Injuries to the eyes and face

A member reports a number of incidents where crew have sustained injuries to the face.

Eye and face injuries are always a serious matter. IMCA has relayed these incidents to you as a timely and important reminder to stop and think about risks and hazards, about your position – how you are stood or sat –  when working, and about how you do certain tasks you may consider routine.

Incident 1 – self-inflicted wound from a screwdriver

What happened

A crew member was using a large screwdriver to pry out a jammed bit from a grub screw. The prying was done upwards; the screwdriver slipped and hit the person in his left cheek. He sustained a 30-40 mm cut, 4-5 mm deep.

What went wrong

The wrong tool was used; the injured person made no ongoing or continuous assessment of the risk involved of the screwdriver slipping.

What are the actions?

Just stop and think for a minute before applying force to tools that could slip and fly back into your face. Could you get this task done in a different and more safe way? If not – consider your position – have some “spatial awareness”, and wear appropriate PPE.

Incident 2 – LTI: face injury from unplanned release of hydraulic fluid

What happened

On a vessel alongside, the vessel crane driver suffered an injury to his face and left eye while in the process of setting up to remove a 8 cm (3-inch) hydraulic accumulator pressure hose. The injury occurred as a result of an unplanned release of pressurized hydraulic fluid from that hose flange.

The injured crane driver received first aid on board; the leak was stopped. The client was informed, and the injured person was taken to hospital ashore.

What went wrong

Our member discerned the following causes:

• Failure to follow rules and regulations;
• Failure to follow repair/ maintenance instructions;
• Operating equipment or machinery without authority.

Actions

• Ensure there are clear and concise written instructions for planned work;
• Refresher training on Permit to Work awareness and Hazard Identification for all crew.

This incident may be dealt with in more detail in a later Safety Flash.

Incident 3 – Left eye irritation from airborne foreign object

What happened

• On a vessel alongside, a crew person felt an irritation in the left eye, while working on the back deck in windy conditions. Appropriate eye protection was worn (prescription safety glasses with side protection). He reported vessel medic and was assessed. A small speck of debris was identified, which could not be safely flushed or removed with the equipment available on board. The crew member was sent to the local emergency room for further assessment and treatment.

What went wrong

• Conditions were very windy; this had already been noted and work stopped under the “Stop Work Authority”;
• Although the crew member was wearing compliant safety glasses, a foreign object still got into his eye.

Lessons to learn

• Never take shortcuts and perform a task that you know requires eye protection, without wearing it – at all times, wear the appropriate eye protection for the job in hand;
• Use machine guarding, work screens or other engineering controls as applicable;
• Know the location of first aid equipment and eye wash station;
• Exercise Stop Work Authority – raise your voice if you see a potential risk.

Members may wish to refer to:

Protect your eyes – IMCA  video

Incident 1

• Line of fire injury – Man struck in face by hammer
• MSF: Eye Injury Whilst Opening Paint Tin Lid
• Worker sustained severe facial injuries during vessel maintenance

Incident 1 and incident 2

• Lost time injury (LTI): Stored pressure release – Crewman lost an eye
• BBC news: worker loses hand after he was injured with faulty hydraulic cutting gear

Incident 3

• Eye injury: Crewman got something in his eye when removing his PPE
• There’s something in my eye