Inspection Detail

Inspection: 300783883 - S&M Pallet

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 3:58 p.m. on October 22, 2003 Employee #1 and a coworker were operating a notching machine at S & M Pallet. The machine cut notches in 2-inch by 4-inch lumber to be used in the manufacture of wooden pallets. The lumber was pushed across the top of the machine to the point of operation where the notches were cut into the wood by a series of closely spaced spinning metal blades. These blades cut the notch on the bottom of the wood. They were not visible from the top when the machine was loaded with lumber. The lumber then moved to a delivery ramp where it would slide to the ground level to be stacked. At the time of the accident, the lumber was loaded by the coworker while standing on an elevated work platform at the back of the machine. The lumber was then stacked by Employee #1 standing at the ground level. Both employees were wearing work gloves and ear and eye protection at the time of the accident. When the lumber that was fed into the machine stopped moving down the delivery ramp, Employee #1 asked the machine operator why it stopped. The coworker walked around to inspect the machine and told Employee #1 that the machine was jammed. Employee #1 climbed on top of the machine to the point of operation to determine why the machine was jammed. To clear the jam, Employee #1 began to grab the lumber with his right hand and move it toward the delivery ramp. While Employee #1 was attempting to move the seventh piece of lumber, the blades contacted the middle and ring fingers of his right hand and amputated them at the first knuckle. He was hospitalized with his injuries. Employee #1 stated that he did not receive training concerning the hazards of his job and the investigation revealed that the employer did not have a written energy control plan in place. The investigation also revealed that the power source to the notching machine was not deenergized or disengaged and the moveable parts mechanically blocked or locked out to prevent inadvertent movement prior to the employee attempting to remove the pieces of lumber from the point of operation.

Keywords: AMPUTATED, FINGER, WORK RULES, MACHINE OPERATOR, STRUCK AGAINST, JAMMED, LOCKOUT, BLADE, UNTRAINED