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MSF: hand injury during stowing of anchor chains
The Marine Safety Forum has published a safety flash regarding an incident in which someone suffered a first aid injury to his hand. The crew were re-stowing the anchor chain after calibration in dry dock. They were trying to get the chain into the compression bar but it was slightly misaligned preventing the bar from closing. They tried lowering and raising the anchor a few times but to no avail. A crewman then successfully used a large pinch bar to turn the link slightly as the chain was raised the last short distance to allow the chain to fit snugly in the compression bar. Unfortunately he failed to notice the pinch bar was now aligned with the handrail on the adjacent bulkhead and as he lowered it his hand was caught between the pinch bar and handrail.
Members may wish to refer to the following similar incidents (key words: crushed, finger):
Hand and finger crush/amputation injuries of this sort tend to occur where the immediate cause is not properly taking into account the risk of sudden and unplanned movement of very heavy or massive objects.
Please see also the following similar incidents:
- Serious hand injury
- Lost time incident (LTI): Laceration to finger
- Lost time injury (LTI): Crewman’s finger pinched when moving the gangway
- Lost time injury (LTI): Trapped finger
Members should be aware that IMCA has a pocket safety card on this topic – Watch your hands.
Safety Event
Published: 2 April 2015
Download: 
IMCA SF 05/15
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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