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What happened?
Technicians were cleaning up an oil and grease spill in the yawing section of an offshore wind turbine.
Grease cleaner fluid in a pump-style spray bottle was being used to dissolve grease.
The technician placed the spray bottle down in front of him, with the nozzle pointing in his direction.
The technician accidently pressed the pump button and squirted the chemical directly into their eye.
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Why did it happen?
As the technician was putting the bottle down, they accidently depressed the spray button.
Because they had already set the bottle down, they were not thinking about the direction the nozzle was pointing.
The area the technician was working in was a small, tight space with limited movement, light and airflow.
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What did they learn?
Prior to this incident, the technician had taken off their protective safety glasses. There was no reason for this, and safety goggles should be always worn when using chemicals for this task.
There was no damage to the technician’s eyes as they were rinsed almost immediately by another technician as eyewash stations are located inside the nacelle.
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Ask yourself or your crew
What is the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) for this task?
If you need to remove PPE for any reason, should all work be stopped before you do so?
What is the correct way to handle harmful chemicals?
Are technicians aware of the extra hazards that come with working in areas with limited movement and visibility?
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What happened?
Technicians were cleaning up an oil and grease spill in the yawing section of an offshore wind turbine.
Grease cleaner fluid in a pump-style spray bottle was being used to dissolve grease.
The technician placed the spray bottle down in front of him, with the nozzle pointing in his direction.
The technician accidently pressed the pump button and squirted the chemical directly into their eye.
Why did it happen?
As the technician was putting the bottle down, they accidently depressed the spray button.
Because they had already set the bottle down, they were not thinking about the direction the nozzle was pointing.
The area the technician was working in was a small, tight space with limited movement, light and airflow.
What did they learn?
Prior to this incident, the technician had taken off their protective safety glasses. There was no reason for this, and safety goggles should be always worn when using chemicals for this task.
There was no damage to the technician’s eyes as they were rinsed almost immediately by another technician as eyewash stations are located inside the nacelle.
Ask yourself or your crew
What is the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) for this task?
If you need to remove PPE for any reason, should all work be stopped before you do so?
What is the correct way to handle harmful chemicals?
Are technicians aware of the extra hazards that come with working in areas with limited movement and visibility?
A technician cleaning an offshore turbine accidentally sprayed grease cleaner into their eye after placing the pump bottle in front of them with the nozzle facing upward.
