202542 A crush on maintenance

Deck crew were removing the starboard gangway’s torsion tube for repairs. After removing the nuts and bolts, the tube remained stuck in place, probably due to paint and corrosion. To free it up, a crew member hammered the tube with his right hand while holding the shipside railing with his left hand as an anchor. Two other crew members were assisting, pulling at the other end of the torsion tube.

When the tube came free it swung up and inboard with force, hitting the left ring finger of the crew member holding the ship side railing. The finger was caught and crushed between the flange of the tube and the railing, resulting in a complex fracture.

 

Lessons learned

• Some jobs appear mundane and routine, but every task can have hidden risks. If things don’t go as planned, stop and re-evaluate. What is the best way to solve the problem?