201550 Don’t be drawn in by a drawstring

Edited from International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Safety Flash 04-15

On an offshore platform, a construction team were fitting pipe supports; part of this task involved drilling holes through the deck plate with a magnetic drill. Owing to the poor weather conditions, the crew were wearing parka-style storm jackets with a draw string closure.
At one point, the draw string and toggle on one worker’s clothing was observed to be hanging close to the revolving spindle of the magnetic drill. One of the work party members noticed this unsafe condition and realised there was potential for the drawstring to be drawn into the tool causing injury to the operator. He immediately stopped the job and the hazard was highlighted and corrected. The entire work party removed the drawstrings from their jackets and the hazard and intervention was shared with the rest of the crew. The intervention was further discussed at start of shift meetings. It was apparent that these lanyards could and had become snagged when climbing ladders and had got caught on plant and equipment etc. It was agreed that the drawstrings were impractical as their use on this type of jacket would restrict both leg movement and body positioning.