LTI: Hand injury during diving operations
- Safety Flash
- Published on 2 June 2021
- Generated on 12 January 2026
- IMCA SF 15/21
- 2 minute read
A Member reports a serious hand injury suffered by a diver working in the water on floating hoses at a single point mooring (SPM).
What happened?
Two divers were working on unbolting the flange on a floating hose on an SPM, one on either side of the hose. They were working together on the same bolts, one using a pneumatic impact wrench, the other, a flogging spanner. One of the divers started to loosen a bolt using the air tool, before the other diver was braced and ready. The flogging spanner held by the other diver jerked rapidly and trapped three fingers of his left hand between the metal plate and flogging spanner, causing a serious injury.
The injured diver was evacuated by small boat and taken to hospital. There were no broken bones but some stitches were needed, following which he was 14 days off work.
What were the causes?
Our Member noted the following causal factors:
- poor communication
- inattentiveness and lack of awareness
- procedures not clear/procedures not followed
- being in an unsafe position or “in the line of fire”
- feeling time pressure to finish the job.
Actions
- Stop and think before you start – hold a toolbox meeting, make sure the task is properly risk assessed.
- Take care how tools are held, and keep yourself out of your own and others’ line of fire.
- Consider the use of extensions to tools or different tools, or different ways of doing the job, if that keeps you out of the line of fire.
Related Safety Flashes
-
IMCA SF 31/16
22 November 2016
-
IMCA SF 18/15
19 November 2015
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.