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Finger injury caused by incorrectly secured console cover - DEV imca
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Finger injury caused by incorrectly secured console cover

What happened?

An incorrectly secured console cover closed in an unplanned and unexpected way, trapping a crew member’s finger, which was injured.  After completing a task on a raised working platform a technician was coming down the steps back down to the deck level. To steady his descent, he placed his hand on the corner of a control console. The console cover dropped unexpectedly to its closed position trapping his smallest finger on his right hand between the console and the edge of the cover.  This guillotine action fractured his finger.

What were the causes? What went wrong?

  • The hinge was found to function correctly, as designed, but the wing nuts that secured the hinge in place had not been sufficiently tightened;
  • The console cover, possibly affected by weather or vessel movement, dropped at the same moment the injured persons finger was placed in the line of fire;
  • The design of the console weather cover hinge was completely reliant on correct wing nut tightening and requires an improved means of securing to avoid similar cover displacements;
  • Hinge mechanisms that do not lock automatically or “lock-safe”, introduce the risk of injury from unintentional or unexpected closing of the covers.

Actions

  • Reiterate the potential risks for injury from being “in the line of fire”;
  • Carry out a “Hazard Hunt” on your vessel to identify all hinged cover mechanisms that have the potential for repeating the incident outlined in this alert;
  • Install improved hinge locking arrangements wherever a significant risk of hand or finger injury is identified.

Members may wish to refer to

Safety Event

Published: 24 July 2020
Download: IMCA SF 22/20

Relevant life-saving rules:
IMCA Safety Flashes
Submit a Report

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 safetyreports@imca-int.com 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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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.