Inspection Detail

Inspection: 314863291 - Pacific Paving Stone Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Los Angeles District Office

Investigation Summary

On October 20, 2012, Employee #1, a foreman carpenter employed by Pacific Paving Stone Inc., was involved in construction work at a private residence in Pasadena, CA. The work included hardscape design and construction. Employee #1, in the course of performing his normally assigned activity, was constructing a pergola for the residence. He was cutting a piece of Douglas fir wood with a Dewalt Table Saw DW745 Blade 10 inches Serial Number 2006 44-CT 036711. He was making a cheek cut on the piece of wood, which measured 2 inches by 6 inches by 18 inches. The table saw was unguarded. Employee #1 held the piece of wood vertically with his hands to pass the wood through the blade. His left middle finger made contact with the unguarded blade. His finger was lacerated, and the bone was injured. Employee #1 was hospitalized at Huntington Memorial Hospital for two days. He underwent surgery, during which a pin was placed in the finger. On October 23, the employer's controller made a late report to Cal/OSHA. During the investigation, Employee #1 was interviewed and said that he believed, just before his finger was cut, the saw blade hit a knot in the wood, which caused the wood to kick out. The investigation determined that this was a preventable event caused by use of the unguarded table saw and failure to use a suitable jig while performing the cheek cut. The following citations were issued to the employer: Regulatory: 342(a) Failure to timely report the serious accident; General: 1511(b) Failure to survey the construction site for hazards; Serious: 4300.1(a) Unguarded table saw; Serious Accident Related: 4297(a) No jig used during cheek cut.

Keywords: CARPENTER, FINGER, CONSTRUCTION, SAW, LACERATION, BLADE, JIGSAW, EQUIPMENT APPROVAL, UNGUARDED, TABLE SAW