RR43 - Development of a training simulator for offshore crane operators

The number of mechanical handling incidents in the UK offshore industry remained at an unacceptably high level towards the end of the 1990s. Consequently HSE introduced a Key Programme of work in 2001 that aimed to reduce the number of offshore lifting and mechanical handling accidents and dangerous occurrences by 15 % over a three-year period.

One element of this is to increase awareness of the issues and seek to improve and monitor the competence of personnel involved with offshore lifting operations, especially crane operators. Traditional training courses cannot usually provide trainee exposure to the type of operating conditions that may give rise to accidents if inappropriate actions are taken. With this in mind HSE commissioned Drilling Systems (UK) Ltd to develop an integrated training package based around a sophisticated crane simulator to provide crane operator exposure to simulated normal and dangerous conditions in a safe training environment. Industry partners provided substantial technical support during the course of the project.

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Updated 2021-04-15