Inspection Detail

Inspection: 125800300 - Sacramento Co. Water Quality,Div. Maintenance

Inspection Information - Office: Sacramento District Office

Investigation Summary

On May 27, 1999, Employee #1 and three coworkers, after finishing minor repairs to an underground sewer line in a residential neighborhood, were backfilling and compacting a small trench. Employee #1, standing at ground level, was handing a Wacker compactor, model DS72Y, to a coworker standing in the 2 1/2 ft deep trench. Employee #1 was holding the compactor handles at each side when the coworker grasped the compactor and began to turn toward the trench before Employee #1 had released his grip. Employee #1's gloved fingers were between the handle and frame of the compactor, amputating the tip of his left little finger. He was transported by a coworker to Kaiser Hospital, where the fingertip was reattached. The compactor did not have sharp edges nor pinching action in the area of the handle. The employer was the County Public Works Agency, which handles the maintenance and construction of the sewer system.

Keywords: PORTABLE POWER TOOL, AMPUTATED, FINGER, CONSTRUCTION, CAUGHT BETWEEN, COMMUNICATION