Why Dropped Objects Matter
The size of the problem, the work where it appears, and how the course is organised.
11 min
Activities: 0 of 2
A hazard that is easy to forget
Dropped objects are a long-standing cause of fatalities and serious injuries in oil and gas, construction, shipping, mining, power generation and warehousing. The hazard is easy to forget because the danger is above the line of sight. A person walking on a deck, a road or a warehouse aisle is looking ahead and down. The bolt, tool or light fitting that will strike them is above.
The industry response in oil and gas was the DROPS initiative (Dropped Objects Prevention Scheme), an industry workgroup that produces guidance, tools such as the DROPS calculator, and recommended practice for securing equipment at height. The term "DROPS" is now widely used for any dropped object prevention programme.
This course assumes you already know what work at height is and have basic hazard identification skills. It takes you from understanding the hazard to applying controls, running inspections and making judgements on real cases.
Where dropped objects appear
Derricks, mast equipment, pipe handling, top-drive components and items left on monkey boards or fingerboards.
How the course is organised
- 1
Module 1
Orientation
Sources, the hierarchy of controls and roles.
- 2
Module 2
The hazard
Static and dynamic drops, energy, consequence, likelihood and task hazard identification.
- 3
Module 3
Prevention
Securing, tethering, lifting and choosing between exclusion and containment.
- 4
Module 4
Programme and inspection
Surveys, reporting, survey campaigns and investigation.
- 5
Module 5
Fixed equipment and design
Fixings, degradation, change management and design.
- 6
Modules 6–7
Application and consolidation
Realistic cases, measurement, culture and leadership.
Three misunderstandings to correct early
Match the example to its source
- A shackle pin falls from rigging during a lift
- A scaffold clip left on a beam after dismantling
- A sign falls when its corroded bracket fails
- A spanner slips from a technician’s hand overhead
Why is the dropped object hazard easy to overlook?