Inspection Detail

Inspection: 119737567 - U S Pipe & Foundry Company, Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Oakland District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 11:00 a.m. on April 20, 1999, Employee #1 was assembling a foundry blowhead, a mandrel, and some core boxes on a pallet for storage. He was transporting the mandrel and the blowhead by bridge crane. The mandrel was secured to the crane by a two-part chain and the blowhead was balanced on top. The approximately 110 lb blowhead slipped off the mandrel and fell. Employee #1 tried to manually catch it, crushing his left index finger between the blowhead and a steel table. No accident-related violations were issued. Before the inspection, the employer had modified the procedure to move only one part at a time. The employee was trained in the procedure which, if performed as instructed, posed little if any hazard. Employee #1 had full control of the project and was injured because he tried to catch a falling object, which was likely a spontaneous impulse reaction.

Keywords: UNSECURED, FINGER, SUSPENDED LOAD, GANTRY CRANE, CAUGHT BETWEEN, CRUSHED, MANDREL, MANUAL MAT HANDLING, MECH MAT HANDLING, FALLING OBJECT