Inspection Detail

Inspection: 125737841 - Sierra Pacific Industries

Inspection Information - Office: Sacramento District Office

Investigation Summary

On January 23, 2001, the brake over hoist machine in the planer area broke down and the chain driving the hoist needed repair. The Sierra Pacific planer supervisor, Employee #1, was working with the molding machine operator on one end of the hoist and two other employees were on the other end. The brake over hoist was in an upright position and was locked and tagged out. Before repairs took place the chain had to be removed physically. The removal of the chain required taking a hammer and punch and pounding out the pin in the link of chain. Employee #1 was taking turns with the molding machine operator using a hammer to knock out the pin from the chain so the chain could be removed and thus repaired. On one of his turns, when Employee #1 hit the punch with the hammer on one of the blows, he felt something go wrong in his back. He stopped working and went to do something else. Employee #1 visited the doctor, had continuous pain for seven months, and eventually had to have surgery on his neck on July 24, 2001, and was hospitalized for two days.

Keywords: CHAIN, SPINE, HOIST, NECK, SPRAIN