IMCA Safety Flash

Diver Safety Incidents

• A diver in a diving bell was hit by a falling water bottle containing 4.5 kg of water, resulting in minor injuries to the diver's head and shoulder.
• The incident occurred when the diver was handing over to the next bellman, and the remaining divers were organizing their gear in the bell.
• A handle on a partially frozen water bottle broke, causing the bottle to fall into the transfer lock and strike the diver.

Diving Bell Safety

• During subsea diving operations, the bridge team recovered a taught wire, pulling the divers from the seabed to 18m above the diver's maximum excursion depth.
• This rapid change in depth had the potential to cause pressure-induced injuries or direct contact with the taut wire clump weight.

Leak in Hot Water System

• A leak was discovered in the hot water system for saturation divers during operations between bell runs.
• The leak was located in a pipe with very poor access, and investigation revealed a small hole under surface corrosion.
• Diving was suspended due to the lack of a backup for the remaining Hot Water Unit #1.
• The root cause of the leak was corrosion over many years, exacerbated by the inaccessible location of the pipe.

Chain Hoist Safety

• An electric chain hoist on a vessel was left unattended after use, causing the chain hook to pay out and coil onto the running main engine.
• The incident occurred when the chain hoist was used to lower spare parts required for maintenance in the engine room.

MAIB Report: Workboat Collision

• A workboat collided with a wind turbine platform in an offshore wind farm, causing injuries to one of the crew and minor damage to the workboat.
• The incident occurred during transfer of two teams to carry out maintenance tasks on two different wind turbines.
• The master had become engrossed in paperwork and lost track of time, causing the boat to go off-course and collide with the turbine.

Incident 1 - Failure to Follow Rules and Regulations

• Failure to follow rules and regulations, repair/maintenance instructions, and operating equipment without authority.
• Ensure clear and concise written instructions for planned work.
• Refresher training on Permit to Work awareness and Hazard Identification for all crew.

Incident 2 - Left Eye Irritation

• Crew member experienced eye irritation while working on the back deck in windy conditions despite wearing prescription safety glasses with side protection.
• A small speck of debris was identified, but could not be safely flushed or removed with the equipment available on board.
• Never take shortcuts and perform a task without wearing appropriate eye protection.
• Use machine guarding, work screens, or other engineering controls as applicable.
• Know the location of first aid equipment and eye wash stations.
• Exercise Stop Work Authority and raise your voice if you see a potential risk.

Incident 3 - Finger Injury

• Finger injury occurred while handling mooring lines due to insufficient slack, vessel movement, and lack of impact gloves.
• Root cause was a lack of risk perception.
• Corrective actions include:
  • More thorough Toolbox Talks for mooring arrangements.
  • Review risk assessment for mooring operations.
  • Obtain and try out impact gloves.
  • Review of training and follow-up supervision and review of vessel mooring arrangements.
• Ensure sufficient slack is allowed when handling mooring lines.
• Where practicable, vessel should be stopped before mooring lines are placed over bitts, bollards, or cleats.
• Ensure new personnel are appropriately familiarized.

Incident 4 - Near Miss - Lid on Ash Trash Barrel

• Lid on ash trash barrel blew off due to hot ash being deposited inside, causing a build-up of excessive pressure.
• The incident occurred because the waste container lid was closed immediately, and the ashes were not yet cool.
• Corrective actions include:
  • New "goose neck" vents on waste containers.
• Lessons learned:
  • Take a moment to undertake a dynamic risk assessment rather than rushing to complete the task.

Incident 5 - Injury During Line Disconnection

• Injury occurred when a crew member was hit by a spinning cranking handle while disconnecting lines from a cargo barge.
• The incident occurred because the crew failed to follow the vessel's standard operating procedure by not removing the cranking handle.
• Lessons learned:
  • Take a moment to undertake a dynamic risk assessment rather than rushing to complete the task.
  • The Master could not safely undertake the simultaneous tasks of steering the pusher tug and trying to control the aft deck operations from a position of limited visibility.

Incident 6 - Grating Fastenings

• Grating fastenings or fixings were not identified or included within the vessel planned maintenance system.
• There was no routine inspection or visual check of the dimensional fit or condition of the securing clips.
• Corrective actions include:
  • Changes to planned maintenance system for grating and fixings.
  • Added grating to future DROPS surveys, particularly on areas where work on split levels occurs.
  • Future grating design should follow good practice guidance for load capacity, fastenings, and the avoidance of overhangs that may create a cantilever effect.

Eye and Face Injuries

• Serious injuries to the eyes and face can occur due to improper tool use, lack of risk assessment, and inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Incident 1: Crew member sustained a 30-40 mm deep cut on the left cheek while using a large screwdriver to pry out a jammed bit from a grub screw
  • Wrong tool was used, and no ongoing risk assessment was made
  • Recommendation: Stop and think before applying force to tools that could slip and fly back into your face, consider alternative methods, and wear appropriate PPE
• Incident 2: Vessel crane driver suffered facial and eye injuries due to an unplanned release of pressurized hydraulic fluid from a hose flange
  • Importance of proper setup, risk assessment, and spatial awareness

Trapped Fingers during Mooring Operations

• Deckhand injured fingers on right hand during mooring operations while feeding a spliced eye through a fairlead
• Importance of proper training, risk assessment, and procedures during mooring operations

Near Miss - Lid on Ash Trash Barrel Blown Off

• Lid on waste container barrel blew off due to excessive pressure caused by hot ash being deposited inside
• Crew member attempted to slowly release the pressure, but the lid was forcefully dislodged and fell 11 meters to the main deck
• Causes:
  • Insufficient assessment of risks of dealing with incinerated waste and disposal
  • Inadequate ventilation of the container
  • Lack of knowledge on manually relieving pressure buildup
• Actions:
  • Implemented new "goose neck" vents on waste containers
  • Updated waste management procedure, including risk assessment for handling and storage of hot ash

MAIB: Crew Member Injured by Rotating Crank Handle

• Crew member injured by spinning cranking handle on a winch drum, fracturing their wrist
• Importance of proper safety protocols and risk assessment when working with machinery

Incident 1: Self-Inflicted Wound from a Screwdriver

• A crew member used a large screwdriver to pry out a jammed bit from a grub screw, but the screwdriver slipped and hit the person in the left cheek, causing a 30-40 mm cut, 4-5 mm deep.
• The wrong tool was used, and the injured person failed to assess the risk of the screwdriver slipping.
• To avoid similar incidents, it is essential to stop and think before applying force to tools that could slip and fly back into your face, consider alternative and safer methods, and wear appropriate PPE.

Incident 2: LTI - Face Injury from Unplanned Release of Hydraulic Fluid

• A vessel crane driver suffered an injury to his face and left eye while setting up to remove a 3-inch hydraulic accumulator pressure hose, due to an unplanned release of pressurized hydraulic fluid.
• The incident occurred due to failure to follow rules and regulations, failure to follow repair/maintenance instructions, and operating equipment without authority.
• To prevent similar incidents, ensure clear and concise written instructions for planned work, and provide refresher training on Permit to Work awareness and Hazard Identification for all crew.

Incident 3: Left Eye Irritation from Airborne Foreign Object

• A crew person experienced irritation in the left eye while working on the back deck in windy conditions, despite wearing prescription safety glasses with side protection.
• The incident occurred due to windy conditions, and the foreign object still managed to get into the eye despite the safety glasses.
• Lessons to learn from this incident include always wearing appropriate eye protection for the job, using machine guarding or work screens, knowing the location of first aid equipment and eye wash stations, and exercising Stop Work Authority when necessary.

Incident 4: Fractured Wrist Due to Failure to Follow Standard Operating Procedure

• A crew member suffered a fractured wrist when a spinning cranking handle hit them while disconnecting lines from a cargo barge.
• The incident occurred due to the crew's failure to follow the vessel's standard operating procedure, and the tug's design limited visibility of the aft deck from the wheelhouse.
• Lessons to learn from this incident include taking a moment to undertake a dynamic risk assessment, installing CCTV to improve visibility, and reminding those involved of the correct process for the task through toolbox talks.

Incident 5: Near Miss - Dislodged Grating with Potential Fall to Sea

• A section of GRP grating on a vessel dislodged and dropped to sea, but the welder managed to arrest their fall on a support beam and recover without assistance.
• The incident occurred due to the securing clips not being spaced correctly or fixed securely to the framework, and the grating section was installed with an overhang on one end.
• Lessons to learn from this incident include identifying and including grating fastenings or fixings within the vessel's planned maintenance system, conducting routine inspections and visual checks, and following good practice guidance for load capacity, fastenings, and avoiding overhangs.

Learn about key safety incidents and matters shared by IMCA members to prevent repeat incidents.