Mars Report 2012 – Experience Feedback
The Nautical Institute has issued Mars Report No. 52 regarding a serious hand injury on board concluding in fingertip severed.
Whilst attempting to lower the purifier bowl assembly on to its overhauling stand, the fourth engineer’s left index finger got trapped between the bowl and the upper surface of the workbench. The tip of the finger was severed.
Result of investigation
1 The overhead rail of the travelling chain hoist was not vertically above the bowl overhauling stand, requiring the user to pull on the suspended bowl assembly and guide it into the stand manually. This increased the risk of injury to fingers;
2 Although a routine risk assessment was carried out before commencing the task, it was too generic in nature and did not address the specific hazards and risks involved in the operation;
3 Sufficient number of crew were assigned for the job;
4 The fourth engineer was fully fit, alert, sufficiently rested and wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). He had previously served on the same vessel in the past and was fully conversant with routine tasks;
5 Although the stand had been wrongly positioned ever since the vessel was commissioned, no modification request was raised by ship’s staff;
6 None of the crew assigned to the task recognised the obvious danger arising from the wrong working practice employed – i.e. positioning a large, heavy object by hand whilst it is being lowered;
7 There appeared to be a training gap on board – no senior engineer or rating had coached the young fourth engineer on safe working practices;
8 The same arrangements in the purifier room of a sister vessel were correct in all respects with the hoist plumbing the purifiers and the overhauling stand.
For more information and to view relative photos, please click Mars Report 2012 – No. 52 : Serious hand Injury – fingertip severed
Source: Mars/Nautical Institute
