Skip to content

This is not a drill…an LTI during a drill (MSF)

What happened

The Marine Safety Forum (MSF) reports in Safety Alert 22-08 an incident in which someone was injured during a drill. Crew on a vessel were undertaking a programme of drills and exercises. A stretcher and casualty handling drill was being conducted on-board the vessels daughter craft when the incident occurred.

As part of the scenario and setting the scene, one person was to close the door of the daughter craft. He placed his right hand on the inner door frame not realising that his thumb was overlapping on the inside of the frame. He used his left hand to close the door with force, entrapping his right thumb and inflicting a severe open fracture. His wound was cleaned and dressed, and he was subsequently medevac’d to shore.

What went wrong

Subsequent investigation determined that the root cause was lack of situational awareness and poor judgement.  Though a very experienced seafarer, he “got carried away” – he had lost focus on his own actions and was concerned with ensuring that the exercise was being completed correctly.

Actions

  • Check whether door design can be amended to assess potential preventative measures;
  • Use a ‘Time Out for Safety’ to highlight the trapping point and raising awareness of the potential hazard on the cabin door frame.

Members may wish to refer to:


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.

IMCA’s store terms and conditions (https://www.imca-int.com/legal-notices/terms/) apply to all downloads from IMCA’s website, including this document.

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.