Line of fire injury – Man struck in face by hammer
- Safety Flash
- Published on 22 October 2015
- Generated on 15 August 2025
- IMCA SF 16/15
- 2 minute read
The International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) has published a safety flash regarding an incident where a man was struck inadvertently in the face with a hammer, leading to ‘recordable’ injuries to his face.
What happened?
Two crew members were hammering up bolts on equipment at a well-head. During the pre-job meeting the two men had anticipated getting hit with the hammer while holding the hammer wrench. As a defence they tied an 8cm long piece of rope around the hammer wrench so that one employee could hold a bind on it while the other man swung the hammer. As the two men worked their way around the stack the man holding the rope ended up in the line of fire as he pulled the rope. On one of the swings the hammer glanced off of the top of the hammer wrench. Before the employee could stop the forward momentum of the hammer, it made contact with the man holding the rope striking him in the mouth resulting in injury.
Causes:
Lack of situational awareness, remaining ‘in the line of fire’.
See iadc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/SA-15-07.pdf for further details.
Members are reminded of the IMCA video – In the line of fire.
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.