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Health, Safety & Environmental Bulletin No 114

S Martin – 20 Nov 2008

First Aid Injury – Cut Finger

Please see below a recent accident where a contractor working on behalf of Esso cut his finger. This
incident could have been prevented if the injured party was wearing the correct gloves, always check
your JSA before you carry out any task and wear the appropriate PPE.

UK Construction Contractor First Aid Injury - Cut in Finger

WHAT HAPPENED

The Injured Person (IP) was tightening a small plastic expansion tank to the holding bracket, using a
ratchet socket & spanner. The socket tilted and slipped off the nut, the worker's hand slipped and came
into contact with the edge of the bracket. The force of the contact with the bracket - which had no
burghs but as it is thin it was also sharp - caused the Neoprene glove worn by the IP, to tear, resulting
in the small cut to his index finger just above the finger nail. First aid, consisting of cleaning the
wound and applying a band-aid plaster was applied on site.

WHY DID IT HAPPEN

The Socket spanner is a tool that is used routinely. Hence the entire job was approached as a routine
job.
• As a consequence the JSA was not consulted and there was a lack of understanding of specific
SH&E risks (mechanical hazards) associated with task. This resulted in the person not wearing
the appropriate gloves for the task.
• Consideration had been given to the exposure to dirt and chemical in the man chamber, but no
consideration to the mechanical hazard was given despite it being highlighted in the JSA.