Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: CAUGHT

40.1-51.1(a) of the Code of Virginia: The employer, Reynolds Flexible Packaging, did not furnish a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were operating a Clausing-Metosa 13" lathe, Model C1330S, (located in the Maintenance Shop), which exposed them to an amputation injury, without having been trained and instructed on the safe operation of the lathe. On December 28, 2009, at their Grottoes, Va facility, an employee was using a Clausing-Metosa 13" lathe to polish a shaft that was approximately 20" in length with a 1" diameter. An emery cloth approximately 24" long and 1" wide was being used to polish the last 6" of the shaft. The shaft was moving counterclockwise at 660 rpms. The employee had placed the emery cloth underneath the shaft and was using both hands to control the movement of the cloth. The employee was wearing cut resistant gloves. As the shaft moved counterclockwise with the emery cloth in place, the employee's right hand became too close to the shaft at which time the glove was caught by the shaft and pulled his hand into the shaft. He received an amputation injury to four fingers and knuckle area of the right hand. The employer had not trained and instructed employees in the safe method of performing any operation on the type of lathe the employee would be required to operate to include the appropriate personal protective equipment to be used, or not used, for specific tasks. One feasible and acceptable method, among other methods, to correct this hazard would be to train and instruct employees in the safe method of performing any operation on the type of the lathe the employee would be required to operate or set up to include not wearing gloves for this particular task such as that called for by ANSI B11.6-1984, American National Standard Safety Code for Machine Tools and Lathes, Safety Requirements for the Construction, Care and Use.