Safety Alert - Arm Puncture

What happened?

 

On Thursday February 13, 2014 a technician’s left upper arm (bicep area) was punctured by a packing pick type tool resulting in sutures to close the wound.

 

What went wrong?

 

The injured technician was reaching for an 18 lb. sledge hammer located in the toolbox (toolbox was a cross-bed type) of a ¾ ton pickup truck*.

The technician failed to notice a packing (ice pick type approximately ¼” diameter) tool was lying with the sharp point of the tool toward the hammer he was reaching for.

As the technician slid the hammer toward him to be able to lift the hammer easier, the sharp point of the packing tool punctured the bicep area of his left arm.

The incident was not reported to Furmanite Safety as soon as possible.

*Note:  Pickup was recently in a vehicle accident and the tools and toolbox had been removed.  When the truck was repaired and returned, tools were not properly organized when placed back into toolbox. 

How do we Prevent from Happening Again?

 

Regardless of the task you are performing (even routine tasks like retrieving tools from a tool box) you must recognize and be aware of the hazards that are present.   

If something changes with your tools (i.e. if your tools are removed from your toolbox), take the time to organize them and remove or mitigate potential hazards before starting work.

If you have any means to communicate, you must notify Furmanite Safety.

 

 

Location of sledge hammer technician was retrieving

Approximate location of packing tool as technician was retrieving hammer.

A “Safety Standdown” shall be conducted to communicate this Safety Alert with all Furmanite field and shop employees worldwide.

 

 

 

Safety Alert! - Nitrogen Test Rig

What happened?


During the testing of a valve on a nitrogen test rig in a Valve Repair Workshop, the technician discovered that the hydraulic clamps could be released whilst there was still pressure underneath the valve being tested. This resulted in the nitrogen being released uncontrollably from beneath the valve when the clamps were released.

On further investigation it was found that pressure could be applied under the test valve before the correct clamp pressure for the size of valve being tested had been reached, meaning the safety interlock system on the test unit had failed.
 Preliminary Investigation Findings
The rig was taken out of service so that the fault with the interlock system could be determined and resolved.

 

3 Way Valve

 

 



On investigation by the technician it was found that the 3-way valve had stuck and required freeing off; to achieve this, the valve was stripped, cleaned, repaired, refitted and tested OK.

 

Initial Actions to Prevent Reoccurrence

1. Do a practical test on the interlock device by fitting the clamps at a low pressure then slowly apply nitrogen to the rig; this action should not be possible as the interlock valve should prevent the nitrogen entering the rig without the clamps being in place and at the correct pressure first. If it does allow ingress of nitrogen then the interlock is not working.

2. Review documentation, line drawings etc, to determine where the interlock valves are fitted and the safest way for removal, if required.

 

Immediate Actions Required

Check test rigs at each location to ensure that the interlock valves relied upon to cut out pressure before release of the clamps are working correctly (as above).

Remind technicians that if they have any doubts about the integrity of the rig controls to raise it as an issue to enable the appropriate tests and maintenance to be implemented.