Inspection Detail

Inspection: 300780731 - Weyerhaeuser Co.

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 4:25 p.m. on January 13, 2003, an accident occurred involving a Feedmaster, manufactured by Thermoguard Equipment, Inc., Serial No., P3311, Model No. BPBF 50-65 (BPBF stands for "Block Push Bottom Feeder, and 50-65 indicates the maximum blank, cardboard box size, the pre-feeder can process. The Company is engaged in the manufacturing and processing of corrugated boxes for industrial and produce applications. The employee was an experienced Andax machine operator. On the day of the accident, the employee was operating an Andax machine Number 1. At the time of the accident, the victim entered the lift assembly area of the Feedmaster, to adjust a stack of corrugated material while the Feedmaster was energized and running. The victim's lower legs were pinned at the calves between the left side of the transverse table and the lifting assembly's frame. His backside was wedged between the metal expanded guard and the lift assembly frame, and his back and chest were pinned between the top of the transverse table and the upper frame of the machine. The victim screamed for help and various plant employees responded to provide emergency assistance, as did the Los Angeles Fire Department. Upon arrival, the Los Angeles Fire Department took control of the rescue efforts. The LAFD requested maintenance personnel to deenergize the machine and bleed the hydraulic system to manually move the transverse table to release the victim completely. While deenergizing the machine, the fire department started emergency treatment. The victim was transported to Long Beach Memorial Hospital where he died four days later. The cause of the accident was the fact that the victim did not deenergize the Feedmaster before entering the lifting assembly area.

Keywords: CHEST, PINNED, LOCKOUT, BACK, CAUGHT BETWEEN, CRUSHED, LEG