Safety Flash
Near miss: grinder disc rotation set up in the wrong direction
Near miss: grinder disc rotation set up in the wrong direction
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 13/22
- DivingMachinery and EquipmentManagement of Change
- Diving operations
- Grinding equipment
- Operating and work proceduresPre-use checksStop-work authority
- Subsea
Summary
A diver’s pre-operational checks identified reversed disc rotation on a GR29 underwater grinder modified for left-handed cutting, creating a risk of the cutting disc lock nut coming off. Work stopped and the tool was quarantined. The flash describes changing handle and guard orientation while retaining the original rotation direction.
Classifications: Diving operations; diving; commercial diving.
Classifications: Grinding equipment; angle grinder; grinding wheel.
Classifications: Operating and work procedures.
Classifications: Pre-use checks; pre-use inspection.
Classifications: Stop-work authority; stop work; stop-work intervention.
Classifications: Subsea; underwater worksite.
Summary
In preparation for a forthcoming dive a GR29 underwater grinder was requested to be set up by the topside technician to be used for left-handed cutting to assist in gaining access to the cut.
IMCA SF 13/22. Themes: diving, machinery and equipment, management of change.