Safety Flash
Finger injury during manual handling
Safety Flash • Published on 19 M arch 2025 • Generated on 11 April 2025 • IMCA SF 05/25
An IMCA’s members’ utilities supplier in the United States reports a serious
finger injury during manual handling IOGP Life Saving Rules:
Line of fire
What happened?
Crew on a land-based site were working on some large (3m x 4m) steel frames
used for shoring. The crew were disassembling the shoring. Most of the
disassembly was complete when a steel bar weighing around 100kg became
dislodged as it was being manually manoeuvred by a crew member. The steel bar
was sitting on a curved pick-ring which caused it to roll onto the crew members’
finger. His finger was crushed, necessitating hospital treatment.
What went wrong?
The crew were manually handling the steel frames rather than using tools to do the
job and so keeping hands and fingers out of the line of fire.
What are the lessons
When dismantling large pieces of equipment, make sure every single
piece is secure from sudden movement before it comes apart.
Use correct lifting tools rather than hands, and so keep out of pinch points
and the line of fire.
Ensure familiarity with loads and equipment being handled before starting:
this may be particularly true for third-party or rented equipment.
Members may wish to refer to
IMCA safety promotional material on Line of fire
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