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Hand and finger injuries

What happened

Hand and finger injuries continue to be a significant theme in the incidents shared with IMCA by its members. This is a summary of two recent examples from members.

STOP! Take the time to think things through before starting work. Your hands and fingers are the best tools you have – and you only have one set of them.

Incident 1: Crush injury to right hand small finger

A worker suffered a crushed right little finger whilst moving the moonpool door ram. The ram was placed on a flat pallet at the time, so the potential for movement was high. The movement of the ram crushed the worker’s finger causing a spit in the skin and a fracture.

What went wrong

  • Although a toolbox talk had been conducted, including a basic risk assessment for manual handling activities, the full scope of the work had not been adequately assessed;
  • No-one stopped to think and reassess the additional hazard: that the ram would move, was not foreseen.
The moonpool door opening ram, after the incident

Lessons

  • Look at the ENTIRE situation – consider the use of ABBIE (Above, Behind, Below, Inside and Environment);
  • Ensure task-specific risk assessment is sufficiently thorough;
  • If the job changes – STOP, re-assess, if necessary, activate a “Management of Change” process;
  • Remember you can and should STOP THE JOB if you think it is unsafe – don’t just carry on!

Incident 2: First Aid Case – OUCH! A completely unnecessary hand injury

When removing the ceiling plates in the main deck instrument room, a worker cut his hand on a ceiling plate, which had sharp edges. The worker was not wearing gloves – as should have been the case. Wearing gloves would have prevented the injury.

roof panels

Lessons

  • Watch where you put your hands! It’s so easy just to do it – DON’T! STOP and THINK;
  • PPE is there for a reason – use it. Gloves you can replace: fingers and hands, you can’t.

Members may wish to refer to:

You can browse the database of incidents yourself here: https://www.imca-int.com/safety-events/ and type in “finger” or “hand” in the search box to review 192 or 732 incidents respectively!

Safety Event

Published: 22 May 2024
Download: IMCA SF 10/24

Relevant life-saving rules:
IMCA Safety Flashes
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IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of all. The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on Members sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Please consider adding [email protected] to your internal distribution list for safety alerts or manually submitting information on incidents you consider may be relevant. All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate.

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IMCA makes every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained in the documents it publishes, but IMCA shall 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.