Inspection Detail

Inspection: 125557462 - Palo Alto Joe'S

Inspection Information - Office: Fremont District Office

Investigation Summary

Employee #1, a cook in a restaurant, was processing canned tomatoes through a Hobart food chopper to cut them in small pieces for a sauce he was making. The Hobart chopper has a tray for holding the unprocessed food on top and a yoke about 8 in. long through which the food is fed to a worm gear. The worm gear pushes food through a screw on die and cutting blade. The die being used had six holes, each 0.75 in. in diameter. The cutting blade sheared processed food on the machine side of the die. Employee #1 had completed his process and turned off the machine. He noticed a small amount of residual tomato inside a hole in the die. He instinctively reached down to clear away the residue and his finger went into one of the holes. Although the chopper had been turned off, the blade was still turning with enough force to amputate his right index finger at the first knuckle. He had used this equipment many times in his seven years working for the restaurant. There were other dies available with smaller holes but he had no knowledge of their existence. The smaller holes would have prevented the exposure to this hazard. The Manager knew of the other dies but said he did not realize that someone might put their finger into one of the holes. Employee #1 was hospitalized for his injuries.

Keywords: AMPUTATED, FOOD PREPARATION, FINGER