Injuries to the eyes and face

A crew member was using a large screwdriver to pry out a jammed bit from a grub screw. The prying was done upwards; the screwdriver slipped and hit the person in his left cheek. He sustained a 30-40 mm cut, 4-5 mm deep.

The wrong tool was used; the injured person made no ongoing or continuous assessment of the risk involved of the screwdriver slipping.

On a vessel alongside, the vessel crane driver suffered an injury to his face and left eye while in the process of setting up to remove a 8 cm (3-inch) hydraulic accumulator pressure hose. The injury occurred as a result of an unplanned release of pressurized hydraulic fluid from that hose flange.

The injured crane driver received first aid on board; the leak was stopped. The client was informed, and the injured person was taken to hospital ashore.

Our member discerned the following causes:

• Failure to follow rules and regulations.
• Failure to follow repair/ maintenance instructions.
• Operating equipment or machinery without authority.

On a vessel alongside, a crew person felt an irritation in the left eye, while working on the back deck in windy conditions. Appropriate eye protection was worn (prescription safety glasses with side protection). He reported vessel medic and was assessed. A small speck of debris was identified, which could not be safely flushed or removed with the equipment available on board. The crew member was sent to the local emergency room for further assessment and treatment.

• Conditions were very windy; this had already been noted and work stopped under the “Stop Work Authority”.
• Although the crew member was wearing compliant safety glasses, a foreign object still got into his eye.