Lost time injury (LTI) – Finger laceration due to use of knife
- Safety Flash
- Published on 21 September 2017
- Generated on 15 November 2025
- IMCA SF 23/17
- 1 minute read
A crew member was off work for two weeks after being injured while working with a knife
What happened?
A crew member was working with a knife when his knife suddenly slipped and sliced a layer of skin off his index finger and part of the nail off the next finger on his left hand.
Medical treatment was received on return to port, and two weeks off work were necessary to recover from the injury.
What went wrong? What were the causes?
- The crew member was cutting towards his free hand.
- He was wearing ANSI Level 4 cut-resistant gloves at the time.
- The cause was incorrect cutting technique.
What lessons were learnt? What actions were taken?
Always keep your free hand (and other body parts) away from the line of the cut. Gloves provide sufficient protection for regular cuts and grazes, however will not prevent a serious knife wound.
The UK HSE produces a handy leaflet on how to reduce hand knife injuries, which can be found on its website.
Related safety flashes
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IMCA SF 06/10
27 September 2010
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