Liberia Warns of Serious Hand Injury Risks During Routine Operations on Board Vessels

Recent maritime incidents show that routine operations on board vessels can pose serious injury risks, including crushing and amputation, especially when personnel work near moving machinery, handle heavy components, or conduct mooring operations without proper hazard awareness, risk assessment, oversight, or appropriate precautions.

The Liberia Maritime Authority has issued a marine notice to reinforce mandatory safety requirements and operational controls aimed at preventing finger and hand injuries on board Liberian-flagged vessels. The notice specifically highlights the hazards of crushing, safe handling of heavy equipment, and mooring operations.

The administration analyzed several incidents involving finger and hand injuries that occurred:

• From 2025 to 2026, there were 42 reported incidents of finger and hand injuries, with 30 incidents occurring in 2025 and an additional 12 incidents recorded in 2026 to date.
• The majority of these injuries were caused by personnel getting caught in or between objects, accounting for 23 incidents, or 55% of the total.
• Another 15 incidents, representing 36%, were related to personnel being struck by falling or moving objects, while the remaining 4 incidents, or 9%, were caused by other reasons, including slips and cuts.

Liberia analyzed cases where injuries often occurred due to fingers getting caught between components of heavy equipment, being pinched by doors or hatches, getting caught in mooring lines, or being struck by tools during maintenance work. Several of these incidents resulted in traumatic amputations.

Operators and captains are reminded that hazard identification and risk assessment are mandatory requirements for all operations on board vessels.