Inspection Detail

Inspection: 307182188 - Darnell-Rose

Inspection Information - Office: Monrovia District Office

Investigation Summary

At 6:30 a.m. on August 9, 2006, Employee #1, a punch press operator, was standing next to a punch press, while a coworker was operating an industrial truck. The coworker was attempting to pick up a 55-gallon barrel full of metal with the industrial truck. To get more leverage, the coworker was using the punch press that Employee #1 was standing near as leverage to get the barrel onto the forks of the industrial truck. As the coworker was working to get the barrels on the forks, Employee #1 attempted to assist him, and got his left hand caught in between the punch press and the industrial truck. Employee #1's left index finger was amputated at the distal metatarsal. Employee #1 was taken to Universal Industrial Care Clinic, where hospitalized and treated for his injury. The accident investigation revealed that Employee #1 was a temporary employee, having been employed by the company for a period of five weeks with only four of those days as a punch press operator. The accident was attributed to the coworker's lack of attention to ensure that all personnel were cleared from where he was operating the industrial truck.

Keywords: AMPUTATED, FINGER, WORK RULES, EQUIPMENT OPERATOR, CAUGHT BETWEEN, INDUSTRIAL TRUCK, INEXPERIENCE, MANUAL MAT HANDLING, PUNCH PRESS, INATTENTION