Inspection Detail

Inspection: 310495254 - Clougherty Packing Llc Dba / Farmer John

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 11:30 a.m. on May 11, 2009, Employee #1, who had been employed for approximately 16 years at a limited liability company that slaughters, processes, and packages pork products for distribution to the general public, was performing his duties. Employee #1 was operating a Crown industrial truck (pallet jack) in the Germos smokehouse of the establishment, located on the first floor of the pork cut building. Employee #1 was transporting the pallet jack, loaded with a steel container of pork legs, to the smokehouse. When Employee #1 reached the area, he brought the pallet jack to a stop near a cement column and began to step off of the operating platform with his left foot. As he stepped off of the pallet jack, his foot hit the cement column, causing him to stumble. In an attempt to steady himself, Employee #1 reached out for support and inadvertently grabbed hold of the accelerator handle of the pallet jack. The pallet jack lurched forward, pinning Employee #1's left leg between the pallet jack and the cement column. Employee #1's leg was fractured in the accident, and he was hospitalized. The production supervisor, who supervised Employee #1, was in the general but not immediate area when the incident occurred. Cal/OSHA did not issue citations.

Keywords: FRACTURE, PINNED, CAUGHT BETWEEN, INDUSTRIAL TRUCK, FALL, LEG