1. Manriding Operations OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this procedure is to ensure the safety of manriding operations and safe use of “Man Riding” winches.
Further it is intended to reduce manriding operations by assessing all alternative methods of access for the intended operation. These alternatives shall be fully evaluated and assessed first and manriding operations only carried out if no alternative is available.
It is counter productive and NOT intended to introduce alternative means of access which would involve greater risk than that posed as a result of manriding.

2. Manriding Operations BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Man Riding operations can be extremely hazardous if not properly managed, with clear procedures and instructions that are followed by all parties involved. There have been a number of fatalities during manriding operations in the offshore industry. With this is mind “Step Change in Safety” set up a working group in January 2001 to look into manriding operations and a cross industry best practice guide has been produced. The Health & Safety Executive has also issued interim guidance. This procedure takes into account these documents.

3. Manriding Operations RESPONSIBILITIES
The OIM has the overall responsibility for all operations.
He shall ensure that all manriding operations are conducted under the Permit to Work System
The Snr. Toolpusher is responsible for the safe conduct of all Drilling Department functions including maintenance and use of man riding winches (manriders).
The senior department supervisor on duty is directly responsible for the safe use of all manriding winches and in particular for ensuring this procedure is strictly enforced to safeguard all personnel engaged in lifting operations.
All personnel involved in man riding have an individual responsibility to ensure the equipment and procedures are fit for purpose prior to engaging in Manriding Operations.

4. Manriding Operations TRAINING/COMPETENCY
Only personnel trained by a competent supervisor in the correct procedures for the operation and safe use of man riding harnesses and winches may be involved in man riding operations.
A person cannot be deemed competent unless he has been trained and assessed against pre-determined criteria for the task.
Once trained the person must demonstrate he can perform the task to the required standard consistently. Maersk Contractors Drilling Division Aberdeen competency requirements for Manriding Operations are laid out in appendix “D” “Competency Requirements”.

5. Manriding Operations HAND SIGNALS
Only the hand signals as described in appendix A shall be used during manriding operations. No other movement signals shall be used at any time.
Note: NO SIGNAL NO MOVEMENT
The hand signals are in line with cross industry guidelines.
There must be a man (banksman) stationed in such a position that he can see both the winch operator and the man in the riding belt at all times, during the entirety of the operation.
Under no circumstances must manriding operations take place where there is no visual contact between the man aloft, the banksman and the winch operator.
Manriding Operations shall always to be conducted with a minimum of three persons as described above.

6. Manriding Operations PREPARATION FOR MANRIDING OPERATIONS
Only winches identified and marked as being “suitable for manriding” operations may be used for lifting personnel. These winches are painted yellow for identification. And on these winches the following should be fitted:
a) The operating lever automatically returns to the
neutral position when released. The action of pushing
the lever away from the operator lowers the winch and
the action of pulling the lever towards the operator
raises the winch
b) Two automatic brakes which activate when the operating
lever is in the neutral position, or on the loss of power, are
fitted. Or

7. Manriding Operations PREPARATION FOR MANRIDING OPERATIONS
c) One automatic and one manual brake are fitted.
d) The last 50 ft of wire on the drum are painted red to
warn the operator he is approaching the end of the
rope.
e) Winches must be fitted with a line force-limiting
device. Where winches with line force limiting
devices are not fitted, existing winches should be
replaced as soon as possible. Until such time as new
winches are fitted, care should be taken, particularly
where “blind” man riding operations are to be
carried out.

8. Manriding Operations PREPARATION FOR MANRIDING OPERATIONS
f) Winches must be fitted with an emergency stop
device visibly marked and situated at the operators
control station.
g) All winches should be fitted with a device to prevent
inadvertent operation of the winch.
h) An overhoist protection device placed around 4 ft
above the manriding’s head (This could be oversized
link.)
i) Drum Guards

9. Manriding Operations PREPARATION FOR MANRIDING OPERATIONS
j) A Crown block sheave complete with fall protection
for all components including sheave (safety slings).
k) A dedicated and fully certified winch wire rope with a
rope termination that fully complies with the
requirements of L.O.L.E.R.
l) A simple connecting device from the winch to the
harness which can only manually activated. This
could be a “D” shackle with locking pin.

10. Manriding Operations PREPARATION FOR MANRIDING OPERATIONS
m) If practical a secondary/additional fall arrestor fitted
to the harness i.e. inertia reel could be considered.
n) The person man riding is to wear a high visibility
armband and a hard hat with the chinstrap securely
fitted.
o) A full body type harness and lanyards for securing
all tools are required.

11. Manriding Operations PREPARATION FOR MANRIDING OPERATIONS
All man riding winches are inspected weekly. This includes
- a visual check of the wire, achieved by spooling it off the drum,
- examination of the dead end and a function test of the brakes.
These checks shall be entered into the PM system.

12. Manriding Operations
PREPARATION FOR MANRIDING OPERATIONS
Each time a rope is re-terminated the system is load tested to the stall point of the winch against the tie down points. The results of the test shall be recorded in the IADC Drilling report and in PM system records.

13. Manriding Operations PREPARATION FOR MANRIDING OPERATIONS
The traveling block shall not be moved nor the string rotated while personnel are working in the derrick on a man riding winch. The casing stabbing board shall not be moved whilst there is a man working aloft on a man riding winch. If ongoing operations require both man riding and stabbing board use then the stabbing board must be set at the desired height prior to the man riding operation taking place.
NB Once man riding operations commence no other operations are to be conducted at the same time in the vicinity of the man riding operations.

14. Manriding Operations PREPARATION FOR MANRIDING OPERATIONS
Where fitted, the drill string compensator shall be locked prior to hoisting personnel into the derrick on a man riding winch.
P & I Manual Procedure must be considered regarding wind speed.
No man riding operations will be conducted through the rotary nor shall man riding operations be conducted between decks. Man riding winches should be supplied in the areas that the intended tasks are to take place.

15. Manriding Operations PREPARATION FOR MANRIDING OPERATIONS
There must be a man (banksman) stationed in such a position that he can see both the winch operator and the man in the riding belt at all times during the entirety of the operation.
Under no circumstances shall man riding operations take place where there is no visual contact between the man aloft, the banksman and the winch operator.

16. Manriding Operations
PREPARATION FOR MANRIDING OPERATIONS
Radios may be used as an aid to communications where detailed instructions are required to be exchanged during the operation.
However radios MUST NOT AND SHALL NOT be used as a sole means of communication between the person man riding and the winch operator.
Further the radios shall not replace hand signals as the means by which movement is communicated and achieved.

17. Preparation of Personnel
Manriding Operations
Preparation of Personnel
Two people are assigned to co-ordinate each man riding operation- one to operate the winch and one to act as banksman.
Before beginning any man riding operation the senior supervisor in charge shall ensure: a Permit to Work and the Pre-Manriding checklist has been completed. Those checks shall include but not be limited to:
a) All personnel involved are correctly trained/competent and fully briefed in both the task and the hand signals/communications to be used.

18. Preparation of Personnel
Manriding Operations
Preparation of Personnel
b) Harnesses are thoroughly inspected to confirm the absence of defects and have correct certification.
c) Harnesses and appropriate PPE are used and correctly fitted. And hard hat is secured with a chin strap.
d) The man riding winch is function tested for correct operation.
e) Communications are tested and understood.
f) The man in the harness should not be connected to the winch wire until the traveling equipment is stopped.

19. Preparation of Personnel
Manriding Operations
Preparation of Personnel
g) Toolbox talk held and risk assessment carried out and recorded before each operation is commenced.
h) Tools and equipment taken aloft must be secured by means of a lanyard to safe anchor point i.e. the winch wire (???).
i) A personal check must be made to ensure that no loose items are retained in the lifted crew member’s pockets.
j) The man riding register shall be filled in by the responsible person prior to any man riding operation.
k) An emergency plan is ready and understood by all concerned.

20. Manriding Operations Operation
During and at the end of man riding operations:
The banksman co-ordinates man riding lifting operations. He shall:
Remain in sight of both man working aloft and the winch operator and control winch operation as signaled by the man aloft.
Ensure that any area below the man aloft is kept clear and that no personnel stand or work below him.
The winch man shall remain by the winch and operate it as instructed by the nominated banksman and only by him.

21. Manriding Operations Operation
The man riding the winch shall maintain contact with the banksman.
At the end of the operation a debriefing will take place and the area will be cleared for the next operation to take place safely.
Note: Should any part of the operation change that was not planned or discussed at the briefings or any personnel that commenced the task be required to change then the operation will stop immediately and further briefings take place. This may involve a further risk assessment.

22. Pre-Manriding Check list
Manriding Operations
Pre-Manriding Check list
The Pre-Manriding checklists are to be used to ensure that all precautions and procedures used to control man riding operations have been accounted for prior to and at the end of the task.

23. Manriding Operations Emergency Plans
Although the purpose of risk assessments, planning, toolbox talks etc. is to reduce the possibility of incidents occurring to A.L.A.R.P. , the possibility of an incident occurring and a plan of actions to be taken in the unlikely event of an incident must be considered prior to any task being undertaken.
The same applies to man riding operations, therefore it is prudent to include this as part of a risk assessment, plans, toolbox talks etc.

24. Manriding Operations Emergency Plans
These “Emergency Plans” could include the use of:
- How long has the man been in the harness, therefore can he safely remain where he is whilst repairs are ongoing.
Availability and use of a secondary winch.
Availability and use of a cherry picker.
Availability and use of a rescue basket.
Fitting an emergency manual lowering device on the main winch (this is not a free fall device rather a controlled device).
Alternative supply to winch such as nitrogen or rig air.
Radios, spare harnesses, rope, spare shackles or stabbing board.

25. Overside Work and Radios
Manriding Operations
Overside Work and Radios
Where man riding operations are to be conducted overside and/or with radios then careful planning and communication is required:
The standby boat shall be called, shall be at close standby and be able to maintain close standby prior to the task commencing.
Radios shall be used and a close standby watch maintained with direct contact with the Control Room (on a Semi-Submersible) or Radio Room (on a Jack up). The standby watch shall keep the person in sight at all times during the task.

26. Overside Work and Radios
Manriding Operations
Overside Work and Radios
The radios shall be fully charged prior to use, maintained and fully operational.
A single dedicated channel shall be used with that has no other traffic.
UHF radios are to be used.
Recognized radio protocol is to be observed at all times i.e. the use of term “over” when you have completed your statements.
No chatting over the radio when operations are ongoing.
Radios shall be returned after use, checked for correct operation and condition and then placed on charge.
Items ‘b - h’ applies to using radios to assist topside man riding operations.

27. Manriding Operations Documentation Manufacturer’s Instructions
Permit to Work Procedure
Statutory Instruments
Procedure – Adverse Weather Policy
Risk Assessments
Step Change in Safety Best Practice Guide to Man-riding Safety.
Filing
Man-riding Register
Pre-Man-riding Checklist
Training and Competency Records.