Question 7 of 7: Accident Case Analysis — Spray-Gun Amputation

Question 7: Accident Case Analysis — Spray-Gun Amputation (20 marks: 6/6/8)

Question text not reproduced: the examination questions are © Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Open the official past paper (linked at the top of this page) to read the question, then follow the worked solution below.

(i) Cause of the Accident

• Immediate cause — cleaning the clogged nozzle while the gun was still pressurized; it discharged high-pressure fluid into the thumb (high-pressure injection injury) causing the laceration/amputation.
• Root/contributing causes: no procedure to depressurize/lock out before servicing; inadequate training on the injection hazard and correct clearing method; gun lacked safeguards (trigger lock, pressure relief); clogging from poor filtration/maintenance.

(ii) Corrective Actions

• Safe procedure (depressurize/LOTO) before cleaning; never point at the body.
• Engineering — trigger locks/guards, automatic pressure relief, better filtration.
• Training on high-pressure injection hazards and correct unclogging; PPE; maintenance schedule.

(iii) Follow-Up

• Investigate and document (root-cause analysis); report as legally required; implement corrective actions; update the safe-work procedure; retrain; verify by audit; ensure medical care; share lessons learned.