Safety Flash
Chemical burns to body
Chemical burns to body
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 20/22
- Competence and TrainingHazardous SubstancesLeadership and CulturePersonal Protective Equipment
- Hazardous substancesLeadership and safety culture
- Fluid transferInspection and maintenance
- Personal protective equipment
- Competence and trainingOperating and work proceduresOperational supervisionStop-work authority
- Marine industry
- Vessel
Summary
A recently joined vessel engineer suffered a severe chemical burn while decanting carbon remover for purifier maintenance. Posted instructions were not followed and chemical PPE was not worn; a less hazardous alternative was available. Lessons emphasise comprehensive familiarisation, supervised induction, competence assessment and confidence to stop unsafe work.
Classifications: Hazardous substances; hazardous chemicals; chemical exposure.
Classifications: Leadership and safety culture; safety culture; safety leadership.
Classifications: Fluid transfer; fluid loading; fluid offloading.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Personal protective equipment; PPE; personal protection equipment.
Classifications: Competence and training; competency assurance; safety training.
Classifications: Operating and work procedures.
Classifications: Operational supervision.
Classifications: Stop-work authority; stop work; stop-work intervention.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Vessel; aboard ship; onboard vessel.
Summary
A new engineer suffered severe chemical burns while transferring cleaning chemical without following instructions or using required protection.
IMCA SF 20/22. Themes: competence and training, hazardous substances, leadership and culture, personal protective equipment.