Alert 14 – 23 Improper Pulling of Rotary Table Bushing Results in Partial Finger Amputation
WHAT HAPPENED:
The crew was in the process of pulling the rotary bushing using the bushing puller that was attached to the winch line. The two bushing puller hooks were each attached to a bushing half. When the rotating bushing halves “popped free”, one half of the bushing swung toward the console. An employee attempted to catch the bushing with his left hand. As the bushing half made contact with his hand, the momentum of the bushing pushed his hand into the derrick thereby partially amputating his left ring finger. In this case, proper PPE was not in question.