Incident alert
LOCATION:
AGGREGATE DREDGER
ACTIVITY:
MAINTENANCE & HOUSEKEEPING
TITLE
Back Strain
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
United Kingdom
ACCIDENT / INCIDENT DETAILS
The Engineer was carrying out maintenance to the port side main engine exhaust trunk.
This involved separating the trunking drain line from the downstream side of the isolating cock.
The adjacent securing bracket had been slackened off to allow separation of the pipe end from the drain line isolating cock and the pipe was then displaced downwards.
This would enable with careful operation of the cock that the drain line could be proved to be clear up to the point of separation.
To re position the lower section of the pipe to put it back into the drain cock coupling point it required pulling up and at this point the engineer’s back was strained
The engineer reported this to the Safety Officer, who in turn reported this to the Master.
ACCIDENT / INCIDENT IMAGES
LEARNING POINTS / ACTIONS TAKEN
· This was a routine task and prepared by an experienced engineer. It is important to recognise any potential harm when planning any action no matter how routine.·
Improvement in awareness of manual handling techniques.·
Another hand to assist in these routine maintenance tasks would reduce these strain injuries.·
If it is felt that tasks cannot be completed with the necessary skills to hand then they should be delayed until they are available. If necessary another hand could be released from duties at a later time to assist.
LEARNING POINTS / ACTIONS IMAGES
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