IMCA draws lessons learned from an incident where an electrician and a trainee suffered minor chemical burns during dishwasher repairs aboard a vessel, highlighting the dangers of overlooking chemical hazards.
An electrician and a trainee were repairing an industrial dishwasher onboard a vessel. During the repair, some detergent leaked, and the trainee got some on his hands while cleaning up. The electrician got water mixed with detergent on his knees and safety shoes. Both suffered slight chemical burns.
What went right?
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The repair of the dishwasher was conducted with proper regard for electrical isolation.
What went wrong?
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The fact that the detergent, with a pH of 14 and containing sodium hydroxide, was a “hazardous substance” was not considered – Hazardous Substance Register was not consulted.
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There was no warning label on dishwasher to identify that there was corrosive detergent inside.
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In use detergents were stored so that labels/warnings were not visible.
Lessons learned
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Don’t overlook secondary hazards (the detergent) when focusing on primary ones (the electricity).
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Involve all appropriate stakeholders to ensure a full understanding of risks – particularly if working outside your normal domain.
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Clearly mark and identify known hazards to ensure good shared awareness.
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If you find an unidentified water-like liquid on the floor or leaking from a container, always think of the worst-case scenario and wear PPE accordingly.
