Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 134955.015 - Employee crushes hand in harvester, thumb is later amputated

Accident Summary Nr: 134955.015 -- Report ID: 0950647 -- Event Date: 10/21/2020
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
1507564.015	12/22/2020		115115	Cal Ag Resources, Inc.

Abstract: At 9:30 a.m. on October 21, 2020, an employee working as a machine operator for a farm labor supplier was operating a raisin harvesting machine in a vineyard when he noticed that one of the conveyor belts on the machine was not working. The employee left the harvester energized and went to the rear of the machine where he noticed that a vine had become stuck in the chain and sprocket that powered the conveyor belt. When he attempted to pull the vine out, his hand was pulled into the pinch point of the chain and sprocket causing a serious crushing injury. He stated he did not remove the chain and sprocket guard and had not seen a guard on it since operating the machine. He did not stop engine, disconnect the power source, or wait for all machine movement to stop before attempting to unclog the harvester. The employee was hospitalized to treat a crushing injury to his left hand. On November 6, 2020, the employee required surgical amputation of his left thumb.

Keywords: Agriculture, Agriculture Machinery/Vehicle, Amputated, Amputation, Catch Point, Caught Between, Chain, Clogged, Conveyor, Crushed, Energized, Farm, Farm Machinery, Farm worker, Finger, Hand, Harvester, Harvesting, Jammed, Lockout, Lockout/Tagout, Machine Guarding, Machine operator, Pulled In, Safety Device, Sprocket, Staffing Agency, Surgical Amputation, Temporary Employment Agency, Thumb

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	1507564.015	28	M	Hospitalized injury		Laborers, except construction

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