Communications: LTI finger injury during lifting operations

What happened

During demobilization lifting operations, a rigger’s right ring finger was crushed between the crane hook and a lifting eye. 

A vessel was demobilizing with a third party crane operator and banksman hired to perform lifting activities moving items on deck. A Toolbox Talk (TBT) was held before operations started.  A container was being lifted from the vessel to the quay, using a quayside crane.  The container was lifted and set down on the quay, and crew detached the rigging from the container lift points. Three of the hooks were loose and on top of the container and one hook was still attached to the container lifting eye, when the crane operator started hoisting. The rigger foreman’s finger got jammed between the top of the hook and the top of the container lifting eye. His right ring finger was crushed between the hook and the lifting eye still attached. Surgery was required to amputate the fingertip.

What went wrong

• The injured person had his hands on the crane hook;
• Miscommunication: the third party crane operator thought the company rigger foreman gave the signal to hoist. However, both the company rigger foreman and lift supervisor assert that the hand signal to lower the load was given;
• Our members’ investigation found that:
  • Roles, responsibilities, communication, and risks during lifting operations were not discussed during toolbox talk (TBT);
  • The toolbox talk was held in English and translated into another language for the third party crane operator who did not speak English;
  • There was inadequate lift planning;
  • The banksman remained on the quayside during the lifting operations and had no view of the lift and did not take control; the company rigger foreman (the injured party) took over the role of banksman. The hand signal that was given remains unclear;
  • The gloves worn by the rigging crew did not have the required impact rating;
  • Demobilization was not included in the project management plans or project bridging document.

Actions

• Agree and understand roles, responsibilities, and communication protocols before starting work;
• Ensure that EVERYONE involved understands what is going on, and that they have confirmed that understanding back to you in a satisfactory way;
• Ensure there is a clear lift plan available for routine lifts;
• Ensure mobilization and demobilization activities are included and clearly defined in project documentation and corresponding risk assessments.

Members may wish to refer to:

• LTI: finger injury during lifting operations [“there was a breakdown in communication between the deck crew members; the injured person was not clear of the pins when the mechanism was re-engaged”]
• Line of fire LTI: Finger injury during lifting operations [“roles and responsibilities on deck were unclear. The injured person, who was a dedicated flagman and should have been supervising the operation, stepped in to stabilize the load”]
• Lost time injury (LTI): Finger injury during main engine exhaust valve overhaul [“Poor communication – although in plain sight of each other the noise of the engine room meant that verbal communication was not possible …the fitter didn’t see or understand the hand signals from the second engineer…”]