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Safety Alerts Online
FAILURE TO LOCKOUT CAUSES FINGER LACERATION |
Feb. 2002 |
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BACKGROUND: On a mild winter day in the Lake States, a chipping crew was harvesting a stand of aspen. The skidder operator stopped to tell his supervisor that the oil pressure light was blinking on and off. The supervisor lifted the hood to check the oil light wire connection.
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: The supervisor was a long-time employee who had occupied several positions with the logging company. He had no history of on-the-job injuries. UNSAFE ACT OR CONDITION: The supervisor opened the hood while the motor was still running. He leaned over the engine to observe any loose or broken wires. Eventually, he reached into the engine cavity to test the oil light wire. ACCIDENT: He lost his footing on an icy patch of ground and caught his hand on the spinning fan blades. INJURY: He received fairly serious lacerations on his right index finger. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CORRECTION: The supervisor should not have started to perform any engine work while the engine was running. He should have performed the appropriate shutdown-lockout procedures for the machine. It is only appropriate to initiate repairs after the machine has been properly shut down.
Please follow equipment manufacturers’ recommendations for safe operation and maintenance procedures. |
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Forest Resources Association Inc. |