Alert 09 – 27 Laying Out Drill Pipe Results in Broken Finger (LTI)

Alert 09 – 27 Laying Out Drill Pipe Results in Broken Finger (LTI)

WHAT HAPPENED:

The rig crew was lowering 5” drill pipe from the rig floor down to the catwalk using the air winch through the V-door. A floor man (IP) was assigned to work near the catwalk to take off the lifting cap from the drill pipe. He was instructed to put another nipple under the drill pipe while it was lowered onto the catwalk and before it was laid down on the catwalk. This was to make it easier to slide the drill pipe. After the drill pipe had been laid on the catwalk, the IP started to take off the lifting cap, which was still connected to the air hoist line. The drill pipe tilted toward the IP’s right hand and fractured his thumb.