Inspection Detail

Inspection: 313163644 - Rcr Plumbing & Mechanical Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Santa Ana District Office

Investigation Summary

On January 11, 2010, Employee #1 was working for a plumbing contractor engaged in plumbing work. He was using a pipe cutting and threading machine manufactured by Wheeler Rex Industries, Model Number 6090, and Serial Number 998990. This machine is operated by a foot pedal. He was using this machine to combine a piece of straight 1.25-in. metal pipe with a 90 degree metal elbow. This process is performed by holding the straight piece of pipe into the chuck of the threading machine, then the 90 degree elbow is hand tighten to the end of the straight pipe. A pipe wrench is then used to hold the elbow in place and the machine is turned on to rotate the straight piece of the pipe in order to tighten the two pieces together. Employee #1 was holding the 90 degree elbow in place with an 18-in. long pipe wrench, when he activated the machine with the foot pedal. When the work pieces started turning, his left index fingertip was crushed between the handle of the pipe wrench and the frame of the machine. Employee #1's left index finger was amputated at the first digit.

Keywords: AMPUTATED, FINGER, CAUGHT BETWEEN, PLUMBING, STRUCK BY, HAND TOOL