health & safety

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 HEALTH & SAFETY ALERT Mag Drill Wrist injury What Happened :

On Friday the 30th June at Tottenham Court Road station an operative was using a Mag Drill to bore holes through steel sheeting on part of the platform edge screens. This activity had been underway for three weeks without incident. Following the drilling of a hole, the operator was cleaning away the swarf and preparing to move the drill to the next location when the drill magnet disengaged causing it to fall. The lanyard on the drill, which was connected to the cherry picker handrail, prevented the drill from falling to the ground but caught the operator’s wrist, slamming it into the cherry picker handrail. The operative was treated by a first aider and then taken to hospital, where x-rays revealed a fracture to a bone in his wrist.

Findings:

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A loss of power to the drill caused the magnets holding the drill to de-energise.

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There were insufficient 16 amp power sockets available in the platform area, and so three drills had been connected to a single 16 amp socket.

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The tether securing the drill was insufficiently located to prevent a dangerous fall of the equipment .

Mag Drill Involved

Actions:

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Where this equipment is in use – the manufacturer’s instructions should be checked to ensure that the requirements are clear and are being adhered to.

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Equipment should be connected to a secure supply that provides adequate power for the equipment.

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Operatives should be made aware that an unexpected Reconstruction of the Incident reduction in the drill’s power can be an indication that the magnets may have de-energised; and they should stop work to check.

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When selecting the fixing point operatives must consider the possible outcomes if the equipment does drop. Further information on the safe use of magnetic drills can be found here: http://www.hougen.com/downloads/08353-Safe-Mag-Drill-Operation-Guide.pdf

Date: 5th July 2017