LTI: Finger injury while using ‘safe hands’ tool

What happened?

Step Change in Safety reports an incident in which a crewman sustained a finger injury while using a ‘safe hands’ tool to manoeuvre a container into place. Crew were working to move load handling containers onto the skid deck using a ‘safe hands’ tool (blind lift).

A container was landed onto the skid deck. As it was being manoeuvred into position against the back skid rail, the container moved to the right. The crewman moved towards the side of the container and during this process his hand (which was placed at the back end of the ‘safe hands’ tool) came into contact with a scaffold rack. His finger was nipped between the scaffolding rack and the butt of the ‘safe hands’ tool, resulting in the loss of the tip of one of his fingers.

Operations were stopped and the load made safe. A time out for safety was held with the deck crew to review practices and the risk assessment.

What went wrong? What were the causes?

• Although all personnel on the job were competent and experienced in conducting the task, the focus and attention of the injured person was on moving the container and not on his immediate surrounding;
• The gap between the container and the scaffolding rack was not identified as a hazard before starting the job;
• The load handler’s hand was at the back of the ‘safe hands’ tool and out of his view and focus.

See here for the Step Change Safety Moment.

Members may wish to refer to the following incident:

• Line of fire LTI: Finger injury during lifting operations

IMCA publishes a wide range of safety promotional material including the following:

• Line of fire (pocket card and short video)
• In the line of fire (longer video)