FLUID POWER SAFETY INSTITUTE™ - Fluid Power Injuries and Accidents

As we learn about accidents (injury and non-injury) related to the fluid power industry, we will post them here immediately.

The objectives: Since fluid power/hydraulics is not a recognized occupational hazard - unless there is a lost time injury or a death - hydraulic "accidents" go unnoticed in the majority of American corporations.

The net result - no data! And of course, when there is no data, there is no problem!

Well we beg to differ! There is a problem, and we intend to provide all the data we can get our hands on to continue to bring it to the attention of the respective safety organizations, and especially to you, the people who work on and around hydraulics.

Please post as many of these Fluid Power Accidents on your respective notice boards as possible. Each and every one is an accident that might very well have occurred in your company!

No. Description of fluid power accident
(click button to view)

18.
Maintenance mechanic injured while attempting to remove a transmission line from the closed-end of a hydraulic lift cylinder installed on a front-end loader.

17.
Diesel mechanic injured as the result of using unsafe diagnostic equipment to perform a routine troubleshooting procedure.

16.
Millwright killed while tightening a leaking high pressure connector.

15.
Maintenance worker fatally injured after having hydraulic oil injected into hand while attempting to bleed trapped air from a hydraulic cylinder.

14.
Maintenance technicians severely injured while attempting to remove a stubborn rod-end gland from a hydraulic cylinder.

13.
Farm-worker loses several limbs from accident caused by an unprotected rotating shaft.

12.
Mechanic's helper loses hand while attempting to remove the end-cap from a piston-type accumulator.

11.
Operator fatally injured while attempting to free a jammed conveyor.

10.
Millwright seriously injured as a result of an accident suffered while operating a portable, high-pressure hand-pump (porta-power).

9.
Mobile mechanic fractures both arms as a result of an accident suffered while working on a scissor-lift.

8.
Millwright suffers eye injury, minor burns, bruises, and abrasions, as a result of an accident suffered while testing a hydraulic motor.

7.
Maintenance technician burns down an entire manufacturing plant as a result of an accident caused while testing a hydraulic cylinder.

6.
Mill maintenance technician, with some hydraulic training, injured as a result of an accident suffered while removing a hydraulic cylinder from production to replace gland seals that were reportedly leaking.

5.
Oil-field service mechanic suffers a broken ankle and chest lacerations when struck by a "flying" cylinder rod that was inadvertently launched into the air using compressed air.

4. Another person falls at work! - Man dies of injuries in coal-mine accident.

3. Production Superintendent crushed to death while working on a vacuum forming mold. LOCK IT OUT!!!

2. Steel worker crushed to death under 17 tons of iron-ore pellets. Another worker falls with his "lock by his side."

1. Farmer crushed to death under corn planter while changing a flat tire!