Inspection Detail

Inspection: 301332474 - Pactiv

Inspection Information - Office: Monrovia District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 4:30 p.m. on June 7, 2004, Employee #1 and a fellow employee of PACTIV Corporation were inspecting, servicing and repairing a Lyle Model Number 150 Thermoforming Unit. The employees had shut the power off and applied their lockout devices. They also blocked the upper and lower platens before they began to inspect and repair a leaking O-ring seal. A third employee asked the repair team to also check the O-ring seals on the stripper plate; however, the team did not block the stripper plate. The third employee engaged the solenoid air valve to open the stripper plate away from the upper platen, and used the thumb screw to operate the "hold open" function to keep the stripper plate from closing instead of properly locking it out and relieving the pressure. The employee could tell that the thumb screw was not going to hold open the stripper plate, so he reactivated the valve and turned the thumb screw. This time the "hold open" function worked. In between the two times that the third employee activated the valve, Employee #1 reached into the area to check the seal. The stripper plate closed, crushing and amputating part of Employee #1's right middle finger. He was transported to Western Hand Clinic for treatment.

Keywords: MAINTENANCE, AMPUTATED, FINGER, WORK RULES, LOCKOUT, CAUGHT BETWEEN