Inspection Detail

Inspection: 111826012 - Leslie Salt Co.

Inspection Information - Office: Oakland District Office

Investigation Summary

Employee #1 accepted an overtime assignment to clean the floor area around the vacuum salt packing and palletizing system. The system had been in operation for only two months and was still experiencing many problems that necessitated shutting down the line to clear jams. Employee #1 had been working near the bag flattener for 2 hours per shift, on and off for approximately two weeks. At approximately 1:00 a.m. on January 25, 1991, the flattener, conveyor palletizer, and wrapper system became jammed at the palletizer and the system was stopped for adjustment. The rotary packer bag stitcher and bag picker system were not on the same electrical system as the jammed equipment, and were also stopped shortly thereafter. This delay allowed two 50 lb bags of salt to be kicked onto the feed conveyor of the flattener. This was a common occurrence and the operator generally allowed both bags to run through the flattener. One or both would be ripped apart, dumping salt on the floor and causing the bags to be rejected. Employee #1 was attempting to retrieve the bag when he became caught between the dual conveyors of the bag flattener. He was crushed and killed.

Keywords: WORK RULES, CLEANING, JAMMED, LOCKOUT, CRUSHED, INEXPERIENCE, CONVEYOR