Furmanite Safety Alert

Furmanite Technician was using a hydraulic press to remove the spring on a PSV in order to disassemble it for repair.  The PSV was placed into the press clamp to hold the base for removal.  Wedges were then placed on either side of the PSV spring in order to adapt the spring to the ram of the press (see photo).  The spring was compressed using the press so the adjustment nut on the spring guide of the PSV could be removed.  As the technician was removing the nut (technician was wearing gloves), he released tension on the press and the PSV shifted causing the spring to break free and technicians thumb to be caught between one of the wedges and the press.  This resulted in a laceration and fracture to the technicians left thumb.

Preliminary Investigation Findings

Primary Root Cause:  

·         Technician did not evaluate the potential risk of placing hand in the “line of fire” prior to performing the task.  ( a tool should have been used)

Contributing Factor(s):

·         Technician did not properly secure the PSV in the press clamp to properly secure it and keep it from moving.

Initial Actions to Prevent Reoccurrence

·         Discuss this incident with all employees and ensure they have a clear understanding of risk tolerance with regards to personal safety. 

·         Each employee needs to identify hazards that exist or may exist in everyday tasks and take the necessary steps (up to an including completely revising how they perform a task and if the machine they are using is correctly designed to perform that task).  If an employee determines that either the equipment or the method used to perform a task poses a hazard, it is an expectation that the employee will take the necessary steps to mitigate that hazard.

Immediate Actions Required

1.     Immediately share this Safety Alert with all employees in your respective areas.
2.     Ensure all employees are aware of hand placement and line of fire when working with equipment that contains residual or stored energy (spring tension)
3.     Review all tasks using a hydraulic press or other type of mechanical press equipment and ensure potential risks are identified and mitigated.