Finger injury during shackle handling

  • Safety Flash
  • Published on 13 July 2023
  • Generated on 23 June 2025
  • IMCA SF 17/23
  • 1 minute read

During a pennant wire spooling operation, the injured person was trying to remove a 35 tonne SWL shackle from the pennant eye. 

What happened?

While trying to jiggle the shackle, it landed on the person's left middle finger causing a crush injury 1.5cm long.

During a pennant wire spooling operation, the injured person was trying to remove a 35 tonne SWL shackle from the pennant eye. While trying to jiggle the shackle, it landed on his left middle finger causing a crush injury 1.5cm long.
• The task supervisor (the Bosun) saw the crew person holding the shackle but did not warn him or intervene; • There was no last minute risk assessment carried out; • The shackle as initially used was the wrong size.

What went wrong?

  • The task supervisor (the Bosun) saw the crew person holding the shackle but did not warn him or intervene.

  • There was no last minute risk assessment carried out.

  • The shackle as initially used was the wrong size.

Actions

  • The task supervisor is in charge to control the operation, ensure it is safely conducted, and that the proper tools are used. It is the responsibility of the task supervisor to intervene.

  • Use appropriate tools such as crow bars and hammers to release heavy shackles, rather than your hands. Do not expose your hands by handling heavy items.

Latest Safety Flashes:

NTSB: Vessel crane contact with shore-side crane

The National Transportation Safety Board of the United States (NTSB) has published a report and an investigation.

Read more
Dropped pallet during forklift operation

A pallet containing a load weighing 500kg dropped off a flatbed truck in close proximity to a delivery driver.

Read more
Dropped object hazard: access hatch to the communication dome

During a routine scheduled safety inspection of the main mast, it was discovered that the access hatch to one of the communication domes had fallen off.

Read more
Lock out/Tag out and unauthorised electrical connections/disconnections
Read more
MAIB: Is your Lead-Acid battery safe?

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch has published Safety Digest 1/2025, consisting of lessons from recent Marine Accident Reports.

Read more
More Safety from IMCA

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.

We may use anonymised cookies for some functionality on this site. With your consent, we would also like to use tracking to improve our online offering. Find out more.