Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1346698.015 - Bamcore Llc

Inspection Information - Office: American Canyon District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 10:25 a.m. on September 13, 2018, an employee was working for a firm that manufactured softwood veneer and plywood. He was working in a manufacturing facility in Windsor, CA. The employer manufactured bamboo wall panels for building construction. It employed 23 people. Two workers, an operator and helper, were crushing bamboo in a machine called "The Crusher" when the helper was injured. The helper was the employee. The machine operator was the coworker. The crusher machine was a hydraulic press that had been designed and constructed by the employer. There were no identifying markings on the machine. The machine operated with 14 hydraulic cylinders powered by a pump driven by an electric motor. The employee had worked for the firm for approximately one month. His coworker, the machine operator, had been employed by the firm approximately 1.5 months. The employee was listening for the machine to reach the top of the up cycle. He could tell by the sound the machine made. It was standard practice for the employee to reach into the point of operation when he heard the machine finish the up cycle. He did this to adjust the pieces of bamboo for the operator to grab and remove from the machine. The hydraulic press had no physical guards to prevent the operator or helper from reaching into the point of operation. The hydraulic press had no presence-sensing device that would stop the machine if an employee reached into the point of operation. The hydraulic press had no safety device to restrain the operator or helper from reaching into the point of operation or a retracting device to pull the operator's or helper's hand or hands from the point of operation when the machine cycled. When the employee heard the machine finish the up cycle, he reached into the point of operation and started to adjust the bamboo. At that point, the machine started moving in the up direction and crushed his left thumb. The employee was able to pull his hand out by degloving the end of his thumb. His injuries resulted in the amputation of the end of the thumb, or the employee sustained the amputation of his left thumb. The narrative was not clear on this point. The employee was treated at Sutter Hospital in Santa Rosa, Ca. The accident was reported by the employer to the Division at approximately 1:46 p.m. on September 13, 2018. The Division responded to the accident site at approximately 7:00 a.m. on September 14, 2018, and held an opening conference with the employer. REGULATORY ACTIONS: Serious Accident-Related Violation of T8 CCR§4184(b). Employer failed to guard a hydraulic press at the point of operation. General Violation of T8 CCR§3203(a)(4). Employer failed to establish, implement and maintain an effective IIPP. General Violation of T8 CCR§3314(g)(2). Employer failed to document hazardous energy control procedure.

Keywords: Amputated, Amputation, Avulsion, Crushed, Hydraulic Press, Nip Point, Thumb, Unguarded