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Sharp wire: injury during routine maintenance - DEV imca
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Sharp wire: injury during routine maintenance

What happened?

Whilst conducting routine engine maintenance a seafarer caught his arm on a sharp piece of wire, causing the need for medical treatment.  The seafarer was using a spanner to tighten bolts connected to the main engine exhaust system where a piece of sharp reinforcing wire was protruding from some nearby flexible hose.  The spanner slipped, causing the seafarers arm to forcefully come into contact with the wire resulting in a cut requiring medical treatment.

The seafarer visited a shore-side hospital for medical treatment.  After receiving stitches, he was able to return to work.

What was the cause?

The sharp reinforcing wire was sticking out and should not have been.

What lessons were learned?

Before conducting the routine maintenance, a simple check would have highlighted the sharp wire.  The seafarer could then have either removed the wire or, if not possible, bent it back or covered it so as not to cause any harm.

This highlights the need for thorough pre-maintenance checks to prevent or control the potential for unnecessary maintenance related injury.

Members may wish to refer to these injuries with the same immediate cause – unexpected, undetected and inappropriate sharp edges in the workplace:

Safety Event

Published: 18 December 2018
Download: IMCA SF 28/18

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.

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.