Inspection Detail

Inspection: 316697903 - Okeefee'S Inc Dba Saftifirst

Inspection Information - Office: Modesto District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 7:30 a.m. on April 1, 2013, an employee was working as a production worker for O'Keefe's Inc., dba SaftiFirst, in Merced, CA. This was the employee's first day on the job. The lead person had explained the operation and explained how to use a radial arm saw. The saw was a Model # 3571 Original Saw radial arm saw with a 16-inch (407-millimeter) blade, with Serial Number 080211066. It was a Type 8 saw rated at 7.5 HP (5.6 kilowatts). After showing the employee how to cut the pieces of wood to make crates, the lead person allowed him to start using the saw. The lead person then heard a noise that didn't sound right. He turned and saw the employee holding his hand. Two fingers on his left hand had been amputated. The lead person immediately took the employee to the front office. The employee was transported to Merced Community Hospital by another coworker. The firm's manager later put the detached fingers in a bag of ice and took them to the hospital. The employee was transported to Merced Community Hospital and then transferred to San Francisco Hospital for reattachment of the fingers. It was not stated how this surgery turned out. The lead person believes that the employee's left hand slipped over wood that was wet from rain that weekend. The employee was left-handed. The Employer reported the accident via phone to Cal/OSHA on April 2, 2013. The investigation into the accident began at approximately 9:30 a.m. on April 9, 2013.

Keywords: AMPUTATED, CARPENTER, FINGER, SLIP, SAW, INEXPERIENCE, SLIPPERY SURFACE, STRUCK BY, BLADE, HAND