CAPP Standard Practice for Safe Lifting Practices – Canada Offshore
This document provides the industry-accepted best practices for safe lifting operations in the offshore petroleum sector in Atlantic Canada. It covers the design, operation, maintenance and use of lifting equipment — including offshore cranes, containers, loose gear and other lifting devices — to ensure safe and compliant material handling in marine/offshore environments. Including this guide in the Knowledge Centre offers a valuable reference for companies involved in offshore lifting operations, to align with global safety standards and reduce risks.
Summary of the Standard Practice
Key takeaways from the CAPP Safe Lifting Practice (SLP) include:
- The practice applies to all “materials handling equipment” used offshore: pedestal cranes, shipboard & subsea cranes, lifting containers, loose gear, heavy-lift devices and other lifting equipment used on marine installations or vessels.
- All lifting equipment must be appropriately designed, certified and maintained. Offshore cranes must meet accepted offshore-standards (e.g. classification society and relevant ISO/API/EN norms) depending on crane type and installation.
- Safe-load indicators (SLI), load charts, overload protection, correct hook and lifting-gear design (hooks with latches, certified slings/gear) are mandatory for offshore lifting.
- Inspection, testing and maintenance regimes must be in place. Wire-ropes, sheaves, blocks and structural/crane components must be regularly inspected, tested and maintained.
- For each lift, a proper lift plan and risk assessment must be prepared: including type of load, environmental conditions (sea state, weather), vessel/installation motion, crane configuration, load path, personnel competence, and rescue/recovery measures where relevant.
- Roles and responsibilities are clearly defined: operator/employer, crane operator, rigger/load handler, banksman, third-party inspectors, certifying authorities — each with duties in safe operation, maintenance, inspections and documentation.
Practical Relevance for Offshore & Heavy-Lifting Operations
Implementing this Standard Practice helps to:
- Guarantee that all lifting gear and cranes offshore are designed, certified and maintained for their intended tasks — reducing risk of mechanical failure, overloads or structural breakdowns.
- Ensure that lifting operations follow strict procedures: from pre-lift planning, risk assessment, through execution and post-lift inspection — especially critical in offshore environments with dynamic loads, motion and variable conditions.
- Provide clarity on responsibilities — ensuring that operators, riggers, inspectors and management all understand and fulfil their roles in safe lifting operations.
- Meet regulatory and class-society requirements applicable to offshore installations (design, certification, maintenance, inspection, safe-operating limits) — aiding compliance and audit readiness.
- Protect personnel safety and operational integrity: by following a globally recognised standard for offshore lifting, you minimise risk to people, equipment and environment.
This guidance is especially important for companies involved in offshore construction, installation, decommissioning, heavy-lift operations, marine transport of cargo/containers, shipboard lifting, subsea operations — sectors where safe lifting and handling equipment is vital.
Official Source / Reference
The CAPP Safe Lifting Practice is issued by Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), under reference “Atlantic Canada Offshore Petroleum Industry Safe Lifting Practice” (publication 2023, updated/reissued).
The document is publicly available via CAPP / offshore-regulator websites in PDF format.
Related Knowledge Articles
- Hoisting and Rigging Safety Manual
- CPA / ALLMI Best Practice Guide – Safe Use of Lorry Loaders
- Guidance on Lifting Operations Using Excavators
- CPA Best Practice in Climbing of Tower Cranes
- Checklist for Safe Transport of Oversized Components
Ready to Improve Safety and Compliance?
Using the CAPP Safe Lifting Practice ensures your offshore lifting operations meet internationally respected safety and compliance standards.
Download the guide via this link and embed its principles into your company’s offshore lifting procedures — for safer operations, better documentation and reduced liability.
