Accident Report Detail
Accident Summary Nr: 202468567 - Employee Amputates Finger While Operating Bottle Caper
| Inspection Nr | Date Opened | SIC | NAICS | Establishment Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 312436017 | 03/22/2010 | 7363 | 325611 | Staffchex |
Abstract: Employee #1, a machine operator, was overseeing a "fully automatic bottle capping" machine. The "bottle capping" machine is one of two operations on the line. The first operation of the line was the "bottle filling" machine which placed lotion inside the bottle. The second part of the operation was the "bottle capping". The bottles were on a horizontal metal plate conveyor that ran through a plexiglass boxed enclosure. There were vertical conveyor belts on each side of the horizontal conveyor belt. The vertical conveyor held the bottle firmly as a bottle cap was dropped on top of the bottle. At each end of the vertical conveyor, there were two sprockets and chains driven by an electric motor below the point of operation. The motor was fully enclosed and did not pose a hazard. Also, there were three large diameter rollers located above the horizontal conveyor on each side. As the conveyor moved forward the rollers spun the cap at different speeds to tighten the cap. Employee #1 stated that many times the caps fell off the bottle and landed on the side of the vertical conveyor. The plexiglass enclosure was meant to be a guard, however it was ineffective as a guard due to the fact that openings on the side used as entry and exit for the conveyor were too large and there was no disconnect interlocks on the doors. Employee #1 was clearing caps off the point of operation. Employee #1 put her right hand in the zone of danger and got four fingers of her right hand fully amputated. Employee #1 was hospitalized.
| Employee # | Inspection Nr | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 312436017 | Hospitalized injury | Amputation | Machine operators, not specified |
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