Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 201173366 - Employee Injured When Attacked by Tiger

Accident Summary Nr: 201173366 -- Report ID: 0950621 -- Event Date: 03/23/2003
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
125709709	04/08/2003	8422	712130	Sacramento Zoological Society

Abstract: On March 23, 2003, Employee #1, a zookeeper, had just completed cleaning an interior tiger den complex consisting of two dens each with access to a hallway and joined in the middle by a sliding door. After placing food in one corner for a 320-pound male tiger, Employee #1 exited one of the dens and released the tiger from a holding cage. Just as the tiger entered the den, Employee #1 realized that the door from the other den was opened and went to close it. The tiger reacted to Employee #1's movement and got to the open door first. The tiger attacked Employee #1 as he tried to close the door. A zoo volunteer that had helped in the cleanup grabbed a shovel and hit the tiger until he backed off. Employee #1 sustained multiple lacerations and puncture-wounds as well as a fractured head and was hospitalized.

Keywords: CLEANING, ANIMAL HANDLER, LACERATION, ANIMAL BITE, INATTENTION, PUNCTURE

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	125709709			Hospitalized injury	Puncture	Animal caretakers, except farm

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