The Health and Safety Executive has issued a safety alert after a maintenance fitter died from hydraulic injection injury.
Initial findings from an HSE investigation found that whilst the worker was using a hand powered grease gun to tension the track of a piling rig, the nipple connecting the grease gun to the track mechanism detached. This permitted the grease to release, injecting the fitter.
“The purpose of this safety alert is to raise awareness of the risks from hydraulic injection injury,” explains the HSE’s website.
Understanding hydraulic injection injuries
Hydraulic injection injury occurs when the outer layer of skin is broken by a jet of fluid under pressure.
“Although serious reported instances of hydraulic injection have occurred at pressures over 100 bar (1450 psi), anecdotal evidence suggests hydraulic injection injury may occur at pressures as low as 7 bar (101.5psi).” – HSE
History shows that injection injuries often result due to a failure of a component in the mechanical system. In such instances, the equipment remains in use whilst leaking pressurised fluid.
Individuals may come into contact with a fluid jet when:
- Using equipment
- Carrying out inspection and/or maintenance sparked by a decline in performance of the equipment
This can cause harm to the person in two ways:
- The mechanical pressurised penetration and subsequent trauma to the surrounding and underlying tissue
- The toxicity of the fluid injected into the injured party
The severity of the injury varies according to the pressure, proximity and jet size.
How to respond to a hydraulic injection injury
Time is of the essence following an injection injury. Prompt action can save the injured person’s limb or life.
Devoid of medical treatment, after four to six hours the person may experience intense throbbing pain that is unresponsive to pain medication. Injection can result in the amputation of affected parts.
Action required, includes:
- Persons maintaining mechanical plant must inspect the integrity and security of grease nipples and pipe work adapters used as part of track tensioning systems
- Such inspections should take place at routine service intervals and before attempting to carry out vehicle track tensioning at any time
- Where replacement or maintenance takes place on a pressurised system, fittings should be matched and compatible as per the original equipment manufacturers’ specification
- Verification of such replacements should be regarded as a pressure test and appropriate precautions taken
The HSE says that personnel should be “familiar with the steps to take” in the event of an injection injury, particularly the need to seek “immediate professional” medical treatment.
The University of Exeter Business School has unveiled details of a new online portal it says will help ease the burden of health and safety compliance on small businesses.
The Business School, along with local councils and a private sector supplier of online services, RH Environmental Ltd, secured £20,000 in funding from the Better Regulation Delivery Office.
Funds will be piped into the design of the Safer Workplace Better Business initiative.
“The burden of regulation on SMEs is already significant so to be able to ease this, even in a small way, can only be a good thing,” Professor Kevin McMeeking from the Business School said in comments reported by Western Morning News.
The online portal aims to empower businesses of all sizes with key information on EU, national and local regulations covering a wide range of statutory regulations.
Professor McMeeking added: “The economic and societal benefits from risk management will include improved identification of key hazards in the workplace, introduction of control measures and greater guidance on policy documentation.”
A prototype is scheduled to be ready for testing before the end of the year.
New laws designed to reduce the regulatory burden on those who work with explosives and compressed acetylene gas are set to take effect next month.
The Explosives Regulations 2014 and The Acetylene Safety, England and Wales and Scotland, Regulations 2014 will replace the Approved Code of Practice for the Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005.
The revisions, which also overwrite a number of legislative instruments and the current explosives guidance, follow recommendations by Professor Ragnar Löfstedt in his report ‘Reclaiming Health and Safety For All’.
Should tenants in an apartment building be allowed to use their balconies for hanging out washing, storing large plants or bicycles?
Residents at one such apartment block were surprised to learn they were not when a letter dropped through the door advising that balconies should not be used for such activities.
The reason? Health and safety.
An enquirer, who had recently moved into the rented accommodation with large half enclosed balconies, wasn’t satisfied with this response.
They took the issue to The Health and Safety Executive’s myth busting panel which, after deliberation, also batted back such assertions.
HSE panel decision
The HSE’s panel concluded:
- It is reasonable to assume that if a property has a balcony it is there to be used
- It is difficult to understand why a ban on certain uses of the balconies came into fruition
- The action amounted to a misuse of “health and safety” as an excuse for banning the use of balconies for activities which would detract from the overall appearance of the property
The HSE panel is now urging that the tenants receive a proper explanation.
A barge operator has been ordered to pay around £111,000 in fines and costs after admitting to a breach of maritime health and safety legislation.
Portsmouth Crown Court heard how the crew on the Serco barge became alarmed upon smelling what they believed to be hydrogen sulphide on 6th July, 2011.
An investigation by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency revealed that a crewman put a gas detector into practice which produced a reading of 57 parts per million (ppm).
The reading came in well above the prescribed danger limits of five ppm and the crew subsequently contacted the operations manager.
Despite the concerns, the barge was not stopped as it was concluded that the monitor was malfunctioning.
Serco pleaded guilty to a healthy and safety offence at Portsmouth Crown Court.
Ministry of Defence contract
The core function of Serco was to collect waste products from naval vessels docked in Portsmouth. It was operating as part of a Ministry of Defence contract.
As the operations continued, crew started to feel unwell and a decision was made to evacuate the barge.
Two crew members were taken to hospital for treatment and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency found a number of health and safety failings by the operator.
These included:
- Unsafe practices by leaving tank lids open
- Safety equipment including the gas monitor not being properly maintained or calibrated
- The crew was not properly trained in how to use the safety equipment
Serco was fined £50,000, with £60,716 in costs at Portsmouth Crown Court.
Looking for NEBOSH training courses in Grimsby?
Then look no further. You can undertake NEBOSH training with industrial strength health and safety provider, RTS, right on the outskirts of Grimsby at CATCH in Stallingborough. Students travel from the surrounding areas of Grimsby, Cleethorpes, Immingham, Hull, Lincoln and the wider UK to partake in NEBOSH training at the world-class training centre.
NEBOSH training facility Grimsby, Lincolnshire
CATCH, Stallingborough offers classrooms, conference facilities and simulated industrial environments which create the perfect setting in which to deliver practical, onsite based training.
Featured NEBOSH training courses, include:
What to do next?
Reynolds Training Services delivers health and safety courses and solutions to businesses and high hazard sites in Grimsby, and wider Lincolnshire.
Have a question? Our team of health and safety experts are standby to help with all your NEBOSH training course enquiries.
The Health and Safety Executive has launched a public consultation into the draft Approved Code of Practice relating to the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.
This consultation began on 20th August and ends on 14th October 2014. Industry is invited to have its say on the proposals which are designed to bring the document up to date with regulatory and other changes.
According to the HSE, the amendments would make the document easier to use, bringing clarity to the regulations governing the safe use of lifting equipment and the role of the competent person.
The revisions, which also factor in suggestions made in the earlier consultation in September 2012, follow recommendations by Professor Ragnar Löfstedt in his report ‘Reclaiming Health and Safety For All’.
Have your say
You have until 14th October to have your say. Simply fill out an online questionnaire or download a Word document form to complete.
Visit the HSE’s website to make your opinions count
The Health and Safety Executive has published a new risk assessment leaflet which redraws its guidance on how to control dangers in the workplace.
It is designed for usage by employers, managers and safety representatives. The revised leaflet aims to help those tasked with responsibility for health and safety identify, assess and control risks associated with workplace hazards.
The new guidance replaces ‘Five steps to risk assessment’. According to the HSE: “If you have previously used ‘Five steps’ to carry out your own risk assessment there is no need to repeat it.”
You should, however, review “your risk assessment if you think it is no longer valid or if there are any significant changes”.
Download your free copy here:
The Health and Safety Executive has published a document which outlines the main features of the regulatory approach taken by HSE and local authorities in the drive to improve standards in health and safety performance.
The document, entitled Regulation of Health and Safety at Work, is designed to help businesses regulated by the HSE and those involved in health and safety promotion.
It is comprised of the main regulatory intervention techniques used to influence, encourage and advise business. Regulation of Health and Safety at Work also sets down how the HSE holds to account those who fail to meet their responsibilities.
Check out Regulation of Health and Safety at Work
Mark Wahlberg could be set to play the leading role in a movie about the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and resulting oil spill that took place in the Gulf of Mexico back in April of 2010.
Life imitating art has long been a staple of Hollywood and, a couple of years back, Lionsgate, Summit Entertainment and Participant Media announced plans to make a big screen retelling of the events which killed 11 workers, leaving 17 others seriously injured.
Reports suggest that the movie could centre on members of the Deepwater Horizon drilling crew and their fight for survival as it slowly sinks into the sea.
What do you think about the plans for the movie? A cash-in on a real-life tragedy or an opportunity to raise awareness and fuel the drive to mitigate future catastrophes?
Related reading
