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Care using hand tools

A recent incident has been reported to IMCA. Whilst we do not have details of injuries or damage, it involved a fairly standard operation in the engine room. An engineer was busy drilling holes in a pumping casing, using a high-powered drill machine, which he was using a rope to suspend and then holding by himself.

Causes given in the incident report were:

  • A drill too powerful to be operated by a single person
  • Limited space to operate
  • Poor communication between engineer and his helper

Corrective action prescribed by the company to all of its vessels is:

  • Heavy hand tools to be operated by at least two operators or other measures to be taken to make their use safer
  • Choose the type of tool to match the job that needs to be done
  • If necessary carry out a job safety analysis and do a toolbox talk before starting a job.

Safety Event

Published: 1 August 2003
Download: IMCA SF 09/03

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