Inspection Detail

Inspection: 302774963 - Lowe Paper Company

Inspection Information - Office: Hasbrouck Heights Area Office

Inspection Nr: 302774963

Report ID: 0214500

Date Opened: 07/21/1999

Site Address:
Lowe Paper Company
1050 River Street
Ridgefield, NJ 07657

Mailing Address:
, , 00000

Union Status: Union

SIC:2631

NAICS: 322130/Paperboard Mills

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Safety

Close Conference: 10/05/1999

Planning Guide: Safety-Manufacturing

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 10/28/1999

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	101380277

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	1					1
Current Violations	1					1
Initial Penalty	$2,250	$0	$0	$0	$0	$2,250
Current Penalty	$1,600	$0	$0	$0	$0	$1,600
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	Note
1.	01001	Serious	19100023 A03	10/05/1999	10/08/1999	$1,600	$2,250	$0		I - Informal Settlement

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 201380284

Event: 07/21/1999

Employee Died When He Fell Into Chest And Was Asphyxiated

At approximately 1:30 a.m. on July 21, 1999, Employee #1 was operating a pulp mill for the purpose of blending the paper pulp. Employee #1 was checking the pulp holding chest that was under the pulp mill machine. Checking the level of the pulp is necessary to control the flow of material to the mill. In order to check the level of the pulp in the chest it is necessary to open a hatch cover and looks in and makes a judgment (eye balls) of the level in the chest. When Employee #1 opened the hatch cover he put his head down near the rim of the hatch housing in order to get a good look at the conditions in the chest. While bending down Employee #1 fell into and through the hatch opening into the chest. The chest has a large propeller installed in it to keep the pulp moving to facilitate proper blending of the pulp mix. Employee #1's body got caught in the blades of the propeller. The thick mud-like gray pulp smothered the employee. Employee #1 was killed and his body had to be dismembered to remove it from the propeller blades.

Keywords: ASPHYXIATED, CONFINED SPACE, BLADE

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	302774963			Fatality	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported

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