Inspection Detail

Inspection: 119940740 - National Ready Mix Concrete Co.

Inspection Information - Office: Van Nuys District Office

Investigation Summary

At 2:30 p.m. on November 10, 1999, Employee #1, an employee of the Santa Clarita Facility of the National Ready Mix Company, lost his finger when grabbing a gate and a lever made of steel came down severing his finger. Employee #1 arrived at the work site for his shift. He approached the seemingly locked gate. He grabbed the gate with one hand and reached for the lock with the other. The lever of the locking mechanism pivoted around the lock and severed his finger. Earlier that night, an independent contractor employed by National Ready Mix had come on site and discovered that he had left his gate key behind. Instead of returning to get the key, he chose to partially dismantle the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is a two square inch steel tube, and it is three feet long. He removed the pivot bolt from the device and lifted it up out of the way. Removing the bolt allowed him to enter into the gated plant. He placed the arm in a semi-jammed position such that when Employee #1 grabbed the gate, the bar of steel fell and severed his finger. Employee #1 was treated at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital.

Keywords: AMPUTATED, FINGER