Lessons Learned: Hand Injuries from Sharp Objects During Routine Deck Operations

This abstract relies on two separate incidents reported by a member to the Worldwide Marine Contractors Affiliation (IMCA), highlighting hand accidents sustained whereas dealing with sharp objects throughout routine duties onboard.

What Occurred

Incident 1: A crew member sustained a finger damage whereas reducing duct tape that linked two halyards throughout upkeep. The reducing blade penetrated the glove and triggered a laceration, which required medical remedy and stitches.

Incident 2: One other crew member suffered a extreme hand damage whereas manually repositioning a package deal with a broken metallic rim on a pallet. Contact with the sharp rim triggered a deep reduce close to the thumb, necessitating 12 stitches.

Why It Occurred

Incident 1: The crew member positioned his hand immediately beneath the halyard, inside the reducing zone. The halyard was not secured to a steady floor and was as an alternative held in hand, rising the danger of instability whereas reducing.

Incident 2: The crew member was not sporting applicable hand safety whereas dealing with an merchandise with a pointy, broken edge. Regardless of recognizing the injury to the package deal, the crew member’s consideration lapsed, resulting in unsafe hand placement close to the hazard.

Classes Realized

All the time preserve a secure distance (30–40 cm) between palms and the reducing space.
By no means place palms beneath or close to reducing blades.
Use steady surfaces akin to decks, bulwarks, or bulkheads when performing reducing duties.
Private protecting gear (PPE), significantly gloves, should be worn throughout duties involving potential sharp hazards. Discomfort will not be a legitimate purpose for non-compliance—different glove varieties ought to be sourced if wanted.
Examine cargo, packages, and pallets for sharp or broken edges earlier than handbook dealing with. Harm sustained throughout transport or storage might introduce hidden hazards.

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Supply: IMCA