Infection and Laceration

Bldg 1238B ROME Engineering Project

IRIS# S- 2012-159-00005

Prime Contractor Davcon, Inc.

June 1, 2012

Agenda

• Background

• Investigation

• Proximate and Root Cause

• Lesson to Share

Background

• An Advex employee was performing NDE testing inside of the .3 Meter Cryo Tunnel.

• While standing on the work platform the employee knocked an existing scab off his right elbow.

• The employee was able to contain the bleeding through pressure with a paper towel.

• The employee then crawled in the tunnel to perform the NDE testing.

• The open wound got an infection which required hospitalization.

• The employee was diagnosed with a staph infection.

Slide 3

Investigation

• The Advex employee was working on the platform on the upper level of the .3 Meter Cryo wind tunnel. While on the platform the employee bumped his right elbow against the tunnel which dislodged an existing scab.

• The employee stopped the bleeding with a paper towel and cleaned the wound. He did not report the incident to any of his co-workers.

• He then crawled into the tunnel to perform his NDE testing.• Later, the laceration on his arm became infected which

required hospitalization. • The infection was diagnosed as a staph infection which

required 3 days away from work, making this a Lost Time Injury.

Proximate and Root Cause

Proximate CauseTreating the wound on his own

without covering it prior to entering the tunnel.

Root CauseNot seeking proper medical

attention to clean and cover the open wound before climbing into the tunnel.

Slide 5

Lessons to Share

• ROME has been enforcing the incident reporting policy. Part of this process has been to inform employees that these type incidents could be avoided if proper medical treatment is sought.