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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 310489935 - United Food Group Llc
Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office
Site Address:
United Food Group Llc
3425 E Vernon Ave
Vernon, CA 90058
Mailing Address:
, , 00000
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:2013
NAICS: 311612/Meat Processed from Carcasses
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 12/12/2007
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 03/06/2008
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 102471844 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||
| Current Violations | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||
| Initial Penalty | $18,000 | $0 | $0 | $560 | $0 | $18,560 |
| Current Penalty | $18,000 | $0 | $0 | $560 | $0 | $18,560 |
| FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| # | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 01001 | Other | 3203 A | 12/27/2007 | 01/29/2008 | $560 | $560 | $0 | - | ||
| 2. | 02001 | Serious | 3314 C | 12/27/2007 | 01/06/2008 | $18,000 | $18,000 | $0 | - |
Investigation Summary
At approximately 7:00 a.m. on November 26, 2007, Employee #1 was performing a sporadically assigned task of adjusting machinery in the attempt to repair a machine. Employee #1 was the chief engineer supervising 27 maintenance mechanics in the operation of a 500 employee meat processing and packing facility. A metal detector on a company-made conveyor belt malfunctioned while supplying ground beef patties to a packing station. This required Employee #1 to replace the metal detector. None of Employee #1's employees were familiar with the unit necessitating that Employee #1 perform the work himself. The metal detector was supposed to operate by detecting metal contamination in ground beef patties, sending an electric signal to a solenoid, opening a compressed air valve to a pneumatic cylinder that changes the position of a ramp, to form a gate that diverts the meat patties from the packing station to prevent contaminated patties from being shipped. After Employee #1 had replaced the metal detector he was adjusting the air pressure that operated the pneumatic cylinder that caused the ramp to divert and become a gate. Employee #1 was manually adjusting the air valve with his left hand, while his right hand was on the rod end of the pneumatic cylinder. Employee #1 was adjusting the machine without the use of extension tools, and without deenergizing or disengaging a power source to prevent inadvertent movement or release of stored energy. The solenoid section of this machine unexpectedly activated the pneumatic system causing the cylinder rod to rapidly move, creating a scissor pinch point and catching Employee #1's right thumb in a pinch point. Employee #1 sustained a traumatic amputation of his thumb at the base of the finger nail, but was not hospitalized.
Keywords: AMPUTATED, REPAIR, CAUGHT BY, THUMB, FOOD PACKAGING MACH, NIP POINT
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 310489935 | Non Hospitalized injury | Amputation | Occupation not reported |