The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Safety Flash 19/25 reports a serious incident involving a second engineer who suffered a partial thumb amputation when a 25 kg grey-water pipe section unexpectedly fell approximately 1.4 m during maintenance.
What Happened
Following a pre-job meeting and toolbox talk, the engineers began dismantling the vertical pipe segment in the engine room. Bolts were removed from both the top and bottom flanges, but two upper-flange bolts were left loosely retaining the pipe. As the engineer released the lower U-clamp, the pipe fell and trapped the injured engineer’s left thumb between the falling section and the U-clamp plate.
What Could Have Gone Better
Several factors contributed to the outcome:
- The pipe had only two loosely secured bolts on the upper flange, which proved insufficient to prevent falling when the clamp was removed.
- The engineer used his left hand to maintain balance while loosening the U-clamp, placing his hand in the line of fire.
- A secondary securing method was absent—such as a tag-line or chain support—despite the suspended load.
- A safety culture gap was evident, where junior personnel did not feel empowered to pause the job and request a safer setup.
Lessons
- Always implement both primary and secondary securing measures when suspending or dismantling loads.
- Foster a workplace culture where any team member can challenge unsafe practices without hesitation.
- During the inspection of maintenance tasks, give specific attention to line-of-fire hazards, especially when the crew’s hands or limbs are near suspended loads.
This incident underscores the importance of robust securing systems and proactive safety conversation in maintenance scenarios.
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Source: IMCA
