Inspection Detail

Inspection: 106558893 - Roadmaster Corporation

Inspection Information - Office: Fairview Heights Area Office

Investigation Summary

On December 12, 1995, Employee #1 was operating Pines horizontal bender #527. He placed a piece of tubing into the machine's point of operation and pushed a single button on a separate control panel with his left hand. As the machine cycled, the piece of tubing slipped out of the point of operation and was only partially bent. Employee #1 reached for the tube with his right hand and placed it back in the machine. He was looking left when he pressed down upon the single button, not realizing that his thumb was in the point of operation. The machine cycled once, amputating his thumb. On January 26, 1996, Employee #2 was operating Verson punch press #C2-150-54-46T. He placed a piece of sheet metal into the point of operation and pressed down upon the guarded foot pedal. The press tripped, which activated the pull-back devices. As the ram began to move upward, Employee #2 reached into the point of operation to retrieve the sheet metal. He slipped on a patch of grease on the floor, lost his balance, and instinctively reached overhead with his right hand to stop his fall. Employee #2 grabbed the moving part on the press, called a "knockout," catching his middle index finger in the pinch point. His finger was severely crushed and twisted. On February 29, 1996, Employee #3 was operating barrel notcher #538. She placed a piece of tubing between an upper and lower clamp in the machine's point of operation, and pushed the two-hand control trip. The machine cycled. The upper and lower clamps came together and held the tube in place while the ends were notched; the clamps then separated. Employee #3 was reaching to retrieve the tube with her right hand when the upper clamp made a sudden, lateral move to the right. Her middle finger became caught in the pinch point between the upper clamp and the main frame of the machine. She sustained lacerations that required hospitalization.

Keywords: AMPUTATED, FINGER, WORK RULES, ROLLER--MACH/PART, BENDING MACHINE, POINT OF OPERATION, SLIPPERY SURFACE, HOUSEKEEPING, PUNCH PRESS, UNGUARDED