ABS has published the first international class standard on the subject of dropped object prevention. The objective is to promote offshore safety through improved asset integrity management and increase dialog among owners, operators and manufacturers by presenting the ABS publication and defining its scope.
Dropped objects are among the top 3 causes of injuries in the work environment and accounted for 14% of fatalities in the US Upstream Oil and Gas Industry from 2003–2014. A summary of statistical information will be presented along with the results of research on regulatory requirements and current design standards. A brief history of dropped objects in the workplace as they relate to the historical development of safety systems will be discussed and the content of the ABS Guide for the Prevention of Dropped Objects on Offshore Units and Installations will be presented.
Working with industry, ABS has developed the first international standard addressing dropped object prevention on offshore units and installations to help reduce the chance of dropped object incidents, promote global safety, and lead a philosophical change in equipment design.
