Marine Safe Australia – Hand injuries
- Safety Flash
- Published on 8 September 2014
- Generated on 13 February 2026
- IMCA SF 15/14
- 1 minute read
Marine Safe Australia has published a safety flash covering a number of hand injuries including the following:
Hand injury when folding aluminium ladder
While folding a four part hinged folding ladder to place it back to its stowage position, a person got his hand squeezed at the hinge part.
Severe hand injury – rotating machinery
A newly installed generator was started without belt guards in place. A person’s finger got caught by the V-belt which resulted in fracture and deep laceration to the index finger. The potential could have been loss of finger/hand.
Serious injury - top of thumb amputated
The V-belts of an air compressor were found to be slack after it was installed the previous day. A crewman decided to tension/reposition them again. While trying to check the tension of the V-belts, by manually rotating the assembly, his thumb got stuck between the V-belt and pulley wheel. This resulted in the top of his thumb being amputated.
Amended August 2023
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.