Inspection Detail

Inspection: 305476327 - Transport Drivers Inc(Staffing Srv)&Weigh Master M

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 11:45 a.m. on April 23, 2004, Employee #1 was working as a contract warehouse person provided to the site employer by a personnel supply agency. He was working at the USDA meat inspection facility. The facility had cold storage facilities as well as a meat inspection room. During the inspection of meat by USDA personnel, it was often necessary for the inspectors to get a sampling of the inner core of the meat and hence there was a need to cut meat into smaller portions. This process had to be made with a band saw because the meat was ice rock solid. A new band saw was just delivered to the employer the week before the accident. After plugging it in, Employee #1's supervisor trained Employee #1 on its safety features and then made the first cut himself. Both the supervisor and Employee #1 noticed that the blade was running upwards instead of customarily downwards. The supervisor indicated to Employee #1 that he was going to get someone to fix it. After three days of using the band saw in its defective state, Employee #1 was requested to cut a small portion of meat for the USDA inspector. Since he was going to make a cut on a small piece, he did not use the push plates. As the blade cut through the small piece of meat, it grabbed the meat upwards with Employee #1's hands resulting in the amputation of his right middle and index finger. The equipment involved was a Torrey Band Saw, Model Number ST-295-AI. Employee #1 was not hospitalized.

Keywords: AMPUTATED, BANDSAW, FINGER