SAFETY INCIDENT MAY 14 2015

What Happened?

 A technician was performing various 6” pipe cuts on vertical piping using a low clearance split frame machine. The pipe cut was complete and the technician placed his left hand on the trip pin lever. He positioned his palm on the lever so he could toggle the lever with his middle finger on top of the trip lever. As the cutting tool block came around the machine the block pinched his left middle finger between the block and the trip assembly. The technician was NOT wearing gloves while the equipment was being operated.

The Injured Party was attended to by First Aid personnel, then he was transported to an off-site medical facility where it was determined he had a fractured finger and laceration that required sutures to close the wound. He was able to return to work the same day.

NOTE: In the pictures below gloves were worn since the machine was deenergized and power source was disconnected.

Improper hand placement when operating trip lever.

Preliminary investigation

 ·         Technician improperly operated the trip lever.

·         Technician placed his hand in the line of fire.
·         Job Requirements had not been properly communicated.
·         Standard Operating Procedure was not provided to the technician.

 Preventive and corrective actions

·         Review proper operation and hand placement when operating rotating equipment

·         Review manufactures pinch point hazards identified by manufactures User’s Manual and Standard Operating Procedures for all jobs.

 

 

Immediate actions

1. Conduct a Stand down with all employees to discuss incident findings and preventive actions.

2. Share this Safety Alert with all employees in your respective areas.