LTI: Crew member crushed finger when opening fire flap

  • Safety Flash
  • Published on 16 February 2023
  • Generated on 13 December 2024
  • IMCA SF 05/23
  • 3 minute read

A crew member injured his finger while opening an emergency fire flap.

What happened?

The incident occurred after an annual test of the deluge system during which the emergency fire flaps had to be closed. Two crew members were releasing the securing butterfly nuts on the fire flap for the emergency generator. The final nut would not release owing to air pressure on the flap.

A rope was attached to the hatch and pulled to reduce the pressure, to allow the butterfly nut to be released and to prevent potential uncontrolled swing of the hatch due to pressure build up.

As the last butterfly nut was released, one of the workers got his index finger accidentally jammed between the hatch door and the frame as his colleague was still pulling the hatch in the opposite direction. His finger was crushed; he was sent ashore to hospital, where x-rays revealed a broken finger.

As the last butterfly nut was released, one of the workers got his  index finger accidentally jammed between the hatch door and the frame as his  colleague was still pulling the hatch in the opposite direction. His finger was crushed;  he was sent ashore to hospital, where X-rays revealed a broken finger

Crew member sustained a broken finger

What went wrong?

Our Member’s investigation noted the following:

  • Risk seen as tolerable – the work party considered the work to be safe. There was inadequate understanding of the risks involved: opening and closing of fire flaps was not captured during Toolbox Talks, nor in the Risk Assessment for the annual inspection on the deluge system.

  • There was a lack of proper planning, and there were inadequate resources – the weight of hatch door was not taken into consideration when assigning the job. Also an inappropriate tool was used (a rope) to ease the pressure on the nut.

  • No Stop Work authority was exercised – The job should have been stopped and reassessed when the team came across difficulty in releasing the nut.
Two crew members were  releasing the securing butterfly nuts on the fire flap for the emergency  generator. The final nut would not release owing to air pressure on the flap. A rope  was attached to the hatch and pulled to reduce the pressure, to allow the butterfly  nut to be released and to prevent potential uncontrolled swing of the hatch due to  pressure build up

Unable to release one butterfly nut

AB to tie a rope and pull the  hatch in the opposite direction in  order to ease the pressure. (AB  cannot see colleague)

AB tied a rope to the hatch and pulled it to reduce pressure on the hatch (AB cannot see colleague)

Butterfly nut finally  released…

Butterfly nut finally released...

Trying to open the hatch  while AB is still pulling the  rope in the opposite  direction. Finger caught  when hatch closed

Trying to open the hatch while AB is still pulling rope in the opposite direction; finger caught when hatch closed

Lessons learned

  • Ensure suitable and sufficient risk assessment is conducted for all tasks, whether routine or non routine, and that all aspects of the task are covered.

  • Ensure all personnel involved in any operation are properly briefed in detail during toolbox talks regarding hazards associated with the task, and controls in place to ensure safe and smooth operation.

  • Risk Assessments and toolbox talks are not one-way conversations, but an opportunity for ALL team members to speak up and ask questions, discuss the task, ensure all control measures are in place and that everyone is clear on their duties and responsibilities during the job.

  • If you need to change things, don’t just carry on: exercise the Stop Work Authority. Stop, step back, and reassess the task to find a safer, easier alternative.

  • Understand “Line of Fire” – see IMCA short video here and longer video here.

Latest Safety Flashes:

LTI: Finger injury during emergency recovery of ROV

A worker suffered a serious finger injury when their finger was caught between a crane wire and the recovery hook on an ROV.

Read more
BSEE: recurring hand injuries from alternative cutting devices

The United States Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has published Safety Alert 487.

Read more
NTSB: Crane wire failure

The National Transportation Safety Board of the United States (NTSB) published "Safer Seas Digest 2023".

Read more
Hot work performed outside of Permit to Work (PTW) boundary limit

A near miss occurred when a third-party contractor working removed a trip hazard from the vessel main deck, using a cutting torch and grinding disc.

Read more
Vital safety information (height of vehicle) found incorrect

“Height of vehicle” information displayed on a truck, was found to be incorrect.

Read more

IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.

The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.

All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.

IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.

The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual's or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.

Share your safety incidents with IMCA online. Sign-up to receive Safety Flashes straight to your email.