Safety Alert
Unprotected Flywheel Results in a Fatality
Unprotected Flywheel Results in a Fatality
- IADC
- Safety Alert
- IADC Alert 03-25
- Line of FireMachinery and Equipment
- EntanglementHand and finger injuries
- Inspection and maintenance
- Rotating machinery
- Machine guarding
Summary
This alert describes a fatal entanglement inside a container housing a generator used to power winch testing. While colleagues investigated engine fluctuations and planned a filter change, a motorman removed his jacket, which became caught in an unguarded balance wheel pulley assembly. He sustained an amputated left hand and skull fracture, dying after 15 days in hospital.
Classifications: Entanglement; caught in machinery; drawn into machinery.
Classifications: Hand and finger injuries; finger injury; hand injury.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Rotating machinery; rotating equipment.
Classifications: Machine guarding; machinery guards; machine guards.
Summary
An unguarded flywheel created a fatal contact hazard.
IADC Alert 03-25. Themes: line of fire, machinery and equipment.