201009 Hand injured during winch greasing

04 Feb 2010 MARS

Hand injured during winch greasing
MARS Report 201009

 

Upon receiving notice that a berthing pilot would be boarding, two crew members proceeded forward to make ready for weighing anchor. While preparing the windlass, an unusual noise was heard, which was thought to be caused by lack of grease on the dog-clutch gear arrangement. One man was sent to get some grease and while he was away, the other crew member secured the windlass control lever in the hoist position with the shaft slowly rotating. He then attempted to remove the old grease from the dog-clutch arrangement. While so engaged, the glove on his right hand was caught by the dog-clutch gear and he suffered multiple complex lacerations on two fingers of his right hand, although fortunately, there were no fractures or injuries to nerves or blood vessels. Subsequently, the crew member was found unfit for duty by a shore doctor and was repatriated from the vessel.

 

201009

 

Root cause/contributory factors
1. Company procedures not followed. When the vessel was advised that the pilot would be boarding, no tool-box meeting was held to discuss the anchor weighing and berthing operation;
2. In violation of safe working practice, the windlass control lever was secured in position with the windlass shaft in motion.

Lessons learned
1. If circumstances change after a previously work planning meeting, an additional meeting must be held;
2. Company procedures to be followed at all times.

Corrective/preventative measures
Additional training on operational safety and risk assessment to be conducted for ship’s staff.

Editor’s note: Past MARS reports 200633 and 200811 show the hazards involved in lubricating a winch while it is in motion. In one of the incidents, a crew member lost his hand, and a seaman was very fortunate to get away with only lacerations.