Inspection Detail

Inspection: 301330775 - Smurfit Newsprint Corp.

Inspection Information - Office: Monrovia District Office

Inspection Nr: 301330775

Report ID: 0950644

Date Opened: 10/21/2003

Site Address:
Smurfit Newsprint Corp.
2205 Mt. Vernon Ave.
Pomona, CA 91768

Mailing Address:
, , 00000

Union Status: Union

SIC:2621

NAICS: 322122/Newsprint Mills

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Safety

Close Conference: 03/24/2004

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 09/16/2006

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	362594616

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	3			3		6
Current Violations	3			3		6
Initial Penalty	$31,500	$0	$0	$2,250	$0	$33,750
Current Penalty	$18,000	$0	$0	$150	$0	$18,150
FTA Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Violation Items
#	Citation ID	Citaton Type	Standard Cited	Issuance Date	Abatement Due Date	Current Penalty	Initial Penalty	FTA Penalty	Contest	Latest Event
1.	01001	Other	3314 F	04/09/2004	04/23/2004	$0	$750	$0	05/10/2004	F - Formal Settlement
2.	01002	Other	3203 A06	04/09/2004	04/23/2004	$0	$750	$0	05/10/2004	F - Formal Settlement
3.	01003	Other	3273 L	04/09/2004	04/23/2004	$150	$750	$0	05/10/2004	F - Formal Settlement
4.	02001	Serious	3339 B	04/09/2004	04/19/2004	$0	$6,750	$0	05/10/2004	F - Formal Settlement
5.	03001	Serious	3203 A07	04/09/2004	04/19/2004	$0	$6,750	$0	05/10/2004	F - Formal Settlement
6.	04001	Serious	3314 A	04/09/2004	04/19/2004	$18,000	$18,000	$0	05/10/2004	F - Formal Settlement

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 201797792

Event: 10/12/2003

Employee Fingers Amputated While Cleaning Machine

At approximately 2:30 a.m. on October 12, 2003, Employee #1 was employed as a chemical handler for approximately 12 years at the time of the accident. Employee #1's employer had been in the business of recycling newsprint paper for about 25 years. Employee #1 was cleaning and unplugging the pulpier-scavenger unit of debris. The unit was located in the basement area of an office building on the south side of the complex. Employee #1 was using a pry bar to reach through a hatch located on the discharge side of the V-2 to dislodge a piece of metal bar from inside the scavenger machine. Employee #1's attempt was unsuccessful, so he stuck his left hand inside the scavenger and tried to remove the bar thinking that the air power was off, when the 24-in. gate valve closed inside the scavenger, amputating two fingers on Employee #1's left hand. Employee #1 radioed his coworker asking him to immediately open the gate valve. Employee #1 was taken to the hospital, and treated for his injuries. The investigation revealed that lockout/tag out safety responsibility was not clearly established. Employee #1 and his coworker relied on each other for locking and bleeding the air power out. Employee #1's coworker stated that he had locked the air power out but the gate valve moved due to residual air pressure inside scavenger. He also stated that there was no pressure gauge on or near scavenger's air control and injured had no way of knowing the air pressure inside the scavenger-valve unit. According to the employer, Employee #1 did not bleed the air from scavenger machine prior to cleaning. Air power control in control room was not easily accessible as noted during a walk through and was measured to be at a height of 8.5 ft from floor of control room. There was no means for safe access to the air power control. Employee #1 and his coworkers were interviewed provided written accident statements. The employer was cited for several violations.

Keywords: AIR PRESSURE, FINGER, HATCH, CLEANING, MACHINE OPERATOR, LOCKOUT, VALVE, HAND, PRY BAR

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	301330775			Hospitalized injury	Amputation	Machinery maintenance occupations

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