Inspection Detail

Inspection: 119791770 - Tri Valley Growers Plant 7

Inspection Information - Office: Modesto District Office

Investigation Summary

EMPLOYEE #1 WAS MACHINING FLAT METAL WASHERS. THE WASHERS WERE NO LONGER STICKING TO THE MAGNETIC TABLE, SO HE USED A RAG TO WIPE THE SPOT WHERE THE WASHERS WERE PLACED. WHILE WIPING THE SPOT, THE ROTATING WHEEL CAUGHT THE RAG AND PULLED HIS RIGHT HAND INTO THE WHEEL. HIS RIGHT INDEX FINGER WAS STRUCK BY THE WHEEL AND BADLY DAMAGED. EMPLOYEE #1 STATED THAT PRIOR TO CLEANING THE SPOT ON THE MAGNETIC TABLE, HE CRANKED THE TABLE ALL THE WAY DOWN, AND THE GRINDING WHEEL ALL THE WAY BACK. (NOTE: IF THIS WAS THE CASE, IT WAS PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE RAG TO HAVE BEEN CAUGHT BY THE WHEEL.) ALSO, THE EMPLOYER SAVED THE GRINDING WHEEL; RAG PARTICLES WERE OBSERVED IN THE WHEEL. THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THAT THE EQUIPMENT WAS NOT TURNED OFF PRIOR TO EMPLOYEE #1 WIPING THE SPOT ON THE TABLE. NO SPECIALIZATION IN 8CCR (EX. 3314), HOWEVER, WOULD REQUIRE THE GRINDER TO BE TURNED OFF PRIOR TO WIPING A SPOT ON THE GRINDER TABLE. NO CITATION WAS ISSUED BECAUSE THERE IS NO SECTION IN TITLE 8 THAT ADDRESSES THE ACTIONS OF THE INJURY.

Keywords: FINGER, CLEANING, CAUGHT BY, LOCKOUT, GRINDING WHEEL