Inspection Detail

Inspection: 126742287 - Nestle Frozen Food Co

Inspection Information - Office: Utah Division Of Occupational Safety And Health

Investigation Summary

Employee #1, of Nestle Frozen Foods Company (Stouffer), was cleaning part of an approximately 10 in. wide overhead transfer conveyor. He raised a plexiglass cover that was over the area being cleaned and intermittently poured a cleaning compound, Diver Foam Plus, onto it from a bucket. When lowering the bucket, Employee #1's hand came in contact with the running gears. He severely lacerated the little finger on his left hand and it was later amputated at the hospital. The casual factors for this accident include Employee #1's failure to shut down the conveyor before cleaning it. He was trained but was in a hurry and took a shortcut. In addition, the plexiglass he lifted to expose the conveyor was not located at a work station. The employer has now added a microswitch that will shut down the line if the plexiglass is lifted. The employer also surveyed the remaining equipment site for similar problems and installed microswitches wherever a skilled or guard could be raised.

Keywords: AMPUTATED, FINGER, WORK RULES, CLEANING, LACERATION, CONVEYOR, GEAR, UNGUARDED