Inspection Detail

Inspection: 306750811 - Reddy Ice Corporation

Inspection Information - Office: Jacksonville Area Office

Investigation Summary

On April 30, 2004, an employee working in an ice manufacturing facility, working in the area of the plant where manufactured ice was delivered by conveyor and auger systems to two large bins that were approximately 12 feet-deep. The conveyor system would drop the ice into the bins. In each bin, augers would move and level the ice as the bins were filled. At the bottom of the bins was an opening through which ice would be loaded into bags. The employee was working was on an elevated walk platform that was located between the two bins. The top of the bins were approximately 35 inches above the walkway. He was equipped with a six feet, eight inch-long steel paddle that he used to clear ice jams, and to push the ice down from the top of the bins to the openings at the bottom of the bins. This work required the employee to lean into the bins. When he leaned into one of the bins, his sleeve got caught by one of the augers. The employee's arm then wrapped around the auger, pulling him into the bin. The auger continued to turn, and the body of the employee rotated with the auger. As the employee's body rotated, it struck against the adjacent auger and the side of the bin. He received numerous lacerations and abrasions to his head, neck, trunk and extremities, and fractures to his ribs and extremities. The employee died from his injuries.

Keywords: HEAD, STEEL, STRUCK AGAINST, LACERATION, ABRASION, CONVEYOR, AUGER, NECK, ARM, ELEVATED WORK PLAT