A beginner required urgent medical treatment after a metal object rebounded and struck him.
An inexperienced truck operator became severely injured when an earthing rod fell, bounced and hit him in the face.
“A truck driver was assisting with dismantling plant and equipment in preparation to relocate a rig camp. This task included storing removed equipment into a tool shack,” Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) said in a recent safety alert.
“An earthing rod was placed vertically inside a tool shack where it fell and rebounded, striking the worker in the eye.”
The driver was transported to a nearby hospital but emergency responders were unable to save the patient’s left eye.
“The injury required immediate surgery with interim medical advice confirming there will be permanent damage,” the alert said.
An ongoing investigation so far identified a lack of supervision, visibility and personal protective equipment (PPE) as contributing factors.
Investigators made the following recommendations:
- store earth rods in a specific location
- guide and supervise workers with limited experience
- fit operational lighting in the work area and inside the tool shack
- require eye protection and other PPE to help prevent or mitigate injury.
“Although PPE is the lowest level of control it can be the last line of defence between a person and an interaction with a hazard. This incident reinforces the importance to maintain all critical controls that address both process safety and personal safety,” the alert said.
Investigations continue.
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