An Engie Fabricom employee was injured while using a hand tool to align a pipe spool valve flanged joint. The podger end of the tool came out of the bolt hole as the employee exerted upward force, causing the tool to rapidly move up and strike the employee in the face. The injury required medical treatment at a local clinic. An investigation found the activity was not sufficiently planned, lifting equipment or assistance from a rigger would have been safer, and the employee placed themselves in the "line of fire." To prevent recurrence, all similar work was stopped until a safe method was established, the need to always select the safest equipment and method was reinforced, and the incident was communicated across the business.

1. Safety Bulletin;
Internal Safety Alert: First Aid Injury – Line of Fire
Description:
During pipework installation activities an Engie
Fabricom employee was working to align a pipe spool /
valve flanged joint.
During the installation activity the operative was using
a hand tool which is a combination of a wrench and a
podger. At the time of the incident the I.P was using
the podger end to align the flanges by placing the
podger through a bolt hole in the pipe and
corresponding bolt hole in the valve.
In order to achieve the alignment the I.P was exerting
upward force on the hand tool and without warning
the podger end had come out of the bolt hole. The
force being applied resulted in the tool rapidly moving
upwards and striking the I.P. in the face, causing a
laceration to the outside and inside of the upper lip.
The I.P. was taken to the local walk in medical centre
for assessment and treatment.
Initial Failings:
 Activity not sufficiently planned and safest method
of alignment not identified
 Use of hand tool where lifting equipment and
assistance from Rigger would have been safer and
more efficient method
 I.P. placed himself in the “line of Fire”
FOGAP Preventative actions:
All works were stopped until completion of
investigation and agreed safe method to
complete the works established.
Reinforcement of need to assess the task in
hand and identify the safest method of
work
Communication of the event to the whole
business to include:
 Always select the safest method and
correct work equipment
 Always be aware of the potential for
incidents and to avoid placing any part
of your body in the “Line of Fire”
Bulletin No Date of Occurrence Severity Potential Likelihood of reoccurrence
FOGAP UK 112 30/06/18 First Aid Medical treatment Possible
Picture showing the flanged assembly and the hand tool
being used
Picture showing the approximate position of the I.P. at
time of incident