Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 201508751 - Grinding Wheel Explodes, Lacerates Employee's Face

Accident Summary Nr: 201508751 -- Report ID: 0950614 -- Event Date: 09/12/2008
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
312353667	09/17/2008	3325	331513	Pacific Steel Casting Co.

Abstract: At approximately 12:45 p.m. on September 12, 2008, Employee #1 and a coworker, both maintenance mechanics, received an assignment to remove welds off of floor rails located in Plant Number One - the pouring pick A Line. Both Employee #1 and the coworker were using Milwaukee portable hand grinders, with minimum 11,000 RPM, to complete the task. However, Employee #1 used an inappropriate cut-off grinding wheel with a maximum operating speed of 6550 RPM, which is only used in the analysis lab. The coworker used the appropriate cut-off grinding wheel rated for a maximum speed of 19,000 RPM. As Employee #1 was grinding a weld, the wheel exploded and struck him on the left side of his face. Employee #1 was not wearing a face shield, but was wearing eye protection. Both portable grinders were later found to not have their guards in place. Employee #1 sustained a 2-in. laceration to his left cheek. Employee #1 received stitches from his lip up to his cheek. Employee #1 was treated and released from the hospital on the same day.

Keywords: GRINDER, EQUIPMENT FAILURE, EXPLOSION, LACERATION, STRUCK BY, FLYING OBJECT, FACE, GRINDING WHEEL

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	312353667			Non Hospitalized injury	Cut/Laceration	Helpers, mechanics and repairers

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