Inspection Detail

Inspection: 310494711 - Sanitation Districts Of Los Angeles County

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 1:00 p.m. on March 6, 2009, Employee #1, a maintenance worker at a public sanitation department, was using a Columbia truck-mounted winch to run a canvas sewer kite through a sewer line in order to remove debris. After the truck was position over an access hole, Employee #1 raised a hinged guard covering a shave at the end of the winch system to more easily insert the kite into the line. Wearing a pair of leather work gloves, Employee #1 fed the kite connected to the winch cable into the sewer line. With the guard still pinned in the up position, Employee #1 stood next to the sewer access opening while Employee #2 was controlling the winch system from a panel at the back of the truck. After hitting an obstruction, Employee #1 instructed Employee #2 to agitate the kite to clear the obstruction from the line. During this time, Employee #1 had placed his left hand on the unguarded sheave over the access cover. When Employee #2 reversed the winch to pull the kite backwards, the glove of Employee #1's left hand became caught in the nip point of the winch cable and sheave. Employee #1's left index finger was pulled into the winch system with the glove, amputating the fingertip. The employer was cited for a serious violation.

Keywords: SEWER, AMPUTATED, FINGER, GUARD, NIP POINT, WINCH