Skip to content

Near-miss: Trapped tagline pins banksman against stanchion

The Marine Safety Forum has published the following safety flash regarding a near miss incident in which taglines became trapped under a load. During loading operations, a banksman was unaware that one of the taglines was trapped under the load and that he was standing in a potential pinch point. As he signalled by radio for the crane operator to hoist up the hook and taglines, the trapped tagline became tight pinning the banksman against the stanchion. The banksman, with assistance from one of the load handlers, managed to move the tagline, enabling him to give the radio command to lower the hook. The crane operator lowered the crane hook releasing the banksman. There were no injuries.

Some of the contributing factors or causes were:

  • Inadequate supervision and oversight;
  • Inexperienced and relatively new crew;
  • Failure to recognize the hazard.

The incident can be downloaded from marinesafetyforum.org/upload-files//safetyalerts/msf-safety-flash-15.17.pdf.

Members may wish to review the following similar incident: (search word: tagline):

Members should also refer to Guidelines for lifting operations.


IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of all. The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on Members sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Please consider adding [email protected] to your internal distribution list for safety alerts or manually submitting information on incidents you consider may be relevant. All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate.

IMCA’s store terms and conditions (https://www.imca-int.com/legal-notices/terms/) apply to all downloads from IMCA’s website, including this document.

IMCA makes every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained in the documents it publishes, but IMCA shall not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained. The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual’s or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.