Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1526034.015 - Quality One Woodwork Llc

Inspection Information - Office: Eau Claire Area Office

Investigation Summary

At 9:25 a.m. on April 12, 2025, an employee working as a plant operator for a cabinet manufacturer was feeding 1/2-inch-thick plywood cabinet panels into a Delta model 52-866X 6-inch wood jointer. The employee was cutting notches into the edges of the panels. This process involves feeding four panels at one time into the helical cutterhead of the jointer. When the panels contact the stop-gauge mounted to the fence, they are lifted from the cutterhead. After feeding the panels into the jointer to complete the notch cuts, the employee moved the spring-loaded guard away from the fence with his left hand. After moving the guard, the employee contacted the cutterhead with his gloved hand. The employee partially amputated his index finger between the second and third knuckle. The employee was hospitalized for treatment.

Keywords: Amputated, Amputation, Catch Point, Caught By, Contact, Cutter, Cutting, Feeding, Finger, Instantaneous amputation, Knuckle, Machine Guarding, Machine operator, Misjudgment, Misjudgment of Hazardous Situation, Panel, Partial Amputation, Plywood, Point Of Operation, Safety Device, Shear, Sheared, Traumatic Amputation, Wood, Wood Board, Wood Panel