Incident alert
ACTIVITY:
MAINTENANCE & HOUSEKEEPING
TITLE
Employee injected with hydraulic oil
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
United Kingdom
ACCIDENT / INCIDENT DETAILS
A quarry supervisor suffered a serious hand injury when a hydraulic hose burst and he was injected with hydraulic mineral oil.
The supervisor was undertaking maintenance activities on site and was in the process of raising the hood of a mobile primary crusher to gain access to the isolated rotor chamber, when a hydraulic hose connected to the hood's lifting ram ruptured.
The supervisor's hand was directly in front of the ruptured hose and a high-pressure 'needle-like' jet of hydraulic oil projected from a small hole in the hose wall, penetrated through the supervisor's leather 'rigger' glove into the palm of his hand, injecting him with hydraulic mineral oil.
The supervisor required emergency surgery in hospital to treat his injured hand.
Cause of failure
On inspection the ruptured hydraulic hose was found to have surface abrasion damage.
The damage was caused by plant vibration and the hose chafing against a steel floor-plate.
ACCIDENT / INCIDENT IMAGES
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LEARNING POINTS / ACTIONS TAKEN
Action:
Are all hydraulic hoses suitably positioned, supported and given sufficient physical protection to prevent chafing and abrasion damage?
Do you have a formal inspection regime to ensure all hydraulic hoses are maintained in a safe and serviceable condition?
Ensure all workers who may come into contact with pressurised hydraulic systems receive the
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LEARNING POINTS / ACTIONS IMAGES
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