IMCA Safety Flash SF-09-24
IMCA have released the latest Safety Flash SF-09-24. See highlights below and also Click here to read the article in full
Injuries to the eyes and face
What happened?
A member reports a number of incidents where crew have sustained injuries to the face.
Eye and face injuries are always a serious matter. IMCA has relayed these incidents to you as a timely and important reminder to stop and think about risks and hazards, about your position – how you are stood or sat – when working, and about how you do certain tasks you may consider routine.
Trapped finger during mooring operations 
What happened?
A deckhand injured the fingers on his right hand during mooring operations. The incident occurred when a vessel was headed to the pontoon to moor alongside her regular berth. As the vessels’ aft port quarter came alongside the pontoon, the deckhand used the boat hook to pick up the ‘in-situ’ mooring line and began the process of feeding the spliced eye through the fairlead.
Near miss – lid on ash trash barrel blown off due to hot ash 
What happened?
The lid on a waste container barrel blew off due to a build-up of excessive pressure within the waste container, caused by hot ash being deposited inside. The build-up of pressure was observed by a member of the crew, who attempted to gradually open the compression ring on the waste container to allow for a slow and controlled release of pressure.
Near miss – lid on ash trash barrel blown off due to hot ash
MAIB: Crew member injured by rotating crank handle – LTI 
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch has published Safety Digest 1/2024, consisting of lessons from recent Marine Accident Reports. IMCA has reviewed the report and will pass on to members some of the incidents which we consider to be of interest. This is one of them.
What happened?
A winch drum, with cranking handle still attached, began to spin uncontrollably. The spinning cranking handle violently struck a crew member, fracturing their wrist. The incident occurred when the crew of a pusher tug were disconnecting lines from a cargo barge.
Near miss: dislodged grating with potential fall to sea 
What happened?
A section of Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) grating on a vessel dislodged and dropped to sea. The incident occurred when a welder was on the grating passing a welding hose connection to a level further up, during preparations for work activities.
