required Codes & Standards 

• Industry Best Practices, etc. 





9



Prior to this initiative, several lifting 

incidents had occurred. In general, most 

occurred due to the following: 

• Human error 

• Improper selection & use of rigging gear 

• Equipment failures – load hooks, slings 

loose gear, running wire, etc. 

• Inadequate safety devices 

• Inadequate procedures 





10



Notable offshore incidents during the 1990’s 

• Dropped load in the sea due to crane operator 

error; equipment failure & inadequate safety 

device. 

• Crane boom hit upper boom stops due to 

equipment failure & inadequate safety device. 

• Boom running wire failure due to inadequate 

maintenance. 

• Headache ball falling unattended due to 

equipment failure and inadequate safety device in 

place. 

• Sling failure due to improper configuration & 

overloading. 





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The defining moment: 

• Boom running wire failure after crane operator 

hoisted four people in Billy Pugh from supply 

vessel to deck of an oil storage tanker. 

This last incident was a defining occurrence in 

reevaluating offshore Canada safe lifting 

practices. Detailed evaluation of Operators safe 

lifting practices was undertaken resulting in the 

beginning of many changes in practices and 

procedures. This work was the forerunner of the 

CAPP initiative to develop a standard lifting 

practice for offshore Atlantic Canada. 





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• C-NLOPB/CNSOPB regulations have both prescriptive and 

performance based requirements. 

• Some regulatory requirements are too prescriptive - not 

flexible. 

• Prescriptive requirements for some equipment (e.g. cranes) 

but not others (e.g. containers). 

• Some standards referenced in the regulations are outdated. 

• Some regulatory requirements are performance based 

(e.g. "No" 

person shall operate a crane under conditions that are 

likely to create a hazard to any person, ship, aircraft, vehicle, , load 

or structure or to the stability of the crane.") but no guidance is 

in place. 

• Terminology in the standards is not always clear (e.g. 

wording on anti two block; or lockable latches on hooks). 





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GAP ANALYSIS 

Our Jurisdiction Vs. Best Global Practices 

• PEDESTAL CRANE 

• OFFSHORE CONTAINERS 

• LIFTING GEAR & DEVICES 

• MANRIDING EQUIPMENT 





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Gap Between Global Codes & Standards vs. 

Canadian Regulations 

GLOBAL CODES & STANDARDS 

PEDESTAL CRANE DESIGN 

EN 13852-1 & CERTIFYING AUTHORITY 

GUIDELINES (e.g. DNV) 

CANADIAN CODES & STANDARDS 

PEDESTAL CRANE DESIGN 

API SPEC 2C & OTHER REGULATIONS 

OFFSHORE CONTAINERS 

EN 12079 & CERTIFYING AUTHORITY 

GUIDELINES (e.g. DNV) 

OFFSHORE CONTAINERS 

CAPP GUIDELINES (NL ONLY) 

HOOKS & LOOSE GEAR 

VARIOUS CODES & STANDARDS 

MOSTLY EUROPEAN BASED 

MANRIDING 

STANDARDS & GUIDELINES 

NOT SPECIFIC 

HOOKS & LOOSE GEAR 

VARIOUS CODES & STANDARDS 

MOSTLY AMERICAN BASED 

NONE LEGISLATED 

MANRIDING 

STANDARDS & GUIDELINES 

NOT SPECIFIC 





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Gap Between Lifting Practices in 


Global Best Practice 

Personnel Hoists Require 

Independent Brake 

Anti Two Block designed to prohibit 

the hoist block assembly from 

striking the boom 

Safe Load Indicator 

mandatory 

Gross Overload Protection System 

mandatory 

Boom Radius Limiter 

mandatory 

Crane Design safety features are 

mandatory 

Canadian Practice 

Personnel Hoists Independent Brake 

not mandatory 

Anti Two Block device that strikes 

the boom is acceptable if no damage 

can occur 

Safe Load Indicator 

optional 

Gross Overload Protection System 

not mandatory 

Boom Radius Limiter 

not mandatory 

Many safety features are optional or 

not required 





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Gap Between Lifting Practices in 


Global Best Practice 

Container design specific concerning 

cold temperature requirements 

Container design, certification and 

maintenance to EN 12079 or equal 

System in place for quality assurance 

of lifting gear 

Minimum code requirements for 

manriding 

Canadian Practice 

Many containers designed to BS 7072 

and/or no cold temperature 

requirements 

No requirements for containers in NS 

offshore area; DNV 2.7-1 or 

EN 12079 in NL offshore area 

Adhoc criteria in place for lifting gear 

Minimum code requirements for 

manriding 





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To summarize: 

East Coast Petroleum Industry 


• Preventable incidents were occurring; 

• Inadequate guidance was provided for the 

interpretation of regulatory requirements; 

• Codes and practices were not standard for the 

industry; 

• Gaps between Canadian regulations and global best 

practices. 

Consequently, , the Canadian Association of Petroleum 

Producers (CAPP) was asked to sponsor and develop a “safe 

lifting practices” guideline for application in the Canadian East 

Coast Offshore Petroleum industry. In response, CAPP agreed 

and formed a task group in 2004 to complete the initiative. 





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Development of a Standard Best Practice 

The CAPP Safe Lifting Practices Committee is 

comprised of the following representatives: 

• CAPP 

• CNSOPB 

• C-NLOPB 

• Certifying Authority representative 

• Industry Reps 

• Chair Person 

• Operators (duty holders) 

• Drilling Rig Owner (CAODC) 





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Development of a Standard Best Practice 

The Safe Lifting Practice includes the 

following topics: 

• Offshore Pedestal Cranes 

• Offshore Containers 

• Loose Gear 

• Other Lifting Devices 

• Operational Best Practices 





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Offshore Pedestal Cranes 

• Cranes shall meet API Spec 2C and all 

other applicable regulatory requirements 

• In addition to API 2C - 6 th Edition, cranes 

shall meet the following criteria: 

• Critical components to meet cold temperature 

(Charpy) requirements; 

• Safe Load Indicator (SLI); 

• SLI to indicate all operating modes; 

• SLI limits, warning lights & load curves shall 

be approved by Certifying Authority; 





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Continued… 

• Cargo hooks shall have positive close latch to 

prevent sling shedding; 

• Only IWRC running wire permitted; 

• Hooks used for hoisting personnel shall be 

equipped with spring loaded latch & pin insert 

for positive closure; 

• Manriding hoists certified by the Certifying 

Authority and nameplate installed; 

• Independent secondary brakes on manriding 

hoists capable of being tested independently; 





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Continued… 

• Overload protection system on running wire; 

• Boom down (radius) overload limiter; 

• Personnel emergency load lowering; 

• Inspected in accordance with API 2C, API RP2D 

and manufacturer recommendations. 





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Offshore Containers 

• Containers approved for offshore use shall meet the 

following criteria: 

• Certified by Certifying Authority or approved 3rd party; 

• Designed to meet cold temperature requirements; 

• Certification to meet EN 12079, DNV 2.7-1, or equal; 

• Sling sets stay with the container; 

• Design & risk assessment required for one-of of lifts, 

containers that do not meet safe lifting practices, or 

other uncertified lifts; 

• Inspected regularly in accordance with the rules or 

standard to which they were designed, constructed, 

tested, and certified. 





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General Criteria: 

Loose Gear 

• Applicable reference code, standard or rule 

referenced for each type; 

• Meet cold temperature criteria for critical 

components; 

• Proof load tests to take into service; 

• All terminations to be “Quenched & Tempered”; 

• Inspected and tested by a third party and pre- 

use inspection conducted to meet code 

requirements; 

• Standardized color coding. 





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Specific Criteria: 

Loose Gear 

• Cargo Hooks in the Load Path below the 

Crane Hook 

• CoC EN 10204 – 3.2b where SWL ≥ 10 tonne 

• CoC EN 10204 – 3.1b where SWL < 10 tonne 

• ASME Self-Locking Eye Hooks when used shall 

have trigger guards to protect the latch from 

depressing and possible unassisted opening 

due to coming into contact with an object 





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Loose Gear 

ASME Self-Locking Eye Hook 

Trigger Guard 



No Trigger Guard 



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Specific Criteria, 

Specific 

Loose Gear 

Criteria, continued… 

• Wire Rope & Chain Slings 

• Shackles, Pins, Master Links, Connecting Links (“D”( 

Links) require CoC – EN 10204 – 3.1b certificate c/w 

charpy values. 

• Flat Webbing & Round Man Made Fiber Slings 

• Minimum Factor of Safety = 6:1 

• Batch testing shall establish SWL of production run 

• Pull testing of production slings not permitted 

• Not to be used for general cargo or container handling 

• Natural fiber round slings not permitted 





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Other Lifting Devices 

• Standard Practices includes minimum code 

requirements for: 

• Mobile Cranes 

• Overhead and Gantry Cranes 

• Drilling Hoisting Tools & Equipment 

• Forklifts 

• Manriding Work Baskets including lift sets 

• Pad Eyes (Structural) 

• Personnel Transfer Devices (for marine transfers) 

• Cargo winches 

• Personnel Hoisting Winches 

• Running wire rope (cranes, lifeboat falls) 





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Some examples are: 

• Work Baskets 


• Designed to meet EN 12079 or equal 

• Meet cold temperature criteria 

• Certified for manriding by the Certifying 

Authority 

• CoC - EN 10204 – 3.2b certification 

• Labeled “Manriding Only” 

• Secondary safety pendant to maximize 

redundancy of components in the load path 





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• Personnel Transfer Devices 

• CoC - EN 10204 3.2 certification 

• The unit should be made of a solid construction or 

assembled to a solid construction and protect personnel 

from falling by allowing them to ride on the inside either 

standing or seated. 

• Certified for manriding by the Certifying Authority 

• Meet cold temperature criteria. 

• Manufacturer shall supply operating procedures and a 

training package for the device and maintenance and 

inspection procedures. 

• Secondary safety pendant to maximize redundancy of 

components in the load path. 





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• Winches (other than crane winches, personnel lifting) 

• Certified for manriding by manufacturer with 

nameplate installed stating “Approved for Manriding 

Only” 

• Certified for manriding by the Certifying Authority 

• Critical components to meet cold temperature criteria 

• Emergency shutdown between power source and hoist 

• Overload and overhoist limits 

• Overspeed limit safety device on electric powered 

winches 

• Emergency load lowering capability 

• Drum guards and spooling devices 

• All equipment used in manriding designated for that 

purpose only 





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• Wire Rope Terminations (if used in manriding) 

• Minimum Factor of Safety = 10 against failure 

• Proof load test certificates required for 

components and assembly 

• EN 10204 - 3.1b certificates required for 

components c/w charpy values 

• Pad Eyes (if used in manriding) 

• Meet cold temperature requirements 

• Minimum Factor of Safety = 10 against failure 

• Proof load tested prior to taking into service 

• Crack detection inspection annually 





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• Hooks in the Load Path (if used in 

manriding) 

• Minimum Factor of Safety = 12 against 

failure 

• Meet cold temperature requirements 

• Spring loaded latch system that can be 

locked with a pin or other positive 

mechanism to ensure the pin cannot 

open under any circumstances 

• ASME self-locking locking eye hooks not 

permitted 





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• Hoist Harness System for manriding 

operations 

• Meet occupational safety requirements 

for fall protection 

• Bosun chair integrated with full body 

harness required 

• Independent fall protection required to 

be fitted to full body harness 

• Rescue and recovery arrangements 





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Hoist Harness System for Manriding Operations 





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Operational Best Practices 

• Documented processes for all aspects of 

lifting operations (Routine & Non-Routine) 

• Lifting equipment register 

• Identification of safe lift zone 

• Defined communication protocols 





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Operational Best Practices 

• Safe Lifting Practices developed for: 

• Inboard/Outboard Lifts 

• Cargo Handling 

• Loading/Offloading Supply Vessels 

• Handling of Drilling Tubulars 

• Non-routine 

• Use of tag lines 

• Handling of containers 

• Marine personnel transfers 

• Manriding operations 





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Approval & Implementation of 

CAPP Safe Lifting Practice 

• Approved by CAPP Atlantic Canada 

Committee – April 18, 2007 

• Approval by CNSOPB & C-NLOPB C 

– 

scheduled for May 15, 2007 

• Issued on CAPP website by June 2007 

• Implementation by all stakeholders 

• Full compliance by June 2008 

• Revise as necessary by June 2008 





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Questions 

Further information can be obtained 

from the following websites: 

CNSOPB - www.cnsopb.ns.ca 

C-NLOPB 

- www.cnlopb.nl.ca 

CAPP - www.capp.ca 





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Standardizing Safe Lifting Practices Offshore Canada

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