Forest Operations > Conduct Skidder Operations > Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) Requirements

Hydraulic Safety

Avoid excessive contact with hydraulic oils; remember high temperatures and high pressures are present, and both can cause serious injury.

Skin ailments (allergies and irritations) can result from too much contact with hydraulic oil.

Cuts and puncture wounds can be caused from exposed wire on hydraulic hoses and damaged components.

When changing a hydraulic hose or component always ground the attachment, neutralise the levers and turn off the machine.

Release the hydraulic pressure from the system and wear all the appropriate safety equipment. (Petroleum resistant gloves and safety glasses)

Most importantly never check for hydraulic leaks on hoses or components while the machine is running and full hydraulic pressure is present in the system.

When checking for oil leaks use a piece of cardboard or wood (figure 13a), never use your hands to search for suspected leaks.

If hydraulic oil enters your flesh it could result in a serious injury called high pressure injection injury.

If you are injured by escaping hydraulic oil see a doctor at once.

Serious infection or reaction can develop if medical treatment is not administered immediately.

 

Fig 13a Always use a piece of board or cardboard.	Fig 13b Never use your hands to check hydraulic hoses

The following example will show you what can occur when hydraulic equipment fails, causing a pinprick intrusion wound to your hand.

A warning to us all!

Hydraulic oil Injection injury

• Hydraulic Fluid in use was a Mineral Oil – Unknown at present.
• Pressure of fluid was 630Bar (Approx 9,150 psi). Most modern forest machine hydraulic pressures are approximately (4000 to 5000 psi).
• Equipment in use was a pair scissor cutters used at Road Traffic Accidents to release occupants.
• Location of the accident was at a Fire Service Training Ground.
• Risk Assessments were in place and all appropriate PPE was worn.



Fig 14

Events

• Training session under controlled conditions within the fire brigade training grounds.
• Patient was cutting through sample vehicle using Jaws of Life.
• Normal practise was for hydraulic hose to be run over operators shoulder to tool in use.
• Hose ruptured at ferrule area resulting in release of high pressure fluid through PPE (Leather gauntlets figure 6 in OH&S safety equipment) to patient’s hand.



Fig 15 Hydraulic hose and fittings

What Happened Next

• The patient went to Accident & Emergency Hospital Ward and original diagnosis was “Keep clean and rest”.
• By chance a specialist observed and intervened.
• Mineral Oil had already started to “eat away” fatty tissues in the hand and began travelling up the arm.
• The patient had five operations to cut away oil deposits and was on his last chance before losing his arm. It was successful
• Wound could not be sutured due to tissue damage by the oil, so it gradually closed over, after a period of weeks.



Fig 16

Results

• The patient was in due course medically discharged from fire brigade and is severely disabled in this hand.
• Hydraulic Fluid in use has been changed to “Aero Shell Fluid 4”.
• Fire Brigade has passed the results of the incident on to other Brigades.
• Litigation is in place.
  • Patient to Brigade;
  • Brigade to Equipment Manufacturers;
  • The Patient awaits final outcome;
  • Timescale: 2 years and counting.