Inspection Detail

Inspection: 126076058 - American Racing Equipment

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Investigation Summary

THIS REPORT COVERS THREE DIFFERENT ADDIDENTS. Accident #1: At approximately 2:30 a.m. on January 18, 2000, Employee #1, a mechanic, was performing repairing operations to the Degate Machine. Employee #1 had received a work request to check out the slide operation of the Degate Machine No.9, (no manufacturing data available), located in the foundry building No.1. Employee #1's instructions were to make the necessary repairs and have it ready for production as soon as feasible. After completing the repairs and while tightening the hydraulic shaft, Employee #1 requested the foundry supervisor to push the retract button which would allowed him to determine if the shaft hold-down bolt was loose or the cylinder was defective. As the saddle activated in reverse, Employee #1's left hand was caught between the cylinder mounting plate and the saddle attachment bracket. Employee #1 suffered three crushed fingers on his left hand and was hospitalized. Accident #2: At approximately 10:45 a.m. on March 30, 2000, Employee #1, a lead machine operator, had removed a defective mold from the machine and was performing cleaning operations on Carrousel # 3-A on Station # 4 at a plant manufacturing aluminum wheels. Employee #1 was using an air hose to clean the area. Employee #1 activated a presence-sensing device that stopped the machine before entering into the machine area. Then Employee #1 opened an interlocked door that also prevented the carrousel of the machine from working while it remained open, but it did not prevent the carriage from working. Employee #1 entered in the machine area and began cleaning with the air hose. When Employee #1 was blowing near the carriage, he pulling the air hose and accidentally activated another switch, which activated the carriage. The carriage came forward and since there was no mold, it reached the area where Employee #1 was working and caught his left foot between the metal plate and the hydraulic cylinder. Employee #1 stayed there for about seven minutes until the lead operator on the next machine came to retract the carriage and released his left foot. As a consequence of the accident, Employee #1 suffered second-and-third-degree burns to his left ankle and foot. Employee #1 was hospitalized. Accident #3: At approximately 8:55 a.m. on April 9, 2000, Employee #1 was cleaning a machine located in Plant 1, Maintenance Hydraulic Cylinder repair area. While cleaning the machine, Employee #1 stepped on the screen that covers the hot (measured at approximately 150 degrees Fahrenheit two hours after the accident) detergent tank. Some one had removed the bolts that keep the screen in place, and the screen slipped. Employee #1's left foot went into the hot solution container causing burns and scalding. Employee #1 suffered second-and-third-degree burns to left ankle and knee. Employee #1 was hospitalized.

Keywords: BURN, REPAIR, FINGER, CLEANING, CAUGHT BETWEEN, CRUSHED, FOUNDRY, HAND, ANKLE, HOT WATER