Safety Flash
LTI: Contact with refrigerant gas causing hand injury
LTI: Contact with refrigerant gas causing hand injury
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 10/17
- Hand and Finger InjuriesHazardous SubstancesIsolationLine of Fire
- Hand and finger injuriesHazardous substancesLine of fireLoss of containmentPressure systems
- Fluid transferInspection and maintenance
- Hand toolsPersonal protective equipmentValve
- Competence and trainingInjury reportingJob safety analysisPermit to work
- Marine industry
- Vessel
Summary
An engineer sustained severe freezing burns to both hands after inadvertently opening a valve while checking a vessel’s operating air-conditioning system. The flash examines ratchet direction, exposure to released refrigerant, inadequate task assessment and unsuitable gloves, and sets out actions concerning training, permits, discharge arrangements and prompt injury reporting.
Classifications: Hand and finger injuries; finger injury; hand injury.
Classifications: Hazardous substances; hazardous chemicals; chemical exposure.
Classifications: Line of fire; struck-by hazards.
Classifications: Loss of containment; containment loss.
Classifications: Pressure systems; stored pressure; pressurised systems; pressurized systems.
Classifications: Fluid transfer; fluid loading; fluid offloading.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Hand tools; hand-held tools; handheld tools.
Classifications: Personal protective equipment; PPE; personal protection equipment.
Classifications: Valve; valves.
Classifications: Competence and training; competency assurance; safety training.
Classifications: Injury reporting.
Classifications: Job safety analysis; JSA; job hazard analysis; JHA.
Classifications: Permit to work; PTW; work permit.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Vessel; aboard ship; onboard vessel.
Summary
An engineer suffered a freezing burn to his hand when there was a leak of refrigerant gas while he was refilling a vessel’s central air conditioning (AC) system.
IMCA SF 10/17. Themes: hand and finger injuries, hazardous substances, isolation, line of fire.