Safety Flash
Hand injury during O₂ handling and equipment maintenance
Hand injury during O₂ handling and equipment maintenance
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 10/12
- ExplosionHand and Finger InjuriesInspection and MaintenancePressure Systems
- Ageing, life extension and obsolescenceExplosionHand and finger injuriesMechanical failurePressure systems
- Inspection and maintenance
- Gas cylinderHand toolsPersonal protective equipmentProcess pipework and pipelinesValve
- Competence and trainingOperating and work proceduresPre-use checksPreventive maintenance
- Marine industry
- Vessel
Summary
An explosion during an oxygen quad change on a diving support vessel caused second-degree burns to both hands despite gloves. The precise cause remained undetermined. Findings addressed regulator age, unsuitable thread tape, uncontrolled venting and maintenance deficiencies; actions covered servicing, replacement, compatible fittings, dedicated tools and pre-use checks.
Classifications: Ageing, life extension and obsolescence.
Classifications: Explosion; explosive atmospheres.
Classifications: Hand and finger injuries; finger injury; hand injury.
Classifications: Mechanical failure; equipment failure.
Classifications: Pressure systems; stored pressure; pressurised systems; pressurized systems.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Gas cylinder; compressed gas bottle; gas cylinders.
Classifications: Hand tools; hand-held tools; handheld tools.
Classifications: Personal protective equipment; PPE; personal protection equipment.
Classifications: Process pipework and pipelines; process piping.
Classifications: Valve; valves.
Classifications: Competence and training; competency assurance; safety training.
Classifications: Operating and work procedures.
Classifications: Pre-use checks; pre-use inspection.
Classifications: Preventive maintenance; preventative maintenance; planned maintenance.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Vessel; aboard ship; onboard vessel.
Summary
A regulator failure caused an oxygen blast that seriously burned both hands, with equipment age, contamination and poor maintenance identified as contributors.
IMCA SF 10/12. Themes: explosion, hand and finger injuries, inspection and maintenance, pressure systems.