Dropped Object Incident: Hammer Is Kicked from Work Basket On Drilling Rig

2.3 kg hammer falls 10 ft on drilling rig causing lacerations to employee

An employee’s face is lacerated just below their left eyebrow by an untethered 2.3 kg hammer that fell from a work basket on the Driller’s side of the substructure on an oil rig.

This accident could have been prevented if the manufacturer had carried out a sufficient risk assessment, putting in place a Dropped Object prevention programme to reduce the risk of injury from dropped objects, for example including a tethering or secondary securing device for the hammer.