MSF: Eye injury whilst opening paint tin lid
- Safety Flash
- Published on 8 November 2021
- Generated on 13 January 2026
- IMCA SF 30/21
- 2 minute read
The Marine Safety Forum (MSF) has published Safety Alert 21-15 relating to someone injuring their eye whilst attempting to open a tin of paint
What happened?
The incident took place in a well-lit workshop, the injured person was not fatigued, nor inexperienced, was focused on the job and wearing proper PPE including fitted safety glasses.
As an attempt was made to pry open the lid, the screwdriver slipped from the point of contact and sprung in an upwards motion travelling underneath the person’s safety glasses to penetrate the right eye.
The MSF’s correspondent noted that “the client’s notification process was not followed, and offshore installation was not informed of the incident which led to some confusion and could have led to a delay in evacuation”.
What went wrong?
- There was no defined tool or recommendation for opening this type of paint tin lid.
- The Risk Assessment in place did not capture the task of removing the paint tin lid as a hazard.
- By design, the paint tin lid was rounded and tight fitting, which was also deemed a contributing factor as the screwdriver required force to separate the paint tin lid from the tin itself.
- Given that the screwdriver used was of the long-handled type, it was also considered difficult to control.
Actions
Purchase of a safer alternative in the form of a specific paint tin opening tool (see images) was agreed, with the use of screwdrivers prohibited for the task.
Related Safety Flashes
-
IMCA SF 03/16
27 January 2016
-
IMCA SF 16/15
22 October 2015
-
IMCA SF 02/06
27 February 2006
IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.
The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.
All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.
IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.
The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual's or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.
Share your safety incidents with IMCA online. Sign-up to receive Safety Flashes straight to your email.