Overview of Hand Safety Offshore

Hand injuries remain one of the most common incidents on offshore installations.

Most injuries occur during routine work such as:

• Using wrenches, screwdrivers, and pry bars
• Handling valves, flanges, and pipe fittings
• Working in tight or awkward positions
• Unexpected movement of equipment or tools
• Poor grip, incorrect leverage, or tool slippage

Key Safety Principles

• Always maintain awareness of pinch points
• Keep hands visible and out of line-of-fire
• Check tool condition before use
• Use proper PPE such as gloves and eye protection
• Ensure good body positioning and stable footing
• Slow down and avoid rushing simple tasks

Learning Objectives

After completing this lesson, the trainee will be able to:

• Recognize the most common offshore hand hazards
• Identify tasks where hand injuries frequently occur
• Apply basic safe hand-positioning principles
• Understand the importance of correct tool selection