Safety Flash
Crushed finger injury during wire transfer operations
Crushed finger injury during wire transfer operations
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 29/20
- Hand and Finger InjuriesLifting OperationsLine of Fire
- Crushing and pinch pointsHand and finger injuriesHuman factorsLine of fire
- Manual handlingMarine operations
- Hand toolsWire rope
- Risk assessmentSafety communicationStop-work authority
- Marine industry
- Vessel
Summary
A seaman sustained a crushed left index finger while removing a stopper chain during tow-wire transfer aboard a vessel. Premature removal of a crowbar allowed the wire to fall onto his hand. The flash examines routine-task complacency and unreviewed risk assessment, emphasising assessment, communication and keeping hands clear.
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: Manual handling; manual lifting.
Classifications: Marine operations; maritime operations.
Classifications: Hand tools; hand-held tools; handheld tools.
Classifications: Wire rope; steel wire rope.
Classifications: Risk assessment; hazard assessment.
Classifications: Safety communication; toolbox talk; toolbox talks.
Classifications: Stop-work authority; stop work; stop-work intervention.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Vessel; aboard ship; onboard vessel.
Summary
The crew used a crowbar to try and free the stopper chain from the wire. This was done by inserting the crowbar underneath the wire to lift it up from the deck. One of the ABs was removing the stopper chain whilst the crow bar held it up. However, the crowbar was removed too early resulting in the wire falling to the deck whilst his hand was still underneath it. This resulted in a crush injury to the left index finger.
IMCA SF 29/20. Themes: hand and finger injuries, lifting operations, line of fire.