Safety Flash
Lost time injury (LTI): Finger injury during main engine exhaust valve overhaul
Lost time injury (LTI): Finger injury during main engine exhaust valve overhaul
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 28/17
- Hand and Finger InjuriesHuman FactorsIsolationLine of Fire
- Crushing and pinch pointsHand and finger injuriesHuman factorsLine of fire
- Inspection and maintenance
- Valve
- Energy and process isolationLockout and tagoutRisk assessmentSafety communication
- Marine industry
- Vessel
Summary
An engineer lost his fingertip when compressed air was reopened while he cleaned an exhaust valve seat after overhaul and testing. The flash identifies misunderstood hand signals in a noisy engine room and failure to disconnect the air, with actions addressing communication, risk assessment and familiarisation with lockout/tagout procedures.
Classifications: Crushing and pinch points; crush hazards; pinch points.
Classifications: Hand and finger injuries; finger injury; hand injury.
Classifications: Human factors; human performance; ergonomics.
Classifications: Line of fire; struck-by hazards.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Valve; valves.
Classifications: Energy and process isolation; isolation; energy isolation.
Classifications: Lockout and tagout; LOTO; lockout/tagout.
Classifications: Risk assessment; hazard assessment.
Classifications: Safety communication; toolbox talk; toolbox talks.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Vessel; aboard ship; onboard vessel.
Summary
An engineer suffered a crushed finger when there was an unplanned movement of a main engine exhaust valve during maintenance.
IMCA SF 28/17. Themes: hand and finger injuries, human factors, isolation, line of fire.