Lost time injury (LTI): Thumb laceration
- Safety Flash
- Published on 4 April 2014
- Generated on 7 November 2025
- IMCA SF 04/14
- 2 minute read
A Member has reported an incident in which a crew member was injured when a can of enamel spray paint failed under pressure and parted along the seam.
What happened?
The crew member suffered a significant laceration to his right thumb. The incident occurred during a ‘routine’ maintenance when the crew member was about to start painting.
Upon inspection of the can, there were signs of corrosion along the seam of the can, which has caused the can to part unexpectedly under pressure.
Aerosol spray paint can from same batch as ruptured can
Ruptured aerosol can showing evidence of corrosion along seam
Our member’s investigation revealed the following:
- There was noticeable corrosion of the seam of the aerosol can.
- The vessel had been operating in humid tropical climates over the past 12 months, which may have caused more rapid corrosion and deterioration of the aerosol can.
- There was no system in place to monitor receipt of chemicals or the time the chemicals had been on board.
Our member took the following actions:
- Thorough visual inspection of all aerosol cans on board and also fleet wide globally.
- Amended procedures for dealing with chemicals and other substances hazardous to health, to record when chemicals are received on board and set a maximum usage period.
- Reviewed company list of approved chemicals and see if it was practical to reduce number of aerosols used;
Related safety flashes
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IMCA SF 09/07
31 October 2007
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IMCA SF 01/03
1 January 2003
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