Work suspended after massive chain falls near crew on offshore rig

Work has been suspended on board one of ExxonMobil's drilling rigs off Nova Scotia after a heavy chain fell near workers.

Five workers were on the deck when a 16-metre, 102-kilogramchain with a shackle fell.No one was injured.

The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board said the incident happenedNov. 5 on the Noble Regina Allen rig, whichis decommissioning wells for the Sable Offshore Energy Project.

Work stopped immediately and operations remain suspended, the board said Thursday in a news release.

"It was determined that it had the potential for fatality, and has thus been classified as a high-potential near miss," said the board.

ExxonMobil and Noble Corporation, the owner of the rig, are investigating the incident.