Personnel Safety

-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	HEADS UP!!! - MISHAP, VESSEL, CLASS C, WPB82/87, INJURY, AMPUTATION,
Date:	Fri, 25 Nov 2005 08:49:29 -0500
From:	Smith, Barry CAPT
To:	lst-auxnexcom, lst-auxnadco, lst-auxalldiraux, lst-G-OCX
CC:	Kotz, Albert, Meyers, Tommey CDR

I remember when we strictly enforced this on cutters in which I crewed or skippered  - and my wife/crew's wives could not understand why I removed my wedding band and made my subordinates do the same (I think she thought wedding band removal had more to do with "foreign port calls and sailors" or something like that). 

Some nasty injuries occur regularly on fishing vessels/pleasure craft also due to this.

Below should be a testimony of the reminder to be aware of the smallest matters in our Auxiliary facilities  - and when not on orders/taking families/friends out.  "Break-away" jewelry only -  make sure a weak-link is built into anything attached to us and that the weak-link is not a body part. 

Request this be passed and posted on the appropriate web sites as an example of the effects of a small oversight. I removed DTG, names of cutters, command, reviewers, and BM1 who lost most of his finger.

Please be careful out there!

BP SMITH, CAPT

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R 05 ZUI ASN-A08326000118
FM USCGC
TO COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//G-WKS//
COMCOGARD MLC LANT NORFOLK VA//KSE//
AIG 4923
COMCOGARD MLC PAC ALAMEDA CA//KSE//
CCGDEIGHT NEW ORLEANS LA//O//
BT
UNCLAS FOUO //N05100//
SUBJ: MISHAP, VESSEL, CLASS C, WPB82/87, INJURY, AMPUTATION
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
WHAT FOLLOWS MAY CONTAIN PRIVILEGED SAFETY INFORMATION.
USE FOR MISHAP PREVENTION PURPOSES ONLY.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
1. UNIT: CGC, REPORT NUMBER:
2. TYPE OF BOAT: N/A
3. MISHAP DESCRIPTION: SEVERED LEFT RING FINGER
4. MISSION AT TIME OF MISHAP: PORT SAFETY AND SECURITY
5. MISHAP RELATED TO UNITS OPERATIONAL MISSION: YES
6. DATE:
7. REQUIRED PPE WORN PROPERLY: N/A
8. COXSWAIN DATA: N/A
9. NARRATIVE: CGC  WAS TIED OUTBOARD CGC . MEMBER WAS
CROSSING BETWEEN CUTTERS. HE GRABBED HOLD OF A LIFE RAFT SUPPORT
BRACKET AND SWUNG DOWN TO THE DECK OF THE CGC. BM1'S
WEDDING RING CAUGHT ON THE SUPORT BRACKET AS HE JUMPED TO THE DECK
AND ABRUPTLY SEVERED HIS FINGER AT THE SECOND KNUCKLE.
10. CAUSE: JUDGMENT
11. ADDITIONAL CAUSE: N/A
12. ACTION: REMINDED ALL HANDS OF THE HAZARDS OF WEARING JEWELRY
ONBOARD THE CUTTER. ENSURED ALL HANDS REMOVED ANY JEWELRY. CONDUTED A
SAFETY STAND-DOWN ON 16 NOV 05.
13. PERSONAL INJURY DATA: NUMBER OF INJURIES: 1
   A. FIRST INJURY
       1. GRADE: E-6
       2. RATE: BM
       3. STATUS: ON DUTY RESERVE
       4. PRIMARY INJURY: FINGER, NATURE OF INJURY: AMPUTATION
       5. SECONDARY INJURY: NA, NATURE OF INJURY: N/A
       6. SEVERITY: LOST WORK
       7. PPE USED: N/A
       8. PPE REQUIRED:  N/A
       9. DAYS HOSPITALIZED: 2
       10. DAYS LOST WORK (NFFD/SIQ): 3
       11. DAYS RESTRICTED (FFLD): 0
14. PROPERTY DAMAGE: N/A.
15. INVESTIGATOR NAME:
16. FIRST LEVEL REVIEW/COMMENTS: MEMBER WAS RECENTLY MARRIED AND
UNFAMILIAR WITH WEARING OF RINGS AND RELATED HAZARDS ONBOARD CUTTER.
 WAS MOORED OUTBOARD ANOTHER CUTTER. MEMBER WAS TRANSITING FROM
ONE CUTTER TO THE OTHER, WHICH IS NOT A NORMAL PRACTICE. THE DECKS OF
THE TWO CUTTERS WERE AT DIFFERENT HEIGHTS. THIS CAUSED THE CREW
MEMBER TO JUMP DOWN ON THE OTHER VESSEL WHEN DEPARTING .
17. FIRST LEVEL REVIEWER:
18. COMMAND REVIEW/COMMENTS: HAS A STRICT REQUIREMENT ABOUT
CREW MEMBERS REMOVING ANY JEWELRY PRIOR TO THE CUTTER LEAVING THE
DOCK. BM1 WAS RECENTLY WED AND, ALTHOUGH FAMILIAR WITH THE
UNIT'S POLICY, HAD FORGOTTEN TO KEEP HIS RING OFF WHEN WAS
MOORED AT. SEVERAL CREW MEMBERS DEPARTED THE CUTTER IN A
SIMILAR MANNER PRIOR TO THIS MISHAP. A SAFETY STAND-DOWN WAS HELD ON
BOARD ON 16 NOVEMBER AND TRAINING WAS CONDUCTED ON USING RISK
ASSESSMENT PRINCIPLES IN THEIR DAILY LIVES. THIS RECENT INCIDENT WAS
EXTENSIVELY REVIEWED AND PREVENTATIVE INPUT SOUGHT FROM ALL HANDS.
 APPRECIATES ALL THE SUPPORT RECEIVED FROM GROUP
MEDICAL AND DUTY SECTION.
19. COMMAND REVIEWER:
BT
NNNN