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What happened?
A contractor in a storeroom at an onshore preassembly yard was cutting open cable ties with a fixed blade box-cutter.
During cutting, their hand slipped leading to a large cut on their forearm.
First aid was immediately given on-site, and stitches were administered at an urgent care facility.
The cut was around 3mm (0.19 inches) from a main artery.
The technician returned to the site late in the day to retrieve personal items, which unfortunately reopened his cut, leading to another hospital trip.
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Why did it happen?
The contractor was not wearing cut-resistant gloves.
There was no training given to the contractor for proper cutting technique.
There was also a lack of knife policy on site, so the use of gloves and the correct style of knife were not mandated.
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What did they learn?
The operator of the preassembly yard has implemented a global knife policy, banning the use of fixed blade knives
A site-wide safety stand-down was held to deliver a safety moment on knife safety, including a knife amnesty in which all open‑blade knives were required to be removed or disposed of.
A review of all stores cutting equipment occurred to ensure suitable safety knives were provided and available for use.
A review to measure compliance to the site lone working policy was initiated.
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Ask yourself or your crew
Do you have a full and correct policy in place when working with knives and other sharp tools?
Are you using the correct tools or personal protective equipment in line with said policy and if not, are they available?
Has the technician performing the task been taught the proper technique?
How do we know the risk controls/barriers are working?
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What happened?
A contractor in a storeroom at an onshore preassembly yard was cutting open cable ties with a fixed blade box-cutter.
During cutting, their hand slipped leading to a large cut on their forearm.
First aid was immediately given on-site, and stitches were administered at an urgent care facility.
The cut was around 3mm (0.19 inches) from a main artery.
The technician returned to the site late in the day to retrieve personal items, which unfortunately reopened his cut, leading to another hospital trip.
Why did it happen?
The contractor was not wearing cut-resistant gloves.
There was no training given to the contractor for proper cutting technique.
There was also a lack of knife policy on site, so the use of gloves and the correct style of knife were not mandated.
What did they learn?
The operator of the preassembly yard has implemented a global knife policy, banning the use of fixed blade knives
A site-wide safety stand-down was held to deliver a safety moment on knife safety, including a knife amnesty in which all open‑blade knives were required to be removed or disposed of.
A review of all stores cutting equipment occurred to ensure suitable safety knives were provided and available for use.
A review to measure compliance to the site lone working policy was initiated.
Ask yourself or your crew
Do you have a full and correct policy in place when working with knives and other sharp tools?
Are you using the correct tools or personal protective equipment in line with said policy and if not, are they available?
Has the technician performing the task been taught the proper technique?
How do we know the risk controls/barriers are working?
A contractor slipped while cutting cable ties and suffered a deep forearm injury requiring stitches, with a reopened wound causing a second hospital visit.
