Inspection Detail

Inspection: 126074228 - Clougherty Packing Llc Dba / Farmer John

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Investigation Summary

(THIS ACCIDENT REPORT ADDRESSES TWO DIFFERENT INCIDENTS - ON TWO DIFFERENT DAYS AT THE SAME FACILITY)On March 22, 1999, Employee #1, a maintenance mechanic in a meat processing and packaging plant, was in the process of repairing a CPX-20 Stuffing machine. This machine runs on a pneumatic pressure system only and needed to be running to test and check the hook up and match to the machine. Employee #1 was momentarily distracted by a radio call and when he reached to activate the radio the pneumatic system activated and caught his left index finger in the positioning cylinder valve. Employee #1 was taken to the hospital and treated and released. Employee #1 suffered the amputation of the distal tip of the left index finger fat pad. On April 5, 1999, Employee #1, a "hog pusher" in a meat processing and packaging plant, was observing the movement of the hog assembly line on the automatic overhead rail system assembly line in the "hog cooler" area of the plant. Employee #1 had been assigned to supervise the area for one hour. Employee #1 had used a sponge mop on a 5-ft wooden rod to access the bottom of the automatic overhead rail sprocket line to absorb any condensation. Employee #1 than got an 8-ft wooden ladder to reach the rail assembly located 10 ft 8in. above the floor. Employee #1 was wearing gloves and had a rag in his hand. Employee #1 lost his balance and his hand came into contact with the automatic overhead rail assembly line star. Employee #1 suffered the amputation of the third and fourth fingers at the knuckle. Employee #1 was treated and released from the hospital.