Transport Malta investigation: Worker injured while operating a lathe

Transport Malta’s Marine Safety Investigation Unit has issued an investigation report into an incident in which a crew member sustained serious injuries while operating the vessel’s lathe.

The incident

BOn the crossing from the port of Antwerp in Belgium, the fitter had just manufactured a locking pin for an anchor rope stopper. As he was using a hand file to smooth the surface of the almost finished pin, which was mounted on the ship’s lathe, his right hand suddenly slipped off the pin. The sleeve of the overall caught on the rough surface of the pin, and his right hand was pulled around the pin towards the chuck.

The nearby crew members reacted quickly and stopped the lathe to free the mechanic’s hand. However, the fifth finger on the mechanic’s right hand could not be saved and the mechanic was eventually flown by helicopter to a hospital on land.

Conclusions

While filing a steel bar, the fitter’s right hand slipped and the sleeve of his overalls got caught in the rough surface of the steel bar being machined, causing his right hand to be pulled toward the rotating chuck of the lathe.

The fitter held the hand file with his right hand over the bar to be machined. The crew members present nearby immediately stopped the lathe, thus minimizing the extent of the fitter’s injuries.

The safety investigation revealed that the manner in which the installer held the file while performing his task resulted in his injuries.

Safety measures taken during the safety investigation

Following the incident, the company held a safety meeting with all crew members on the Dogan, emphasizing the necessary precautions when working on the lathe. Details of the accident were communicated to all ships in the fleet to discuss at safety meetings. The company’s crew agency was also informed so that the details would be included in pre-joining training. The risk assessment of the vessel in question was amended accordingly.