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Faulty bevel machine trolley

A member has reported that when a pipe joint was landed on a bevel station conveyor and whilst the operator was removing the sling from this pipe with his right hand and resting his left hand on a vertical beam in the bevelling cabin, the powered trolley on the bevel machine (not in use at the time) moved forward without warning, trapping the operator’s left hand between the bevelling machine and the vertical beam, causing a fracture injury.

On investigation it was found that there was excessive wear on the drive wheel of the bevel machine trolley and the compensation had been adjusted to the limit. There was also a defective control valve and this caused uncontrolled movement of the hoist.

It was also discovered that the operator had noted a fault with the trolley the previous day, but had not reported this to his supervisor or barge management.

Key lessons noted by the company:

  • All equipment faults/defects to be reported by operators immediately on detection.
  • All control valves on all powered trolleys to be checked for integrity.
  • Bevelling machines and associated equipment to be included as part of PMS.
  • Hold toolbox talks with all machinery operators to stress the importance of reporting all equipment defects however trivial they may think they are.

Safety Event

Published: 1 July 2002
Download: IMCA SF 05/02

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