Inspection Detail

Note: The following inspection has not been indicated as closed. OSHA citation items will be posted 30 (thirty) days after the employer receives the citation(s), except in cases of significant public interest. Posted citation items reflect any amendments to citations that are the result of a prompt settlement, which OSHA encourages. Employers and employee representatives will continue to receive copies of the citation(s) upon issuance.

Inspection: 1680431.015 - Florence Hardwoods, Llc

Inspection Information - Office: Appleton Area Office

Investigation Summary

At 6:31 a.m. on June 29, 2023, a 16-year-old employee, Employee #1, was removing dried lumber boards from the end of a chain conveyor in the Planer Building. Employee #1 was working alone in the building. The Planer Building Supervisor was operating a forklift to load and unload lumber packs. The conveyor system was incorporated into an automatic Mellott Stick Stacker System that included a stick conveyor. The stick conveyor collected the 72-inch-long kiln sticks that were removed from the lumber stacks by the tilt hoist. The sticks were automatically transported via conveyor to the top of the stick conveyor and then dropped down into metal carts below. Photosensors were installed to detect the amount of sticks that had accumulated in the cart and advanced the cart(s) out from under the conveyor system. Once the cart was filled with sticks, a forklift would remove it from the chain conveyor line. Employee #1 noticed an issue and climbed up onto the operator platform to access the controls. Employee #1 turned off the tilt hoist conveyor lines. The stick conveyor was not turned off. Employee #1 went to address the issue on the stick conveyor and became caught in between the machine frame and the top of a cart. Employee #1 was pinned in the machine. The Planer Building Supervisor was removing a lumber pack from the building, when he noticed Employee #1 pinned in the machine. The Planer Building Supervisor immediately attempted to free Employee #1 and was able to after reversing the machine/cart direction. Employee #1 fell onto the floor, where resuscitation was started by the Planer Building Supervisor. Various other employees from the mill responded to the incident. Emergency services arrived and took over resuscitation efforts. Employee #1 suffered crushing injuries to the chest and abdomen and was transported to the hospital. Employee #1 died as a result of crushing injuries to the chest and abdomen.

Keywords: Abdomen, Caught Between, Caught In, Chest, Conveyor, Crushed, Forklift, Lumber Stack, Pinned, Tilt-Frame Hoist, Working Alone